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Ashley Preece has corroborated reports of Aston Villa being interested in Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. 

The lowdown

Jonathan Northcroft of The Times claimed in March that Villa were ‘leading the race’ to sign Phillips.

And transfer insider Dean Jones has since described him as Steven Gerrard’s ‘number one target in that area of the field’.

Phillips is approaching the final two years of his contract with The Whites, the only senior side he’s played for.

Manchester United could compete with Villa with his signature, with the MEN reporting that they’ve already begun working on a move.

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The latest

A supporter asked Preece in a Birmingham Live Q & A whether there is ‘any truth’ in the links.

The journalist replied that ‘Villa’s interest in real’ and that ‘they have been quoted £60million’ by Leeds.

His personal prediction is that Phillips will remain at Elland Road ‘for at least another season’, but it remains to be seen as and when The Villans test the waters with a bid.

The verdict

To emphasise just how a big signing this could be, let’s look at Villa’s existing transfer record.

The most they’ve ever paid to sign a player is £34.6million. That’s what it took to sign Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City last summer.

If Villa cave to Leeds’ demands here, and they might have to given the competition, they could nearly double that benchmark.

It’s clear that Gerrard wants to sign a midfielder this summer, with Preece noting that the likes of Ibrahim Sangare, Boubacar Kamara and Geoffrey Kondogbia have all been considered too. But Phillips, an ‘extraordinary’ talent in the eyes of former England boss Fabio Capello, has the advantage of Premier League experience.

In other news, read this journalist’s reaction to a big Villa transfer update.

Celtic have been handed a late injury boost ahead of their upcoming Premiership clash.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Record, who claim that, despite being brought off with a knock in the 2-1 win over Alloa Athletic last weekend, Liel Abada looks set to play a part in the Bhoys’ fixture against Hearts this evening.

The report goes on to reveal that the 20-year-old has been included in Ange Postecoglou’s provisional squad for the trip to Tynecastle, as well as stating: “Liel Abada should be available despite limping off against Alloa.”

Ange will be elated

Considering just how impressive Abada has been since his £3.4m move to Parkhead last summer, the news that winger will be available for selection in an otherwise depleted Celtic squad is sure to have left Postecoglou elated.

Indeed, over his 20 Premiership appearances this season, the £4.05m-rated forward has been in remarkable form for the Bhoys, having already scored six goals, registered three assists and created a whopping 11 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.7 shots and making 1.9 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the £15k-per-week Israel international average a SofaScore match rating of 7.11, ranking him as the Hoops’ joint 11th-best performer in the top flight of Scottish football – of the players who remain a part of Postecoglou’s first-team squad.

As such, the winger’s availability for what is certain to be a challenging test against third-placed Hearts will undoubtedly provide Celtic’s chances of leaving Edinburgh with all three points with a substantial boost – with a victory against Robbie Neilson’s men very much being necessary if the Bhoys are to stand a chance of keeping pace in the title race before the Old Firm clash on February 2.

In other news: Celtic suffer yet another big blow as transfer update emerges that’ll have fans gutted

Former Premier League star Carlton Palmer insists that Manchester City will try to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur again, even if a deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland makes more financial sense.

City spent the summer pursuing a deal to sign Kane from Spurs but were unable to strike an agreement with chairman Daniel Levy.

It has been reported that a bid worth £75m plus £25m in add-ons was the only one tabled by City, and firmly rejected by Spurs, who were demanding closer to £150m.

Kane subsequently stayed put, while Haaland remains at Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.

The latter will be available next summer for a fee in the region of £65m, when his release clause becomes active, and Palmer believes that a deal to bring him to City would be a sensible one compared to signing Kane for a huge fee.

But he expects the club to try to bring the England captain in again, be it in January or the summer.

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “He’s going to cost you upwards of £200 million, in the deal, and he’s coming on for 29.

“I think that’s a lot of money to pay for a 29-year-old but if he delivers you the Champions League then fine. But if you can get Haaland in for £65 million, and then you put his salary on top, then you’re looking at half that deal and he’s a lot younger so there’s your business. We’ll have to see.

