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Sam Johnstone is arguably one of West Bromwich Albion’s best players on their books, and the subject of his contract, which ends in the Summer of 2022, has been a hot topic.

What’s the story?

Head Coach Valerien Ismael has delivered a promising update on the immediate future of Baggies goalkeeper, Sam Johnstone, as rumours of a cut-price move in January to a number of clubs have circulated non-stop since the beginning of the season.

Ismael hailed Johnstone as the “best player” when discussing the plans for January;

“Yes, we are planning for that,” Ismael responded when asked if he expects Johnstone to still be at the club after the transfer window.

“We definitely don’t want to lose the best player in the squad.

“For our purpose and what we want to achieve, Sammy is a massive part of our project regardless of his contract situation and is a big part of my thoughts.”
The England goalkeeper has been linked with Tottenham, West Ham and Southampton to name a few of the Premier League clubs reportedly desperate to secure the star’s signature either in January or in the summer when he will be available on a free.

Make or break for West Brom

West Bromwich Albion are in a vulnerable position right now despite sitting third in the table, with a shaky run of form over the last few months where goals were not being scored.
They have scored fewest out of the top three, however luckily for Ismael, goals conceded have been few for the side, with the least strikes conceded out of the top three teams.
This statistic only puts further emphasis on the importance of keeping Johnstone until the summer for West Brom, and it could really be a make or break situation for the side, being the difference between Premier League football or staying for another season in the Championship next season. Thus, fans should be delighted that Albion are planning to keep him at the Hawthorns heading past the winter.
West Brom will be hoping to be in a position to prove to Johnstone that is worth staying for the second half of the season by the time the transfer window opens in a few weeks, with the Baggies currently working hard to close the gap with top of the table, currently only five points shy of Fulham.
Ismael should be doing everything he can to keep the stopper sweet until the inevitable in the summer when the 28-year-old will be available to go on a free to wherever he pleases, hopefully with the Baggies back in the Premier League as a result of his dedication.
In other news: Ismael must axe Hugill from the team

Flocking to Twitter, a number of Manchester City fans have reacted to a transfer claim coming out of Eastlands involving Tottenham striker Harry Kane.

The England international was a major target for Pep Guardiola in the summer, with City even lodging bids of £100m according to Sky Sports.

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However, these efforts to sign Spurs’ prized asset weren’t enough, with the 29-year-old remaining in north London, thus ending City’s hopes of signing a world class centre-forward over that transfer window.

While Guardiola has stated to the press that he holds no pressing wish to sign a striker in January, The Athletic have come out with a claim to the contrary, and it involves Kane again.

According to their information, the Spaniard is still ‘desperate’ for City to sign a forward, with sources close to the Sky Blues boss believing that the Tottenham superstar is ‘perfect’ for them. The report added that a move for Kane ‘would be welcomed’ at Eastlands next month.

City fans erupt…

Kane is certainly not without his merits as a transfer target, especially considering that he can play as false nine and won the Premier League Golden Boot last year, scoring an incredible 23 goals and setting up 14 more in the top flight alone.

Taking this into account, it’s not surprising that some supporters still want him at the club, with Bradford City defender Liam Ridehalgh even calling Kane a ‘monster’.

However, others have reacted to this fresh claim with a bit of scepticism given the long-winded and eventually fruitless summer saga over Kane’s signature, not to mention their links to much younger options like Erling Haaland or Dusan Vlahovic.

Check out some of the mixed reactions to this transfer update below.

“Getting Kane who is almost 30 instead of chasing Haaland and Vlahovic, both 21, is madness and clueless.”

Credit: @amujich

“The perfect footballer.”

Credit: @MCFCBaller

“We’re shameless”

Credit: @vikymcfc

“Bring Kane”

Credit: @_PEP1_

“No way…”

Credit: @MCFCfanboy

“I’m sorry but that boat has sailed. Don’t want him anywhere near the club. His drop in form just goes to show he’s on the decline. We need a striker who is going to flourish and has his best years in front of him. Haaland, Vlahovic, Felix are better suited.”

Credit: @Raza_MCFC

“The news I’ve been waiting for !”

