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Keith Jackson says it’s ‘hard to see’ Connor Goldson remaining at Rangers as his contract ticks down. 

The lowdown

The contract Goldson signed on his arrival in Glasgow back in 2018 is due to expire at the end of May.

According to Football Insider, fellow Europa League outfit West Ham United are monitoring the situation with a view to a potential move in 2022.

Goldson has made 179 appearances for Rangers and won his first silverware at the club last season as Steven Gerrard’s side broke Celtic’s SPFL stranglehold.

He was named in the league’s official team of the season in recognition of his performances.

The latest

As part of The Daily Record’s Monday Jury, Jackson was asked whether Rangers should ‘push the boat out’ to keep Goldson or start looking for his replacement.

The prospects of Goldson remaining at Ibrox are growing increasingly slim, he said, and suitors will be queuing up.

“It’s getting hard to see this one being resolved,” he wrote. “Goldson has been a rock for Rangers but the longer the contractual stand-off continues the more likely it seems he’ll be on his way.

“He won’t be short of offers from elsewhere.”

The verdict

Just like Jackson’s colleague Andy Newport says, if he was going to sign, surely he would have done so already? It certainly looks like he’s approaching the final months of his stint at Rangers.

The club will have a dilemma in January – cash in while they still can, or avoid disruption to their defensive ranks in the midst of a crucial title charge.

The latter is probably the more sensible course of action, and then they can line-up a replacement for the summer window, but with Gerrard already seemingly unhappy with the funds available to him, this one could get interesting when the winter window opens.

In other news, Neil McCann expressed his frustration with this Rangers star.

Adam Jones has now shared another Everton injury boost before they play Leicester City at home in the Premier League tonight.

The Lowdown: Big game

This is another big game for the Merseyside club as they look to avoid relegation down to the Championship.

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They are currently just three points above the drop zone ahead of the match in front of their supporters at Goodison Park, and with tricky games against Liverpool and Chelsea to come, a win against the Foxes would simply be huge.

The Latest: Team news

Taking to Twitter, The Liverpool Echo journalist Jones has now shared some comments from Frank Lampard in his pre-game press conference.

In what will come as a relief to the fans, Yerry Mina is finally back ‘in the squad’ after a while out injured, as is Donny van de Beek, who is also ‘back in contention’ after a spell out through illness, injury and family commitments.

The Verdict: Huge boost

Not only is it a huge boost to have Mina back in the heart of defence, but van de Beek should add some guile through the spine of midfield.

The Manchester United loanee ranks highly among his teammates in terms of average tackles and passes per match in the top flight, while his 84.9% pass accuracy is the highest out of any Toffees player to have made five or more appearances in the division (WhoScored).

He could well be the key to unlocking the door tonight, and will no doubt play a part under former attacking midfield legend himself Frank Lampard.

In other news, find out what ‘major’ summer business Farhad Moshiri is now ‘plotting’ here!

Many Everton fans have been left flocking to some manager news on Kasper Hjulmand.

As per Danish news outlet B.T., the Goodison Park faithful have now enquired about the Denmark national team coach, and are doing ‘concrete research’ on him in the view of him potentially succeeding Rafa Benitez.

The Spaniard is under pressure following their 4-1 loss at home to bitter rivals Liverpool in midweek, which has now seen them without a win eight games in the Premier League ahead of their visit of Arsenal on Monday night.

The poor run of form will reportedly see some supporters of the Merseyside club walk out during the 27th minute of the match in protest, due to it being 27 years now without a major trophy to their name.

Nonetheless, Hjulmand is one name on the shortlist due to his success with Denmark, in where he guided them to the semi-final of Euro 2020, as his team also became the third side to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

He also guided them to ninth spot in the official World Rankings in the process.

However, his record as a club manager is nowhere near as impressive, as he lasted just 21 games in his mist high-profile job at Mainz, and has no other experience of managing in any other major European league (Transfermarkt).

Of course, managing at club level is a lot different to the international stage, and so Toffees supporters seem split on his potential appointment.

Everton fans on Hjulmand news

These Blues flocked to the news as it was shared on Twitter:

“Don’t know much about him but he’s taken an about average Denmark team and put them in a good position. International footy is different, look at Southgate, but think it’s a decent shout.”

Credit: @1878_Shirts

“This would be amazing. Gets the best out of average players. We have a lot of average players”

Credit: @adam_drage

“Please”

Credit: @Shot_Stopper24

“Doesn’t look great on paper….. Biggest club gig was Mainz where he didn’t even last a season, started ok in the league then 1 win in 13. Lampard for me”

Credit: @keepitreal_82

“Another disaster”

Credit: @iamawayrightnow

“His record as a domestic manager is awful”

Credit: @AlmightyLard

In other news, find out what Marcel Brands news has Evertonians erupting here!