“I think they’ll still go for Harry Kane and they’ll try to bring him in during the next transfer window, for sure.”

Celtic have been dealt a tough hand in Europe with Ange Postecoglou having to withstand the test of some troublesome sides.

The Hoops have already come unstuck against Real Betis and they will desperately need to improve when Bayer Leverkusen arrive at Parkhead.

On the chalkboard

Based on Celtic’s recent form, supporters should be incredibly fearful over what result may occur on Thursday evening.

They have lost to Livingston and drawn with Dundee United during their last two league fixtures so the omens don’t exactly bode well.

Postecoglou’s men did score three times against Betis but it would be a great surprise if the same eventuality occurred tomorrow night.

Celtic will still be missing Kyogo Furuhashi and it’s thought that Callum McGregor will almost certainly be absent again.

He sat out their last Europa League clash with what was thought to be a knock but he hasn’t played since.

Who plays instead of him will be a crucial point of debate for the manager because he simply hasn’t got it right in the last few weeks.

James McCarthy has been abject to say the least, being terrorised for his performances since a first start in the defeat at Livi. During that clash, the Irishman attempted no attacking actions and lost the ball on 15 occasions.

Sadly, the midfielder was average against Dundee United too, winning just 33.3% of his defensive duels last weekend.

The solution

With that in mind, Postecoglou should consider turning to Ismaila Soro on Thursday, especially in a game where the Bhoys are expected to do more work off the ball.

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Like McCarthy, Soro hasn’t been at his best this term and he was fortunate not to be sent off against Betis.

The Ivorian was keen to get stuck in and did make a number of impressive robust tackles. However, he is often caught out with his lack of discipline causing him to throw in challenges even when he’s already been booked.

That being said, the Celtic brute is clearly more dynamic and mean-mannered than McCarthy.

Described as a player with “explosive power” by former coach Ori Guttman, he has been compared to N’Golo Kante and it’s clear to see why.

Soro occupies little pockets of space that enables him to sweep up the play. He reads the game well and is traditionally in the right place at the right time.

The 23-year-old knows what it takes to put in a defensive masterclass in Europe too. When they beat Lille 3-2 last term, he made a mind-boggling ten successful tackles.

The midfielder has failed to replicate that sort of display since but he simply has to step up with McGregor still on the sidelines.

Now feels like his time to really make a name for himself in Glasgow.

AND in other news, Ange may fix one of Celtic’s biggest problems by signing “lightning-quick” 43-cap ace…

According to ESPN (via Daily Express), Tottenham are one of three clubs to have made an offer for out-of-contract superstar Lionel Messi.

The Lowdown: Messi a free agent

After spending his entire career with Barcelona, Messi is now a free agent after his contract at the Camp Nou expired (Eurosport).

That now means he can be signed without a transfer fee, and there will no doubt be a whole host of clubs across the world who would be eager to capture the 151-cap Argentina international.

The Latest: Spurs make offer

It has now been stunningly reported that Spurs are one of three clubs to make an offer for the 34-year-old.

Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid are the two other sides said to be in pursuit, although French journalist Julien Laurens has said that the forward will join the Ligue 1 outfit.

The Verdict: Pipe dream

Who wouldn’t want to sign Messi? After all, the £72m-valued four-time Champions League winner (Transfermarkt) is an icon of the game – with six Ballons d’Or, he is perhaps the greatest player ever to take to the pitch. With 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona (Transfermarkt), it seems incredible that he can now be signed for free – although his wages mean that it will not be a cheap deal.

That Tottenham are said to have even made a bid is remarkable. However, this really is just a pipe dream for Spurs – even if they could afford his salary, their lack of Champions League football hardly makes them the most enticing of options for Messi. Unfortunately for Daniel Levy and co, he is very likely to end up elsewhere.

In other news, Tottenham also want this Real Madrid ace.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be in advanced talks for Barcelona youngster Ilaix Moriba, as reported by Calciomercato journalist Daniele Longo on Twitter.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye quality over quantity

Starting off 2021/22 with three wins out of four, Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo will be keen to continue this positive momentum by acquiring applicable talent for his squad before the window slams shut.