Credit: @Black8Virgo

‘Yessss’, ‘On my knees’… Some Man City fans also went wild for this ‘massive’ transfer rumour; find out more here.

According to Football Insider, there has been an update on Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of potential 2022 free agent Antonio Rudiger.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye Rudiger move…

As the January transfer window officially opens for business, Tottenham and transfer chief Fabio Paratici have been tipped to target ‘quality players at zero cost’ for manager Antonio Conte (Mundo Deportivo via Sport Witness).

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This has led to links with many players who are out of contract at the end of this season and could negotiate free transfers to Spurs for the summer.

Names like Franck Kessie and Alessio Romagnoli have recently been mentioned, as well as Rudiger, with Football Insider now sharing the latest on the latter star.

The Latest: Spurs ‘racing’ to sign Rudiger…

As per the outlet’s information, Tottenham are one of the top clubs ‘racing to sign’ the Germany international, with still no sign of a new deal at Stamford Bridge.

A Blues source has apparently explained that Rudiger will only consider putting pen to paper on fresh terms if he is made one of the club’s most lucrative earners, keeping the door open for Spurs to potentially sign him as things stand.

As reiterated by Football Insider, it is believed that Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy is also personally ready to back transfer chief Fabio Paratici in his pursuit of the defender. Indeed, the former is apparently willing to table a ‘huge’ salary offer for Rudiger in an effort to convince him to move across London.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Signing Rudiger on a free transfer ahead of Conte’s first full season in 2022/23 would come as a major coup by both Levy and Paratici, especially going by how much the defender has been transformed under Thomas Tuchel.

The 28-year-old, who is currently in his prime, has even been called an ‘animal’ and likened to Manchester City colossus Ruben Dias by pundit Rio Ferdinand (FIVE, via Metro).

In addition, former Liverpool star John Barnes has labelled Rudiger ‘sensational’, with the 49-cap beast possessing a wealth of experience at the top level for both club and country.

Valued at around £31.5m by Transfermarkt, if Spurs can bypass that fee entirely and sign him for nothing, it would arguably come as Paratici’s most brilliant capture yet.

In other news: ‘Absolute no brainer’…Sky Sports pundit thrilled by ‘exciting’ transfer news out of Tottenham, find out more here.

Manchester United has a lot of making up after early dismal displays under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Thankfully, they have been taken over by Ralf Rangnick until they find a permanent fixture.

Although Manchester United hasn’t returned to their best, they are winning games now, and that’s the essential part. This is great news if you like to bet on the outcome of Man United matches, and don’t worry, you are in safe hands making a bet through one of these betting sites.

And now let’s look at the predicted starting lineup, which features regular faces that will be part of the squad through the 2022 season.

David De Gea

David De Gea will likely be the man in front of the net, with an impressive 71 saves this season and only 31 goals conceded. De Gea has been a Red Devil since he was 14 years old and has made a stamp on the pitch as one of the greatest goal keepers in the world.

Diago Dalot

At only 22 years old, Diogo Dalgot has made an excellent name for himself in defence. Across the current season, he has won 17/23 tackles and come out on top in more than 50% of his duels. He has appeared ten times this season, and of the five he was in the starting lineup, he has not been substituted off.

Victor Lindelof

Leading the Red Devils’ defensive game is Victor Lindelof, who deals extremely well when put under pressure. After suffering breathing difficulties in their game against Norwich, Lindelof is reportedly back in shape and ready to give it his all. Lindelof had appeared in 18 games this season and has only been substituted off one time – when he played Norwich.

Harry Maguire

England’s very own defensive hero Harry Maguire joins Lindelof in central defence. He’s found impressive action in the opponents’ box and has also scored a goal. So far, Maguire has played 18 games and only been substituted off once. The game against Brighton where he might have played again was sadly cancelled.

Alex Telles

Closing the defence line is Alex Telles on the left. Donning the number 27, the 29-year-old brought impressive outside talent to Old Trafford, and he has joined the team on many of their most critical European outings.

Donny Van De Beek

Van De Beek will play in midfield alongside Scott McTominay. Finding his start with Amsterdam-based Ajax, Van De Beek is a highly talented footballer. He has won almost half of his tackles and has been in the starting 11 four times.

