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Newcastle United have reportedly knocked on the door to try and sign Karim Adeyemi.

The Lowdown: Hot prospect

Adeyemi is a player that is really emerging as one of the hottest prospects in world football at just 19 years of age.

He has already been called up three times to the senior squad for the Germany national team for crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying games, and coach Hanzi Flick has been full of praise for him, claiming that he is ‘ice-cold’ in front of goal.

With no fewer than 14 goals and two assists in 21 matches in total for RB Salzburg so far this season (Transfermarkt), it is hard not to agree, and he will no doubt only get better considering these performances are coming so early in his career.

The Latest: Newcastle knocked on door

As per Sport1, both the St. James’ Park faithful as well as Tottenham Hotspur have knocked on the door for Adeyemi.

However, a transfer to the North East is currently ‘out of the question’, as Liverpool, PSG, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund have all been credited with interest in the striker, so he may prefer to move to a club currently competing in the UEFA Champions League.

The Verdict: Unrealistic

Given that the Tyneside outfit are currently in a relegation battle, it seems very unrealistic that Adeyemi would move to them at this moment in time.

He has been coveted by some of the top teams around Europe, and so it is more likely that he will move to one of them.

There is no doubt that Adeyemi would add a lot to the Magpies squad, as his manager Matthias Jaissle has cited his ‘brutal’ speed and quality.

Callum Wilson is unsurprisingly the team’s top scorer this season with four goals, but he has been injured for some parts of their campaign, and so they need to bring in another goal scorer in their ranks to ease the burden off of him and replace him when he is out injured.

Adeyemi has already proven that he can score goals despite his young age, and the potential is certainly there for all to see. However, a move to the Toon seems unlikely for now.

In other news, find out who Amanda Staveley is ‘confident’ will be NUFC’s next manager here!

Aston Villa have set their sights on signing Rangers centre-back Filip Helander, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Helander profiled

Helander, labelled as ‘very tough’, was brought to Ibrox by Steven Gerrard back in 2019 in a deal worth £3.5m.

Since then, the Sweden international has made 60 appearances for the Scottish giants, however, only 11 of those have come during the current campaign, with Helander missing large parts of the season through injury.

He will be entering the final 12 months of his Rangers contract in the summer, and it looks as if Villa are keen on a cut-price deal for the now £3.15m-rated defender.

The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider shared a story on Tuesday morning regarding Helander after being informed by a Villa source.

They claim that Johan Lange and co. are interested in signing the 28-year-old this summer, but Gerrard is concerned over Helander’s injury record, something which could put a move in jeopardy.

The Verdict: A risk

A number of defensive signings could well be needed this summer, especially with the futures of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa up in the air.

Should the pair move on, bringing in someone like Helander in a cut-price deal could be a shrewd move to bolster the club’s options, however, it would also be a gamble.

The Rangers man has missed 66 games through injury since arriving in Scotland, so Gerrard may feel he could be signing a player he can’t rely on completely heading into his first full season in charge.

In other news: Source: Villa now open to selling 2022 star this summer despite Gerrard being a big fan. 

Kieran Devlin has dropped some early team news ahead of Celtic’s Premiership clash this evening.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on The Athletic, the journalist revealed that, after both players were brought off during Celtic’s 1-0 win over Motherwell on Sunday, there is a possibility that neither Mikey Johnston nor James Forrest will be deemed fit enough to feature against Ross County on Wednesday evening.

In his post, Devlin said: “Possibility that neither Johnston nor Forrest make [the] game against Ross County, which means that six of Celtic’s seven first-team attacking players might be out injured for it.”

Fans will be fuming

While injuries are, unfortunately, part and parcel of the game, the sheer volume of knocks that Celtic players have been picking up this season is sure to have left fans of the club fuming.

Indeed, at present, all of Kyogo Furuhashi, Albian Ajeti and Jota are sidelined with hamstring injuries – while Giorgos Giakoumakis, Christopher Jullien and Karamoko Dembele are all also in the treatment room – something that would appear to suggest a number of Ange Postecoglou’s players are still not quite fit enough to keep up with the pace of the game the 56-year-old is trying to get his side to play.

Regardless of this, the news that both Forrest and Johnston are now also doubts for the Ross County clash is sure to have left both fans and Postecoglou gutted, as, with Wednesday’s fixture being the club’s last before the League Cup final against Hibernian on Sunday, Celtic’s attacking options are looking incredibly bare.

This evening, the Greek-Australian coach looks as if he will only have Liel Abada available as an out and out forward, with attacking midfielders Ewan Henderson and David Turnbull appearing likely candidates to fill in within the front three.