Aston Villa will be going into the transfer window with the view to strengthen their side after a slow start to their season with Steven Gerrard replacing Dean Smith in November in a bid to change the direction steering them into a relegation battle.

Now 12th in the Premier League, Gerrard has put the club in a much stronger position going into the second half of the season, but with the transfer window opening in the next 72 hours, the new manager could be about to lose his first player from the squad.

What’s the word?

According to reports from Tuttomercatoweb, Napoli will make a decision on a move in the next 48 hours for Axel Tuanzebe, who is currently on a season long loan with Aston Villa from Manchester United.

The reports suggest that the deal is close, but the only part missing is an agreement on how much the 24 year old will cost Napoli, which is expected to be negotiated in the next few days.

Fabrizio Romano has also added fuel to the fire, tweeting this morning to confirm further information about a potential move for the Villa loanee;

“Napoli are in contact with Manchester United through intermediaries to discuss potential loan fee and buy option for Axel Tuanzebe. The centre back is appreciated but price tag will be key to proceed in negotiations. Blue circle #MUFC #Napoli”

“Aston Villa are waiting – nothing agreed yet.”

Last season, Tuanzebe made a glittering performance against PSG in the Champions League that lead Manchester United team mate, David De Gea, to hail the young defender “unbelievable”

In the post match MUTV interview De Gea said;

“He has been unbelievable today.”

“He played against two of the best players in the world in Neymar and Mbappe so he did really, really well.”

Tuanzebe has made nine appearances out of a possible 18 for Aston Villa this season in the Premier League, but has only played eight minutes of football in the last seven games since the former Liverpool midfielder has taken over management of the side.

Gerrard will be fuming

Despite a lack of game time since Dean Smith departed almost two months ago, the £48K-a-week earning gem’s arrival in the summer was always a risky choice when a dynamic and blossoming centre back partnership was already forming in Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings.

The risk didn’t pay off after Gerrard’s arrival, where he mostly uses a formation of 4-3-2-1, in which he favours the experienced partnership of Konsa and Mings.

However with the Villa captain picking up a suspension after receiving his fifth booking of the season, Tuanzebe would be the likely replacement for the game against Brentford on Sunday.

Gerrard will be fuming that the young defender could go into the important game distracted by the thought of a potential move away to Napoli, with the clash away from home their first opportunity to pick up points after a home defeat to title challengers, Chelsea, on Boxing Day.

They then had a postponement of their game against Leeds United due to virus outbreaks, that has now set the side back in their pursuit in challenging for a spot in the top half of the table.

The Villa boss will be hoping to take all three points on Sunday and if selected, Tuanzebe could use the opportunity to showcase his ability to Napoli, if a deal hasn’t already been agreed by then.

This is a distraction that Gerrard really could have done without.

In other news: Steven Gerrard must axe Trezeguet

With Everton once again on the hunt for another permanent manager after the Merseyside club sacked Rafa Benitez as a result of a poor run of form in the Premier League that capitulated with a 2-1 defeat against relegation struggler Norwich City at the weekend, numerous names have been thrown around as potential candidates to take the reins at Goodison Park.

One name that has been mentioned with the position is one that will be very familiar to not just Premier League followers, but specifically Everton fans.

What’s the latest?

Speaking on a recent live Sky Sports programme, journalist Kaveh Solhekol revealed that if Everton were to offer the manager’s role to current Derby County boss Wayne Rooney, the former Toffees star would find it difficult to turn down.

He said: “The information we have that is although Wayne Rooney is focused and working hard at Derby County, if he was offered the opportunity to return to Everton, he would find it very very difficult to say no.

“If he was to return to Everton, you are talking about somebody that is footballing royalty.

“Other players, current players respect him so much.”

He’d raise the roof

In his playing days, Rooney made a total of 117 appearances for the Toffees across all competitions, scoring 28 goals and providing four assists along the way.

As a manager, the 36-year-old has taken charge of 64 games for Derby as their caretaker and permanent manager, winning 19 games, drawing 19 and losing 26 in the process.

Given the financial situation the Midlands club have found themselves in that have led to points deductions as well as transfer and contract issues with players, the former striker has been able to show his mettle in the dugout at Pride Park this season by guiding his team to eight wins and 11 draws.

With Rooney’s connections at Goodison and his knowledge of the Premier League having played 491 games in the top division, he has the ability to raise not only the mood at Everton but the standards as well, especially if he’d be able to get a positive run of results under his belt and get a big reaction from the fans as well; something he’s already achieved at Derby.