Scott McTominay

Joining Van De Beek is Scott McTominay, who has been part of the senior squad since 2017. At the beginning of 2021, McTominay captained United during the Emirates FA Cup. He’s joined the starting lineup 16 times and isn’t afraid to get stuck in.

Jadon Sancho

Moving forward, there will likely be Jadon Sancho on the right-wing, working tirelessly to create opportunities. So far in the 2021/22 season, Sancho has appeared 19 times and found the back of the net twice. His style of play mimics the gritty street scene of London and the Brazilian samba style of the greats.

Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes will work hard to smash crosses into the box on the left wing. This Portuguese footballer made a name for himself in Italy, where he spent the first five years. Fernandes has scored five goals across his 22 appearances in the current season.

Mason Greenwood

At only 20 years of age, Mason Greenwood is well above expectations regarding stats. He’s appeared 17 times and hit the back of the net five times. At only the beginning of his career, this energetic striker will go far.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Red Devil talisman Cristiano Ronaldo will join Greenwood in the front. So far this season, he’s appeared 18 times and scored 13 goals. You can expect to see Ronaldo in the starting lineup for most of Manchester United’s games.

There are many other key players in the 2022 United squad, but these are the most likely to appear in their next game. Despite all the talent, the question remains whether they can reclaim their former dominance.

Images from: https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay

West Ham United are interested in a deal to bring Bamba Dieng to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by French media outlet La Provence (via Sport Witness), who claimed that David Moyes’ West Ham side – as well as Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Aston Villa – are keeping a very close eye on the 21-year-old Marseille centre-forward ahead of a potential move this month.

The report added that no offers have yet been made for the Senegal international, while it is also suggested that the Ligue 1 side will unlikely be willing to part with the youngster midway through the season. A further report suggested that the French side are demanding at least €15m (£12.5m) to sanction his sale this month.

The next Mane

Considering the sheer amount of potential Dieng seems to possess, in addition to West Ham’s desperate need for a new centre-forward this January, the news that Moyes is considering an offer for the 21-year-old this month is hardly surprising.

Indeed, over his 14 Ligue 1 appearances so far this season – only seven of which have come as starts – the £7.2m-rated marksman has already bagged an impressive four goals and created one big chance for his teammates, as well as taking 1.5 shots per game and averaging a goal every 136 minutes.

However, it is perhaps not his current output which is the overarching reason for West Ham’s interest, but his potential returns in the future. The player who Get French Football News likened to Liverpool’s Sadio Mane has received lofty praise from some of the biggest names in world football.

Indeed, legendary Chelsea centre-forward Didier Drogba said of Dieng: “I wish him the best. It goes fast, very fast. When I see his performances, I tell myself that he has pep, he is skilful in front of the goal. He is in a team with a good dynamic, so why not? That’s all I wish him.”

As such, should West Ham indeed go on to secure a deal for the player who Jorge Sampaoli dubbed an “explosive” talent this month, and Dieng continues his current rate of progression, Moyes could well have the next Mane on his hands at the London Stadium. That will be a hugely exciting prospect for Hammers fans.

In other news: Alex Crook drops 13-word transfer update which will leave West Ham fans fuming

Journalist Phil Hay has confirmed that Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw has only picked up a minor injury, hailing the update as ‘good news’.

The Lowdown: Forshaw limps off at West Ham

The Whites secured a brilliant 3-2 win away to West Ham on Sunday afternoon, in what was arguably one of their best results of the season.

Forshaw limped off in the first half at the London Stadium with a hamstring injury, however, and it was feared that he would be missing for a chunk of action given his previous woes.

With Kalvin Phillips already sidelined, as well as numerous others, it was a blow that Marcelo Bielsa could do without.

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The Latest: Hay confirms positive news

Thankfully, Forshaw took to Instagram on Monday to confirm that the issue is only a minor one, with Hay reacting to it on Twitter:

“Good news from Forshaw on the hamstring front. Looks to have avoided a bad one.”

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The Verdict: Big boost for Leeds

This is a rare positive in the injury department for Leeds this season, with Forshaw claiming in his post he could potentially even be back for Saturday’s visit of Newcastle United in the Premier League.

