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Liverpool will face Porto on Wednesday evening in a clash that has really no impact on the side’s qualification, as they secured their passage to the last sixteen in the Champions League a few weeks back, after going unbeaten.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will have the opportunity though to remain unbeaten in Europe alongside Ajax and Bayern Munich, and if they do beat Porto tonight it will keep Atletico Madrid in with a chance of qualification.

One player that is predicted to play for Liverpool tonight is Divock Origi, who is currently out of favour in Klopp’s super starting eleven but has made a few outings this season so far with seven appearances, three goals and two assists across all competitions so far.

Although Origi is not a starter for the side, he has proven this term that he has something to offer, whether that be with Liverpool or another club in a move that has been highly speculated over the last six months.

According to The Northern Echo, Newcastle United are interested in the 26-year-old striker, who was reportedly valued at £12-£15 million by the club in the summer transfer window, however, nobody could meet Liverpool’s valuation and the player remained at the club for the season ahead.

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Liverpool have a strict sell to buy framework at the club and will need to offload a player to bring another in, and Klopp could capitalise on these last two Champions League games to showcase Origi’s talents and attributes to drum up interest of notable value that would be more appealing and financially beneficial for the club going into the transfer window.

The Belgian is available on a free in the summer, so if the club is looking to make a quick buck on the striker, time is ticking, and starting him in the next two Champions League games will give the striker the opportunity to put on great performances that could potentially make FSG millions.

The £10.8m-rated beast is likely to start in tonight’s game having had many moments of magic in the Champions League in his time at Liverpool and has been hailed a “monster” by former Belgium teammate, Vincent Kompany;

“He is very gifted and talented,” said Kompany. “Technically, he’s a monster.

“More importantly, he is an outstanding worker in training. I see him working like crazy.”

Liverpool take on Porto at Anfield tonight and despite the likelihood of a weaker starting eleven, Klopp will expect his team to put in a performance to continue their unbeaten run in Europe.

In other news: Liverpool must complete transfer swoop for Renato Sanches

Aston Villa have been very busy in the transfer market over the past few years, with many players arriving at the Midlands club and several moving away from Villa Park either on loan or permanent deals.

With the upcoming summer transfer window set to open for business once the season comes to an end, it seems as though the Villans may be involved in a tug-of-war over securing a deal for one particular player.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Spanish media outlet Sport, fellow Premier League side Newcastle United have set their eyes on striking a summer deal for Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian, who is currently valued at £18m by Transfermarkt, made a return to England in January after Villa secured a loan deal for him from Barcelona until the end of the campaign.

Labelled an “instrumental” player by Steven Gerrard when he was at Liverpool before joining Barcelona in January 2018 for a massive fee of £142m, this is exactly what he has been for Villa since his arrival in the Midlands.

With 10 league appearances under his belt for Gerrard’s side, the 29-year-old has netted four goals and provided three assists along the way, showing that it didn’t take him long to get back into the swing of things in the Premier League.

In addition to his useful goal contributions, Coutinho’s overall performances have given the Villa fans a lot to savour, with WhoScored listing him as the club’s highest-rated player with a rating of 7.28/10.

To highlight the former Liverpool star’s attacking prowess for his new team, he has racked up a higher match average of shots (2.5), key passes (1.5) and dribbles (1.6) than any other Villa player, showing just how important a player he is for the Midlands club.

Taking all this into account, it would be a disaster for Johan Lange and Villa if they weren’t able to secure their loan star on a permanent basis in the summer.

Also, given how crucial the Brazilian has been for the team, it would surely leave Gerrard fuming if the 29-year-old were to join a Premier League rival in the summer rather than stay at Villa and help to push the club forward.

In other news: Gerrard can finally axe £46k-p/w dud as Villa plot bid for “tenacious” £65m “predator”

Leeds United are among a host of clubs interested in signing Club Brugge attacking midfielder Noa Lang this summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Lang linked with Leeds switch

The 22-year-old has continued to enhance his reputation as one of the Netherlands’ brightest young players, producing consistently influential performances for Club Brugge in Belgium, for whom he has scored six goals and registered 11 assists in all competitions this season.

The Dutchman has been linked with a move to Leeds recently, and the rumour shows no signs of going away.

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The Latest: Interest still remains

According to De Standaard [via Sport Witness], Leeds have ‘stuck their nose at the window’ as they attempt to lure Lang to Elland Road.