With Rooney previously sharing his intent on staying at Derby regardless of how their current campaign ends whether it be in the Championship or as a League One side next season, it seems that even if the Toffees do approach their former striker with a job offer to replace Benitez, he wouldn’t want to leave halfway through what could be a great achievement for him and the club in keeping them in the second tier.

With that in mind, it could be worth Everton targeting a manager that isn’t currently employed that would be able to make a quick move to Goodison Park and get to work on getting their season back on track.

In other news: “As things stand”: Fabrizio Romano drops fresh EFC manager claim, fans surely relieved – opinion

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According to The Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur have added James Maddison to their list of targets as they look to find a replacement for Christian Eriksen amid growing concerns that the Dane could be out the door in the summer.

Eriksen’s contract with the north London club expires in summer 2020 and there may well be a number of clubs queuing up for the former Ajax man’s signature, including Real Madrid, as per The Mirror, should he fail to agree new terms at White Hart Lane.

Meanwhile, Maddison has been impressing in his first season in the Premier League and Spurs see him as a potential solution to their lack of homegrown players and the void to be left by Eriksen’s potential departure.

Watch the best fails from the world of indoor football in the video below…

Maddison has been playing as an orthodox No.10 for the Foxes or as a left-winger, where he can cut inside, as he creates chances for Jamie Vardy or drives at the defence himself.

Having chalked up five goals and four assists this season, the 22-year-old has been brilliant at times for Claude Puel’s side this term. Eriksen, meanwhile, has double the Englishman’s assist tally with eight – Maddison clearly has some way to go if he is to fill the Dane’s shoes but this is only his first season in the top flight having completed the £20m switch to the King Power Stadium in the summer.

There are similarities to be drawn between the two though; WhoScored lists Maddison’s key passing, long-shots and set pieces as ‘very strong’, all three of which he shares with Eriksen. It’s unlikely the former would replicate the latter’s output straight off the bat, but anything is possible with a manager like Mauricio Pochettino in charge, who is renowned for his management of young talent.

Here’s how Spurs fans reacted to the reports, with many saying they should have made the move months ago…

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Glasgow Rangers side head into Sunday’s Premiership clash knowing that they simply must secure all three points if they are to give themselves any chance of retaining their domestic crown this season.

Indeed, with their Glasgow arch-rivals currently leading by nine points in the league, the Light Blues cannot afford any slip-ups if they are to push the table-toppers as far as possible over the remaining five games of the 2021/22 campaign after today’s clash.

As such, while a trip to Stephen Robinson’s 10th-placed St Mirren should not cause the Europa League quarter-finalists too many problems, Van Bronckhorst must nevertheless ensure that he gets his team selection spot-on against the Buddies in order to secure victory.

While it is true Leon Balogun had something of a shocker in the 1-0 defeat to Sporting Braga last time out, it would appear as if Fashion Sakala is the most likely candidate for the chop on Sunday afternoon, as the 25-year-old well and truly fluffed his big chance leading the line for Rangers on Thursday.

Van Bronckhorst must axe Sakala

Indeed, over his 62 minutes on the pitch in Portugal, the centre-forward cost his side dearly through his wastefulness in front of goal and extremely poor hold-up play. The £3.6m-rated striker missed the target with both of his shots at goal – one of which was deemed a big chance – completed just three of his seven attempted passes and enjoyed just 20 touches of the ball.

The £10k-per-week forward also lost all 10 of his duels, committed two fouls, was flagged offside once and lost possession 11 times, meaning he gave the ball away with every 1.8 touches. These returns saw the 25-year-old earn a hugely disappointing SofaScore match rating of just 6.1.

Furthermore, the Daily Record’s Andrew Newport also awarded the Zambia international a five in his own player ratings, stating of the centre-forward’s display: “Given the unenviable task of filling Alfredo Morelos’ boots but missed two huge chances to give Rangers the lead. Hold-up play was hopeless.”

As such, with Rangers needing to ensure that they take their chances on Sunday afternoon, Van Bronckhorst simply must axe Sakala from his starting XI, as the player who Tom Stoltman claimed “doesn’t cut it” could very well end up costing his side their Premiership crown against St Mirren.

AND in other news: Van Bronckhorst can axe £10k-p/w liability as Rangers eye “frightening” £8.4k-p/w “bag of tricks”

With Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side heading into Thursday evening’s Europa League fixture knowing that nothing but a win will keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive, the 56-year-old manager must ensure he gets his team selection spot on against Ferencvarosi TC.

And, with the Hoops’ Hungarian hosts currently being on a run of three consecutive fixtures without defeat – a series of games which includes a 7-0 spanking of Tokol VSK – Postecoglou will be well aware that taking three points from the Groupama Arena will be no walk in the park.