The 30-year-old has been a revelation since returning from an extremely lengthy injury absence, starting ten league games and averaging 2.3 tackles per game, a tenaciousness in midfield they would be desperately lacking without him and Phillips.

Forshaw will remain a crucial figure in the middle of the park until the England star returns, as his hugely pleasing comeback from a career-threatening situation continues.

In other news, Hay has also given another positive Leeds injury update. Read more here.

Rangers were left frustrated as they returned to Premiership action but failed to pick up all three points on Tuesday night as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men returned from the break in an uninspiring fashion.

The Gers were held to a 1-1 draw by Aberdeen away from home, with the hosts coming from behind to secure a point. Ianis Hagi handed Gers the lead in the first-half as he converted from close range after a delicious cross into the six-yard box from Ryan Kent.

Aberdeen then equalised in the 73rd minute as Lewis Ferguson calmly slotted away a penalty. Alfredo Morelos was penalised for a handball in the area and the Dons midfielder made the most of his opportunity to level the scores.

Kent was sent off in the final ten minutes as he was shown a second yellow card for a soft foul on former Celtic man Scott Brown.

Although the ex-Liverpool man was given his marching orders, forget him, it was Morelos who let van Bronckhorst down badly in the match.

The Colombian striker let a lot to be desired as he put in a disappointing performance, struggling with his all-round game and in the final third.

As per SofaScore, he lost a whopping 11 individual duels, out of 18 in total, and only had 47 touches of the ball in his 89 minutes on the pitch. This shows that he was far too weak against the Aberdeen centre-back and allowed himself to be taken out of the game too easily.

He also failed with five of his six attempted dribbles and did not manage a single key pass, as per SofaScore. In the first-half, he ignored Scott Wright in an excellent position in the first half as he swiveled and scuffed a shot at the goalkeeper.

Ex-Gers forward Jermain Defoe recently said of the attacker: “Alfredo is someone who loves scoring goals.

“If we win 8-0 and he hasn’t scored, he’s not happy. I was the same when I was younger.”

Morelos failed to score and cost the Gers the win for his error as he gave away the penalty, so “not happy” may be an understatement in this particular situation. Although, it is seemingly the bare minimum emotion that the striker will now be dealing with, according to a man who worked with him for some time.

Therefore, the dud let himself and van Bronckhorst down and all parties will be frustrated by his performance on Tuesday night. It is now down to the centre-forward to ensure that he gets back on the scoresheet in the next match and make amends for his mistake against the Dons.

AND in other news, GvB could find Rangers their next Patterson in machine who’s tipped for a “big career”…

Taking to Twitter, Italian football journalist Marco Conterio of TUTTOmercatoWEB has made a big Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving Sevilla defender Diego Carlos.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing defender signings?

One of manager Antonio Conte’s four main transfer priorities at Spurs at the start of January was the signing of a world class, first team-level centre-half to reinforce the Lilywhites backline (Alasdair Gold).

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As Tottenham close in on both Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur of Juventus, there has been little progress made in going for a defender this window, although there have been links.

Middlesbrough starlet Djed Spence is apparently a target while the likes of Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger and Serie A star Matthijs de Ligt have been mentioned most recently.

The Latest: Spurs ‘working’ on last gasp Carlos move…

Sharing a big development in their hunt for a capable defensive addition, Conterio claims that managing director Fabio Paratici is now ‘working in these hours’ on a late move for Sevilla star Carlos (Twitter).

He even says that Tottenham have proposed a swap deal, which includes midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, as Paratici aims to snap up the 28-year-old in a surprise late move.

The Verdict: Big…

Signing the Brazil international ace would be a major eleventh hour coup for Conte and the club, not to mention a real statement of intent from the side of Tottenham.

Only in-form Spurs defender Eric Dier has averaged more clearances per 90 (3.7) than Carlos (3.6) over his league appearances this season (WhoScored), potentially highlighting how he would be a solid partner for the Englishman in defence.

Valued at around £40.5m by Transfermarkt, the player has also been called a ‘beast’ by Spanish football expert Domagoj Kostanjšak.