And, if this situation does not improve before Sunday, Celtic’s chances of lifting the League Cup trophy would appear to be much slimmer than they would have been otherwise – something that will certainly be a worry for everyone involved with the club.

In other news: Ange could unearth Celtic’s new Moravcik with “natural” 16 y/o “star in the making”

Leeds United have agreed on a deal to sign a new midfielder, according to reports…

What’s the word?

The Sunday Mirror (16th January, page 73) claim the Yorkshiremen are on the verge of sealing the 20-year-old’s signature in a £6m move from Belgian outfit Standard Liege.

It’s thought that the highly-rated Belgian U21 international has been brought in to provide cover for the injured Kalvin Phillips, who isn’t expected to return to action until March at the very earliest.

Bielsa will be buzzing

Well, it seems as if United have finally found that engine room enforcer they’ve been desperately looking for – and at just the right time.

Sunday’s game down at West Ham was another reminder of their mounting and persistent injury problems as Adam Forshaw – who has been playing in the Phillips role – went off during the first half with an injury.

It leaves Bielsa hugely light on options in the middle, so signing Raskin should leave him relieved, if not hugely excited about what lies ahead.

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The young 5 foot 10 dynamo has excelled for Liege over the past 18 months. This season, he has provided two assists in 18 appearances from a deep-lying role, whilst also averaging a whopping 2.9 tackles per game.

That builds on last season’s performance, where the £4.5m-rated beast delivered three goals and five assists, and even featured in the Europa League, thus handing Bielsa some valuable experience that he perhaps lacks in his current squad.

“He is a box-to-box midfielder. He can play in every position in the middle of the park. He is technically gifted, but he is also a bit of a pitbull,” claimed Bob Faesen of Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg to The Herald.

“He can run a lot, is powerful and has a good shot. He has been one of the big surprises in Belgium football this season and will be a key player for Liege who Rangers will need to be wary of.”

That sort of review will only make Bielsa even more buzzing to have landed him. Raskin certainly fits the atypical profile – hard-working, powerful and commanding at both ends of the pitch.

If reports are to be believed, then an announcement can’t be far away now. For £6m, it has to be considered an absolute bargain from Victor Orta and co.

AND in other news, Orta could sign his next Samu Saiz in Leeds swoop for “exciting” £10.8m-rated maestro…

Having scored fewer goals than all of the clubs currently above them in the Championship table as well as a few currently underneath them, West Bromwich Albion dived into the January transfer market to add some extra firepower to Valerien Ismael’s squad with the signing of Daryl Dike from Orlando City.

However, with only a few days left until the window shuts, the Baggies may have to bring another attacking option to the club before the deadline arrives as a result of Dike’s recent muscle injury that will keep him out of action for the next eight weeks.

One potential option that West Brom could realistically look to bring in before the end of the month that they have been mentioned with recently is Middlesbrough striker Uche Ikpeazu.

With a total of 269 senior club appearances under his belt, the 26-year-old, who is currently picking up a weekly wage of £5.5k-per-week according to Salary Sport, has managed to score 53 goals and provide 32 assists along the way, highlighting the sort of experience he has and his ability to score and create goals, which is something that West Brom could do with at the moment.

Even though the attacker only joined Middlesbrough back in the previous summer transfer window from Wycombe Wanderers, he has only started eight of the 20 league games he’s appeared in, which suggests that he could be tempted with a move elsewhere if he’d get regular game time, which West Brom could offer him as a result of Dike’s unfortunate injury.

Labelled as a “humble” person in the past by Gareth Ainsworth, Ikpeazu could be just what Ismael needs at the moment to add an extra attacking dynamic to his side and potentially push the Baggies closer to promotion if he can hit the ground running in terms of scoring goals.

Moving forward, with West Brom’s recent 2-0 defeat against Preston North End proving how much they could do with some attacking reinforcements by having no shots on target throughout the match, the Baggies should definitely make a late approach to Middlesbrough to see if they’d be willing to negotiate a deal to sell their striker.

However, with Boro only three points behind West Brom at this stage of the season, they could be reluctant in allowing one of their attacking talents to join another team so close to them in the table, making it a potential challenge for the Baggies to sign him.

In other news: Ismael must finally axe £36k-p/w West Brom “leader” this month, he’s stealing a living

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Football Fancast is embarking on a new series, in which we take a look at some of the hottest young prospects currently playing in the Championship…

Tall, quick and powerful. Brentford’s Ollie Watkins seems tailor-made for the top flight, and appears to have all the necessary tools to become one of the Premier League’s most dangerous wide forwards in years to come – for now, at least, he will have to contend with being the Championship’s most effective winger.