The midfielder is still weighing up his options ahead of a likely summer exit from Brugge, though, and the Whites’ current on-pitch struggles could work against them.

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The Verdict: Brilliant summer signing

Lang seems to be a great talent who could add so much to this Leeds side, with his all-round game potentially flourishing under a manager of Marcelo Bielsa’s ilk.

His aforementioned quality on the ball is clear to see but he is also a feisty player off it, picking up six yellow cards and one red in the Jupiler Pro League this season, along with averaging 1.3 tackles per game in the Champions League.

That work ethic and will to win without the ball suggests that he could thrive for Leeds, where Bielsa demands an incredible physical effort from his players. Plus, they will be in need of more guile in the summer, especially if 2021/22 top scorer Raphinha leaves the club amid reported interest in his services from elsewhere.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly eyeing up a move for one in-form starlet. Find out who it is here.

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has revealed the latest regarding the future of Trezeguet, who is currently competing at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for Egypt.

What’s the latest?

According to the Birmingham Mail, Gerrard has hinted at the possibility of a move away from Villa Park for the winger this month.

Speaking to the media, the 41-year-old said: “Trezeguet’s a unique situation. He’s been out for seven months or roundabout. He’s come back and has obviously had a short cameo and has gone to the African Cup of Nations.

“We hope he stays fit, healthy and plays well and we’ll analyse that situation as the weeks go by. We’ve had a conversation in terms of what he needs next and he obviously needs game.

“He could find that challenging here so we’ll be respectful to him and we’ll see what lands from now until the end of the window but, as it stands now, he’ll be returning after the AFCON.”

As of yet, there has been no indication as to where the 27-year-old could end up. However, with the acquisition of Philippe Coutinho, Emi Buendia improving his output and Leon Bailey still to return from injury, it appears that the Egypt winger is now well down the pecking order at Villa Park.

Gerrard must axe Trezeguet

With Villa looking to make the next step with marquee signings such as that of Coutinho, lesser-seen players Trezeguet will probably fall further down the reckoning.

The Egyptian recently returned from a long-term knee injury and came off of the bench in Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Brentford to make his first appearance of the season before departing for AFCON. However, despite being on the pitch for just ten minutes, the 27-year-old went viral for a shocking dive.

In attempt to win a penalty, the winger flung himself to ground despite minimal contact, with Alan Shearer labelling the act “embarrassing”.

With Villa currently paying Trezeguet £47k-per week, the Midlands club could save money by axing the 27-year-old, especially with him becoming a fringe player in Gerrard’s squad and frankly stealing a living.

Since his move to Villa Park from Turkish outfit Kasimpasa in July 2019, the Egyptian has made 64 appearances and scored just nine goals whilst registering a further five assists. However, prior to the Brentford game, the 27-year-old hadn’t played a single minute of football since sustaining a knee injury in a 2-1 defeat at Liverpool back in April, while he made just 12 league starts last season.

With Gerrard and Villa looking to make ambitious signings, current squad players look set to see their game-time further decrease. Trezeguet is one of those, so the time could be right for the club to get him off their books if a decent offer comes in.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano drops major Villa transfer update which will have fans buzzing

Anthony Joseph has dropped a teasing update regarding Celtic’s business on transfer deadline day.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Sky Sports journalist revealed that, while a host of incoming signings aren’t expected on the final day of the January transfer window, Ange Postecoglou will be keeping a very close eye on the market in case a player becomes available who is too good for the Bhoys to pass up.

In his tweet, Joseph said: “In terms of Celtic, I’ve been told not to expect incomings, unless someone becomes available who’s too good to miss out on. Could see some fringe/younger players heading out – more likely on loan.”

Fans will be excited

While Celtic have already been one of the busier clubs in the January window, having already sealed the arrivals of Matt O’Riley, Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi, Daizen Maeda and Johnny Kenny, the news that the Hoops could still be active on deadline day is sure to have left the Parkhead faithful excited.

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Indeed, there are a number of areas within Postecoglou’s first-team squad which could still do with greater strength in depth, particularly at left-back, attacking midfield and on the wings.

The Bhoys have been linked with the likes of Lee Buchanan, Callum Styles, Danny Mandriou and Albert Gudmundsson this month. Should any of those become available during the closing stages of the January market, it would indeed seem advisable for the Celtic manager to sanction a late swoop in the window, as each player would very much appear to improve the club’s chances of reclaiming their Premiership crown this season.