It is a move which could be riddled with difficulties, and perhaps unlikely, but it’s also a display of ambition at the very least.

In other news: Talks ongoing: Journalist breaks Saturday night development as Spurs make another ‘official’ bid, find out more here.

Sharing an update on Tottenham Hotspur’s January plans, journalist Sami Mokbel of The Daily Mail has made a transfer claim involving Paris-Saint Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.

The Lowdown: Alli and Ndombele nearing exit?

As reliably reported, Spurs stars Dele Alli and Tanguy Ndombele are two big names who could leave north London by deadline day as transfer chief Fabio Paratici works on both incomings and outgoings (Sky Sports).

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The former has seen his market value plummet in recent seasons and a move away may be best for all parties. The latter, Spurs’ club-record signing, is reportedly eager to join PSG after being left out in the cold by manager Antonio Conte.

Potential swap deals have been touted in the press, with journalist Jason Burt of The Telegraph stating recently that Spurs were ‘offered’ Argentina international Leandro Paredes in such a potential deal.

Sharing news on Tottenham’s possible exits this month, another reporter in Mokbel has now made a claim involving former Liverpool star Wijnaldum.

The Latest: Wijnaldum ‘open’ to signing for Spurs…

Indeed, The Daily Mail journalist claimed that the 31-year-old is ‘open’ to a PSG/Spurs swap deal which would see the Netherlands international join Spurs on loan for the remainder of the current campaign.

This could result in either Ndombele or Alli moving in the opposite direction as chairman Daniel Levy aims to back Conte in the transfer market and kickstart the Tottenham rebuild.

The Verdict: Get it done?

We believe that signing Wijnaldum on a temporary basis is certainly something Conte should consider, especially going by the midfielder’s pedigree in the Premier League and threat going forward.

The 31-year-old has racked up 26 goals over 85 caps at international level and can operate as an advanced playmaker, potentially coming as the unlikely but long-awaited replacement for Christian Eriksen if Spurs decide to move for him.

During his last season at Anfield, the tidy £165,000-per-week ace averaged a higher pass accuracy (92.7%) than any Liverpool player under Jurgen Klopp (WhoScored), so it’s little wonder why the Reds boss described him as a ‘legend’ and the ‘architect’ of their success in recent years (The Daily Mail).

At the very least, it’s certainly a swap deal which must get Paratici thinking, with Wijnadlum’s stance crystal clear.

In other news: Personal terms agreed: Conte edges closer to signing ‘world-beater’ for Tottenham, find out more here.

Aston Villa correspondent Ashley Preece has made a claim on reported target Boubacar Kamara and NSWE’s plans for Steven Gerrard in the summer.

The Lowdown: No midfielder

Villa brought in four senior players during the January transfer window, however, none of those came in central midfield.

The club tried their best with bids for Brighton’s Yves Bissouma and Spurs new boy Rodrigo Bentancur, while also reportedly having Kamara on their shortlist.

Kamara remained with Marseille despite links to Leeds and Manchester United and will be a free agent in the summer, should his contract situation in France remain the same.

The Latest: Preece’s claim

Preece ran a Q&A on Birmingham Live in the final hours of the winter window. This is what he had to say in reply to one supporter, revealing Kamara was ‘never’ on Villa’s radar before adding that NSWE will back Gerrard with a ‘huge’ transfer budget in the summer.

“Villa a closed book, all eyes were on Bissouma. Kamara never on Villa’s radar, sadly. Can’t believe that one looks like it’ll go to the summer now when he becomes free agent. Happy with window on the whole? Gerrard will be given big summer budget pal. Huge.”

The Verdict: Interesting…

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano was the man to credit Villa with an interest in Kamara last month.

Villa can technically look to seal a pre-contract agreement with the 22-year-old between now and the end of the season ahead of a summer switch.

However, Gerrard looks set to be handed a big summer budget, and with the club looking to go back in for Bissouma ahead of the 2022/23 season, Kamara may move elsewhere, possibly to a Premier League rival.

In other news: BBC man says ‘finances in place’ for huge deal for Villa star after late-night Ornstein update.