Watkins’ rise has not quite been meteoric, but it has been an eye-catching one. It was only in the summer of 2017 that the Bees took the plunge in signing a little-known League Two forward from Exeter, where he had just missed out on promotion after losing the play-off final to Blackpool.

Despite his side’s failure to earn promotion, the campaign was a personal triumph for Watkins as he was named the EFL Young Player of the Year, having notched 16 goals in 52 appearances.

The Englishman shows a maturity in his position that should be beyond his years. The most common irregularity of a young winger’s game is his tendency to hug the touchline for much of the 90 minutes, where he will struggle to make an impact for the majority of the game unless he is spoon-fed the ball.

What Watkins does differently, however, is ensure that he is always getting inside his full-back when not on the ball, so he can be first in line to head home or tap in a cross if the right delivery comes in, as opposed to allowing an easy clearance for the opposition defenders.

The former Weston-super-Mare loanee has plenty of time on his side at just 23 years of age, and is taking to the Championship like a duck to water with nine goals and five assists so far for Brentford this season.

Another man who has been performing superbly for the Bees this season is French striker Neal Maupay, who has hit 21 goals across all competitions so far in the current campaign and has consequently attracted interest from the Premier League – Huddersfield were keen in the January window.

Maupay has arguably had more media coverage and attention in comparison to Watkins, which is unfair on the latter seeing as he has performed just as admirably.

Crystal Palace and Bournemouth were circling around Watkins back in the summer, and one would assume that they and plenty others will be back at Griffin Park in a few months to check on his availability.

Newcastle United supporters have a reason to look forward to the future under PIF after the Saudi Arabian consortium splashed the cash in January to help them avoid relegation from the top-flight.

It was a sign of intent from the new owners and the Magpies can now hope that they will be able to compete higher up the food chain in the Premier League in the years to come.

The Toon faithful may be jealous of the likes of West Ham and Leicester this week as both sides secured places in European semi-finals, dreaming that their side will one day make it to one under PIF’s leadership.

English midfielder James Maddison was named Man of the Match, and scored, as the Foxes beat PSV in the Conference League quarter-finals and he is a player who could have been wearing a Newcastle shirt.

In the summer of 2018, Newcastle were one of the teams reportedly interested in signing the playmaker from Norwich.

However, Mike Ashley was unable to get a deal over the line as Leicester swooped in to snap him up, with Transfermarkt valuing him at £9m at the time.

Since joining the Foxes, he has proven himself in the Premier League and in Europe with his ability to score and create from midfield.

In 12 top-flight matches, Maddison has scored 29 goals and provided 22 assists. He also has five goals and four assists for the club in 16 outings in European competitions, which shows that he can deliver domestically and in Europe.

At the time of writing (15/04/22), Transfermarkt value him at a whopping £45m. This is a huge increase in the space of just under four years and illustrates how he has been able to fulfill the potential he showed whilst at Carrow Road in the Championship.

Although he has only been capped once by England, Gareth Southgate previously hailed his “world-class” set-pieces and he still has time to make an impact on the international stage. At the age of 25, he has plenty of time to keep improving and increasing his value – which will cause the size of Ashley’s blunder to grow.

The former Toon owner endured a major howler by failing to beat Leicester to his signature as he has turned out to be a phenomenal signing for the Foxes. He is thriving under Brendan Rodgers with his goals and assists from the number 10 position and the magician could have been strutting his stuff at St. James’ Park…

AND in other news, Same agency as Joelinton: NUFC scouting 6 ft 4 star, he’s a dream Botman alternative…

West Ham head coach, David Moyes, is expected to go into the transfer window in a few weeks time with the aim of finding players to bring into the side to cover key positions that either need work or depth, as the side continues to compete in Europe and will be hopeful that in January they are still in the chances of top four.

Attracting players shouldn’t be a difficult job for Moyes, as the side have showcased their talents by competing for a Champions League spot and finishing well clear at the top of the table unbeaten in their Europa League group too.

With Jesse Lingard heavily speculated to re-join the club he was loaned to at the beginning of 2021, there is also another Premier League player West Ham are interested in.

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham will make one final bid of £7m for Burnley defender, James Tarkowski.

The £70k-per-week tank has been linked with a few Premier League clubs over the last 12 months and was looking likely to join the Hammers in the summer transfer window, but after a £31m bid was rejected, West Ham pulled away.

Tarkowski is out of contract in 2022, and thus, they could swoop in for the defender’s signature before he becomes available on a free transfer.

Is it the right move for West Ham?