Adopting an approach of quality over quantity, the Portuguese coach has managed to bring in three additions in the form of Pierluigi Gollini, Bryan Gil and Cristian Romero [Transfermarkt].

Now, they could be set to snap up a prodigious young talent following recent reports.

The Latest: Talks at an ‘advanced stage’ for Barcelona midfielder Moriba

According to well respected reporter Longo on Twitter, talks between the Lilywhites and Barcelona are said to be at an ‘advanced stage’ for 6 foot 1 Moriba.

‘There is confidence’ that the deal will get pushed over the line, with ‘various details’ still to be ironed out before the move can be formalized.

He was rumoured to be over in London last weekend to hold talks with Chelsea, however it now appears that Spurs may have been the club to initiate discussions [The Sun].

The Verdict: Moriba would be an exciting signing for Tottenham

Offering bustling energy and the ability to instigate attacks from midfield, Moriba would be an exciting signing for Spurs with lots of room to improve.

In 2020/21, the Guinean managed to feature 18 times for the Barcelona first-team, registering one goal and three assists in all competitions [Transfermarkt].

Operating predominantly as a central midfielder, his ability to dictate play is a hallmark of the famous La Masia youth academy, recording a pass accuracy rate of 91.5% last term [WhoScored].

Once labelled as ‘incredible’ by former Barcelona B boss Garcia Pimienta, Tottenham Hotspur should look to close a deal out before the end of the transfer window [Barca Blaugranes].

In other news, Tottenham have managed to ‘reach’ an agreement with a Spain international, find out who here.

Rangers youngster Josh McPake is set to return to Ibrox from his loan spell at Morecambe, ahead of a temporary January exit elsewhere.

The Lowdown: McPake on loan at Morecambe

The 20-year-old moved to Morecambe in the summer transfer window but he has been limited to just five League One appearances, with only three starts coming his way.

The hope was that McPake would pick up some much-needed playing time there but it looks increasingly as though he could be a peripheral figure.

A current report suggests it could be all change for the winger ahead of the upcoming January window.

The Latest: Another temporary move on the cards

According to Football Insider, a Rangers source has confirmed that the club are set to recall McPake from Morecambe, prior to loaning him out elsewhere next month.

Oldham Athletic and Hartlepool United are mentioned as possible suitors for the youngster, who was described as ‘fantastic’ by former Morton manager David Hopkin.

The Verdict: Invaluable experience

It is vital that McPake continues to get minutes away from Rangers, so this is a decision that makes perfect sense.

The hope is that the young wide man has a bright future at Ibrox but he may need to prove that he’s got what it takes during these current loan spells – another 6 months struggling to make an impact at the senior level could seriously damage his chances.

Competition for places is always likely to be strong under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, but an eye-catching second half to the season could make him part of the manager’s plans in 2022/23.

Four goals in 23 appearances in League Two is proof that McPake can shine at a good level – now it’s about making another step up.

In other news, three Rangers players struggled against Rangers. Find out who they are here.

West Bromwich Albion have been dealt a major injury blow ahead of their upcoming Championship fixture.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by the West Brom website, Valerien Ismael confirmed that Grady Diangana will not be available for selection for the trip to Swansea City on Wednesday evening, as the winger is yet to recover from a hamstring injury which saw him ruled out of the 1-0 win over Birmingham City last Friday.

Speaking about the current condition of the 23-year-old, Ismael said: “Grady won’t be available for the game because he only had his first session with the group on Tuesday. It’s too close for him to be able to play. If everything goes correctly then hopefully him being available for Saturday won’t be a problem.”

Meanwhile, the Frenchman also revealed that Alex Mowatt, who was brought off midway through the second half of the Birmingham victory due to a toe injury, will be assessed prior to Wednesday’s fixture.

On the central midfielder’s fitness, the 46-year-old said: “We’ll assess Alex before the game at Swansea. We’re going to keep a close eye on things and how he is before we make a decision on him.”

Ismael will be gutted

While it is undeniable that Diangana has not been in the best form of his career this season, having scored no goals and registered just one assist over his 11 Championship appearances, the absence of the winger for the trip to Swansea will nevertheless have left Ismael gutted. The 23-year-old proved in the Baggies’ promotion-winning campaign back in 2019/20 that he undoubtedly possesses the ability to help fire the club back to the Premier League.