So, will the Bhoys boss make any changes to the team which started the lacklustre 0-0 draw with Livingston last time out? Here’s how we think Celtic could line up against Ferencvarosi, along with the latest team and injury news…

With both Tom Rogic and Carl Starfelt being unavailable for Thursday evening due to injury, we predict that Postecoglou will make three changes to the side that lined up against Livingston last weekend.

The first of these alterations is a forced one in the centre of defence, with the stricken Starfelt being replaced by the highly-rated 21-year-old Stephen Welsh – who is handed his first start since September.

The remainder of the back five is unchanged, with Joe Hart starting between the Celtic sticks, Josip Juranovic and Anthony Ralston lining up at left and right-back respectively, and Cameron Carter-Vickers starting alongside Welsh at centre-back.

There is something of a reshuffle in the middle of the park, with the £14k-per-week Nir Bitton dropping to the bench, while Jota moves into a central attacking midfield role – in a bid to combat the Bhoys’ clear lack of creativity in midfield against the Lions on Saturday.

This move sees the £9k-per-week Mikey Johnston handed a start on the left of Postecoglou’s front three, while Kyogo Furuhashi returns to the XI in place of the £2.25m-rated Georgios Giakoumakis – who had something of an afternoon to forget against Livingston – with Liel Abada keeping his spot on the right.

In other news: Cost £4.5m, left on a free: Celtic had a nightmare on 25 y/o gem who “has everything”

Newcastle United will reportedly now ‘try again’ to sign Sven Botman in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Centre-back wanted

Given that the St. James’ Park faithful have been linked with the likes of James Tarkowski, Abdou Diallo and Nico Schlotterbeck in recent days, it is clear that they are now after a new central defender.

They have conceded no fewer than 42 goals in the Premier League so far this term, the joint-highest in the top flight along with bottom-placed Norwich City, and so a new centre-back to come in and help shore up the defence would be ideal for Eddie Howe as he looks to keep his team up.

The Latest: Botman bid

As per Fabrizio Romano, Lille have now ‘turned down’ a bid worth €35m (£29.2m) from the North East club to sign Botman, and they are planning to keep him, despite their ‘difficult’ financial situation.

However, the Italian football journalist and transfer expert has also revealed that the Tyneside outfit will ‘try again’ to sign him, although AC Milan are also interested in his signature.

The Verdict: Get it done

Given the Magpies’ defensive woes, it is imperative that they bring a new centre-half in, and fast.

Dubbed as a ‘machine’ who ‘doesn’t make mistakes’ by Lille teammate Jose Fonte, Botman could well be the answer, and given that he has played at the highest level, winning the Ligue 1 title last season and playing in the UEFA Champions League this term he would certainly elevate the quality in the side.

Nonetheless, at just 21 years of age, the Netherlands international has the world at his feet, and so he would be a real coup for the Magpies.

In other news, find out which ‘quality’ colossus NUFC are now eyeing here!

While things have started to look on the up for Wolverhampton Wanderers in recent weeks, having picked up 13 points from a possible 18 over their last six fixtures, Bruno Lage will nevertheless be hoping that his side turn in a much better performance than their last outing against West Ham United this weekend.

Indeed, prior to the international break, Wolves were comfortably brushed aside by Crystal Palace, with the 45-year-old’s men managing a mere two shots on target, as well as failing to create a single big chance, in the 2-0 defeat at Selhurst Park.

As such, considering their lack of cutting edge in the final third, it would seem highly advisable for the Portuguese boss to shake things up in his attacking lineup this weekend, with one player in particular looking to be an excellent candidate to step into the starting XI against the Hammers – in the shape of Daniel Podence.

Lage must unleash Podence

Despite having been handed only one Premier League start by Lage so far this season, Podence has nevertheless proven on a number of occasions that he would be more than deserving of a starting spot this weekend.

Indeed, over his 84 minutes on the pitch against a very strong Tottenham Hotspur side in the League Cup, the £22.5m-rated man was arguably Wolves’ star performer, scoring his side’s only goal of the game and earning a SofaScore match rating of 7.3 – the second-highest score of any Wolves player.

Furthermore, the 26-year-old’s introduction in the comeback victory against Aston Villa last month proved crucial to Wolves sealing all three points against their Midland rivals, with the £60k-per-week forward registering one assist, making one key pass and receiving a SofaScore match rating of 7.3 – despite only featuring for 16 minutes of the match.

As such, with Lage’s side having lacked any real attacking impetus against Palace, the 45-year-old simply must unleash the man Conor Coady dubbed “absolutely fantastic” this weekend, as Podence has already shown he is something of a game-changer.

In other news: Wolves dealt big setback on £51k-p/w gem who “players bounce off”, Shi surely fuming