With Angelo Ogbonna recently side-lined for the rest of the season with an ACL injury, that solid experience is something that West Ham could really miss in their fight for the top four and their attempt to exceed expectations in the Europa League this season.

£7m would be a steal for Tarkowski given his experience, and his defensive qualities that have had a positive impact on Burnley’s stay in the Premier League, despite relegation battles being a frequent worry for the side.

QPR manager, Mark Warburton, once hailed the defender as “exceptional”, speaking fondly when he worked with the central defender, highlighting his fabulous range of qualities.

On the evidence above, he’d be a welcome addition and one that Moyes is surely dreaming of when you consider the type of player they’re in need of. West Ham could secure a hugely encouraging deal here with plenty of positives. They’d add a proven top-flight figure to their armoury, replace Ogbonna and not pay a huge fee for his services either.

As a result, it seems like a no brainer, but it is a move that will depend on the circumstances Burnley find themselves in closer to January. Whether they feel that taking money for him would be worth more than Tarkowski’s work in the team when it may be the difference between staying up or getting relegated is another matter.

In other news: Moyes reveals extent of Aaron Creswell injury

After signing Lucas Digne on a permanent deal and Philippe Coutinho on loan, Aston Villa have now been linked with a move for Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma.

After news of their interest surfaced, it was reported by The Athletic that the Seagulls have no intention of selling the player this month but would consider a bid of around £50m for the 25-year-old.

With this in mind, it seems as though a claim has now emerged which should excite a lot of Villa supporters.

What’s the latest?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Dean Jones had this to say regarding Villa’s reported interest in the Brighton ace: “The Bissouma interest is real and Villa aren’t put off by his price tag.

“They’ve wanted him since the start of the window and have been able to show him how ambitious they are – so there is growing confidence this could happen.”

Fans will be buzzing

Since joining Brighton back in 2018 from Lille in a deal worth a reported fee of around £15m, the Mali international – who is currently valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt – has gone on to make 111 appearances for Graham Potter’s team across all competitions, highlighting his importance to Brighton on the pitch and why they would only accept a hefty bid for him in any potential transfer deal.

This season has seen Bissouma prove why the club have put such a lofty price tag on him, with the 25-year-old earning himself an overall performance rating of 7.13 from WhoScored. That comfortably makes him Brighton’s highest-rated player and would put him incredibly close to topping Villa’s rankings too if it weren’t for John McGinn, who has a rating of 7.14/10.

Given how Villa have not been shy in spending money to bring new players to the club such as Digne or the trio of Danny Ings, Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia during last summer’s transfer window, that certainly makes a big-money move for Bissouma a possibility.

With reports suggesting that Villa’s owners would provide financial backing for Gerrard in the transfer window, a potential move for the Brighton beast this month would certainly show just how much they are willing to invest in the squad, given how a £50m transfer for the midfield would smash through their current transfer record of £33m that they spent on Buendia.

Considering that the Mali midfielder could well be one of Villa’s best performers, given his WhoScored rating in the context of Gerrard’s current squad, fans of the Midlands club could be buzzing to hear that there is “growing confidence” of landing the 25-year-old.

In other news: Villa have “agreement” for £13k-p/w ace with a “big presence”, Gerrard will be elated

Pascal Struijk is expected to be available for Leeds United’s Premier League clash with Brentford this weekend, according to journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Struijk injured in midweek

The Whites picked up a crucial victory on Tuesday night, winning 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace thanks to Raphinha’s stoppage-time penalty.

One of the negatives on the night saw Struijk leave the field at half-time, though, with the centre-back picking up an injury.

Although his involvement in Sunday’s Premier League clash with Brentford at Elland Road looked in doubt, that now doesn’t appear to be the case.

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The Latest: Hay gives positive update

Taking to Twitter on Friday morning, Hay confirmed that Struijk is expected to be available for the weekend action, giving the following eight-word update:

“Struijk should be available for the Brentford game.”

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The Verdict: Injuries finally easing

This is another big boost for Leeds, with Struijk hailed as a ‘fantastic’ player by former Whites hero Noel Whelan and someone who provides real squad depth. He has impressed with his defensive efforts this season, with his match averages of 2.3 tackles and 1.6 interceptions among the highest in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad.

There is a feeling that the Whites’ injury problems are easing at long last, with Hay also confirming that key duo Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford should be fit to face Brentford as well.

While Bielsa and his players deserve some blame for a poor start to the season, injuries haven’t helped at all and we should now hopefully start to see improvements on the pitch, with Leeds potentially pulling clear of the relegation fight.

In other news, Leeds have been linked with a new signing – find out who it is here.