In other news: Ange must seal Celtic deal for £4m gem dubbed “one of the best”, he’s a big upgrade

Rangers manager Gio van Bronckhorst is a matter of days away from entering his first transfer window in charge of the Ibrox giants.

One player the club are reportedly looking at signing is Racing Santander attacking Pablo Torre. The Daily Record recently claimed that they are scouting the teenager, alongside Real Madrid, and could swoop for him in 2022.

He is said to have a £4m release clause in his contract with the Spanish club, although it remains to be seen whether or not Rangers could negotiate a lower price.

Finally axe

By signing Torre in January, or next summer, Rangers could allow Scott Arfield to leave the club upon the expiry of his current deal. He is out of contract at the end of the season and signing a player who plays in his position could allow him to finally be axed from the squad.

Torre, who has been dubbed Racing’s “conductor”, has already played 47 times at senior level at the age of 18. He turns 19 in April 2022 and he has racked up seven goals and 11 assists to date from attacking midfield, showing that he can make a difference in the final third.

Arfield, who was compared to “Alex Rae” by ex-Ibrox boss Alex McLeish, has been deployed as an attacking midfielder under van Bronckhorst and he has scored twice in 13 Premiership outings this term, with zero assists to his name.

He has averaged 0.6 key passes per game and lost a whopping 65% of his duels on the pitch. This suggests that he is not offering a great deal of quality when it comes to the attacking or defensive side of the game. Although, his movement off the ball is impressive and his ability to make runs from deep can cause issues for the opposition, but his lack of end product is a cause for concern.

This is why signing Torre could lead to the Canadian being axed from the squad upon the expiry of his contract, or even being kicked to the bench or reserves for a season if he is handed an extension.

The young Spaniard could take up his spot in the side and look to have more of a tangible impact in terms of goals and assists, as he has done in Spain for Racing, whilst holding the potential to improve further at the age of 19.

He could be a signing for now and the future and that is why van Bronckhorst must sanction a £4m swoop for his services.

AND in other news, “I’m sure”: Reporter drops exciting Rangers transfer claim that’ll leave fans buzzing…

Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst could be on his way to having a very busy summer at Ibrox if he fails to win the title.

Failure to secure the league title would suggest that the squad is not in the right place to dominate Scottish football, and this could lead to off-season surgery being performed by the Dutch head coach and Ross Wilson.

We published an article explaining why Borna Barisic is one player who should be sold in the summer. The Croatia international has attracted interest from the Premier League and is said to be worth £5m, which suggests that Wilson may be able to rake in a respectable amount of money for him at the end of the season.

This would add £5m to the club coffers and save £18k-per-week in wages, but it would leave Van Bronckhorst without any left-back competition for Calvin Bassey.

However, instead of forcing Wilson to enter the transfer market to sign a defender to bolster the squad, the Dutchman can save millions by unleashing one of the players in the academy – Kevin Ciubotaru.

The 18-year-old Romanian joined the club earlier this year and has already played for his country at multiple youth levels.

Speaking about himself, Ciubotaru said: “I think my qualities are speed, dribbling and stamina. I style myself like Theo Hernandez from Milan, although I have a lot of work to do with my right foot. I still have a lot to learn of course.”

This is some comparison from the youngster, as Hernandez has been in phenomenal form in Serie A this season for the Rossoneri. He has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.22 and produced 10 goal contributions in 25 appearances, which shows that he has been consistently delivering top-class performances.

If Ciubotaru can get even close to that level, he will be a fantastic player for Rangers in the future, whilst he will also be exciting to watch for the supporters as he attempts to burst forward in attack to create goals.

The full-back previously described himself as a “robot” in the way he focuses solely on football to improve himself as a player. This suggests that he has the mentality required to make it at the top level, as he is not allowing himself to be distracted by anything else and is driven to achieve his goals.

Therefore, Van Bronckhorst must offer him a chance to show that he can make the step up to the senior team. If the 18-year-old can make that leap, he will save Wilson millions in the transfer market with any money they can make from the sale of Barisic.

AND in other news, Was £2.7m, went to £162m: Rangers fumbled deal for “alien” who’s the “god of football”…

Craig Hope has now revealed five players that Newcastle United are targeting ahead of the opening of the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Bodies needed

As the St. James’ Park faithful are currently lurking in the relegation zone, it is clear that reinforcements are needed next month in order to give them the best possible chance of surviving.