Indeed, over his 30 Championship appearances that season, the £9m-rated forward bagged eight goals, provided six assists and created eight big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.6 shots and making 1.4 key passes per game.

These metrics saw the £36k-per-week man earn a highly impressive seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.06, ranking him as Albion’s third-best performer throughout the campaign in question.

As such, while, as previously mentioned, the former West Ham United winger is yet to hit these heights so far this season, it is abundantly clear that Diangana can win a game in an instant for West Brom, a talent that Ismael will sorely miss on Wednesday night.

In other news: Forget Hugill: Ismael could save WBA millions by placing trust in 20 y/o “star boy”

Leeds United have been tipped to consider moving for Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara this summer, LeedsLive report.

The Lowdown: January interest

Kamara was linked with a move to Elland Road in January, where a fee in the region of £10m would have reportedly been enough due to his contract situation.

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However, as we know, Victor Orta failed to make any senior signings for the club, despite speaking to Kamara’s agent.

The 22-year-old remained with the Ligue 1 side and has continued to be a regular but is set to become a free agent at the end of June.

The Latest: Leeds move?

LeedsLive reporter Danny Bloomer shared a story on Thursday morning, looking at five free agents the Whites could be interested in this summer.

One of those is Kamara, who is described as a perfect partner for Kalvin Phillips.

The report says he definitely won’t be extending his deal with Marseille, with the midfielder possibly a player the Whites could make a huge profit on further down the line.

The Verdict: Get it done

Due to Kamara’s contract situation, Leeds could actually secure a pre-contract agreement right now ahead of a free transfer in the summer.

It appears to be a no-brainer, especially with Jesse Marsch extremely short of midfield options at Elland Road. Andrea Radrizzani wouldn’t need to fork out a fee, which could allow the club to table an extremely tempting offer for Kamara, who is on £46,000-a-week at this moment in time.

He’s already made 161 senior appearances for Marseille at the age of 22 and is valued at £22.5m, so a cut-price move to Yorkshire could prove to be a major coup.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano reveals big transfer blow for Leeds as key 21 y/o target now set to move elsewhere

Having loaned out players such as Wesley, Anwar El Ghazi, Keinan Davis and Jaden Philogene-Bidace this month, Aston Villa have not been shy when it comes to moving players out of the club who they feel would be better off away from Villa Park for the time being.

With 10 days left until the January transfer window closes, it seems as though there could be another Villa player set to leave the club on a temporary basis in an effort to get some regular game-time.

What’s the latest?

In a recent article for the Birmingham Mail from Villa journalist Ashley Preece, comments from Steven Gerrard were relayed regarding Trezeguet’s current situation at the Midlands club.

The Villa manager said: “He could find [game time] challenging here so we’ll be respectful to him and we’ll see what lands from now until the end of the window.”

Preece then added: “There’s every chance now that Trezeguet, once he’s back from the Africa Cup of Nations, will find himself a loan move knowing minutes will be hard to come by in Gerrard’s favoured 4-3-2-1 system.”

Fans will be delighted

Villa signed the Egyptian back in 2019 from Turkish club Kasimpasa in a deal worth a reported fee of £8.75m.

Since then, the 27-year-old has made 64 appearances for the Villans across all competitions, with nine goals and five assists along the way.

After recovering from a knee injury which kept him out of action for almost eight months last year, Trezeguet has only played 10 minutes under Gerrard this season, which came during their 2-1 defeat against Brentford earlier this month.

Given his lack of minutes under the 41-year-old and his lack of regular goals and assists since his arrival at Villa Park, perhaps moving Trezeguet on this month, either on loan or permanently if a suitable offer comes through the door, would be beneficial for all parties.

It could please a lot of Villa fans if the Egyptian left and duly gave some of the squad’s younger talents such as Jacob Ramsey or Carney Chukwuemeka a bigger chance of receiving game-time throughout the remainder of the season.

In other news: Lange could finally replace Grealish with Villa swoop for “unique” £18m-rated beast