Survival means everything to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium, as they can then kickstart their long-term project in the summer, and thus be able to attract bigger names to the North East given that they would still be playing in the top flight.

The Latest: Five targets

As per Hope, Lloyd Kelly, a player Eddie Howe signed back in 2019, as well as central defenders Matthias Ginter, Joe Rodon and Sven Botman, are among the Tyneside outfit’s January targets.

The Daily Mail journalist is ‘also told’ that Mohamed Elneny is an option in the middle of the park for the new owners.

The Verdict: Kelly, Elneny plus one centre-back

Kelly is of course a player that Howe knows well – in a 2019/20 season plagued by injuries, he started eight out of the nine games that he was available under the manager (Transfermarkt).

A player that Howe has a lot of admiration for, he would certainly know how to get the best out of Kelly, providing that he can stay free of injury.

Elneny offers a lot of Premier League 30 goals so far in the top flight, the second-most out of any team.

Rodon offers that Premier League Botman have played at the highest level in the UEFA Champions League.

Nonetheless, bringing at least three of those players in would certainly help bolster up the squad, and give them the best possible chance of avoiding the drop.

In other news, find out which former Magpies NUFC are eyeing in a shock transfer here!

Newcastle United are reportedly now ready to make a ‘huge offer’ to sign Jesse Lingard in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Developing story

The Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has recently revealed that the St. James’ Park faithful are now ‘working’ on a loan deal for Lingard, but sources are saying that Manchester United are apparently ‘reluctant’ to let him leave at this moment in time.

However, with just over a week of the window left, both clubs will have to come to a decision over the player, and Lingard’s lack of game time may just be a factor in whether or not he moves to the North East.

The Latest: Offer ready

As per 90min journalist Graeme Bailey, the Tyneside outfit are now readying a ‘huge offer’ for Lingard, and the Red Devils are ‘likely to accept’ their approach.

However, it is not clear if the player himself would be willing to move this month, or wait until the summer, when his contract at Old Trafford expires.

The Verdict: No-brainer

If the Magpies can get Lingard in before the January deadline hits, then it is surely a no-brainer for all parties.

With seemingly no route to regular first-team action in the northwest, Lingard will surely be desperate to play, and the Toon should jump at the chance of bringing a player of his quality in.

Described as ‘phenomenal’ by talkSPORT pundit Adrian Durham during his time on loan at West Ham United last season, Lingard showed what he can do when given his opportunity, scoring nine goals and making a further five assists at the London Stadium.

Nonetheless, he would offer another dimension to their attack, and could be the difference in turning draws like the one they picked up against Watford into wins.

In other news, find out which ‘unplayable’ ace Lionel Messi called ‘frightening’ NUFC are now eyeing here!

Rangers defender Connor Goldson is a potential transfer target for Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, Pete O’Rourke has told GIVEMESPORT. 

The lowdown

Gerrard has been linked with a host of his former Ibrox players since he opted to move south of the border, including Ryan Kent, Glen Kamara and Borna Barisic, but Goldson’s case is unique because his contract is due to expire at the end of this season.

It’s possible that January will be Rangers’ last chance to cash in on the 29-year-old, who will otherwise be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement ahead of the summer transfer window.

Football Insider have previously reported that, as per Ibrox sources, the former Brighton centre-back Goldson wants another crack at the English top flight.

The latest

O’Rourke thinks that Gerrard may deem Goldson to be Premier League standard and could look to engineer a reunion with the player in the Midlands, adding that the defender’s contract situation could lend itself to a ‘relatively cheap’ move in January.

The journalist told GIVEMESPORT: “One of the names in the frame would be Connor Goldson, who is yet to sign a new deal at Rangers. I think his contract is up in the summer, so Villa might be able to get him for relatively cheap in January.”

The verdict

There’s no escaping the reality that Goldson would be a big loss for Rangers as they look to retain their Premiership crown.

He has started 18 of their 19 league matches so far this season, and his average SofaScore rating of 7.19 ranks him fifth in the Rangers squad, indicating that he’s a hugely dependable performer.

Goldson helps the Gers to build attacks with his ‘next level’ passing, and Gerrard was also keen to point out his intangible attributes, such as the ‘incredible leadership’ he provides. Therefore, it’s little wonder that the 41-year-old wants to team up with the defender once more, so Rangers best be ready for an approach to come their way.

In other news, some Gers fans were buzzing over this news ahead of the upcoming Old Firm derby