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According to a report by Football Insider, Newcastle United will not pursue Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli in the upcoming January transfer window, despite previous rumours linking him with the club.

The Lowdown: Alli set to leave Spurs

Spurs have granted the player the opportunity to leave next month, permitting both permanent and temporary deals, but it is more likely that he will move on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 25-year-old has made just nine appearances in the Premier League this term, with only two of those coming under Antonio Conte. This includes a recent outing against Liverpool, where the midfielder played 81 minutes in Spurs’ 2-2 draw, receiving a 6.5 SofaScore rating.

Three years ago, Alli was worth a staggering £90m. However, a decline in game-time and form since then has seen his market value slip to just £22.5m. This illustrates the severity of the player’s decline and suggests that Spurs bosses are finished with the midfielder, with him set to be offloaded in January if a potential suitor can be found.

The Latest: Newcastle will not pursue Alli

According to a fresh report by Football Insider, Newcastle will not go in for Alli in January, as Eddie Howe has rejected the chance to push for the player, deciding that he needs to prioritise other areas of his squad.

This news arises following previous reports that the Magpies had made initial enquiries with Spurs, but now it seems that Howe has had a change of heart and no longer considers Alli a transfer target. Instead, he is keen to brining in a more traditional midfielder, rather than an attacking one, along with a defender in a bid to bolster the spine of the team.

The Verdict: Newcastle move could have been good for both parties

Alli is looking to revive his career after suffering a stagnant few years at Tottenham. His former manager Jose Mourinho labelled the midfielder as ‘lazy’ and said that he created ‘problems for his own team’.

However, his talent is undeniable. Mourinho admitted that Sir Alex Ferguson gave him one bit of advice whilst he was in charge at Manchester United – ‘buy Dele Alli’. Even Brazil legend Roberto Carlos once said that the Spurs ace is ‘undoubtedly good enough for Real Madrid’.

If this talent was to be utilised in full force again, Alli could still prove to be a top-class player. With Newcastle often lacking an attacking threat in the final third, the 25-year-old could have been a fantastic addition for Howe if he hadn’t shifted the focus to other areas of the squad.

In other news: Sky Sports journalist shares info as Newcastle eye potential ‘brilliant signing’

Swansea City have made contact with Michael Appleton regarding him taking over at the Liberty Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claim that, with Steve Cooper being linked with both the Crystal Palace and Fulham managerial positions, the Swans have made an approach to Lincoln City regarding the availability of their 45-year-old head coach.

Appleton had already been in talks with West Bromwich Albion this summer regarding the job at The Hawthorns, however, the Albion hierarchy ultimately decided they did not want to pay the compensation fee the Imps were demanding to allow the former Oxford United boss to leave the club.

Appleton could continue Cooper’s legacy

While losing a manager who has secured consecutive top-six finishes in the Championship would undoubtedly be a huge blow for Jason Levien and Swansea City, should Cooper indeed move onto pastures new this summer, Appleton would appear to be a fantastic candidate to replace the 41-year-old boss.

Not only did Appleton match Cooper’s achievement of reaching a play-off final with an unfancied Lincoln side last season, the 45-year-old also achieved the feat while putting an emphasis on the development of young players, with the Imps squad ranking as the third youngest in League One.

Indeed, since Appleton’s arrival at Lincoln back in September of 2019, the Imps have seen the average age of their squad drop from 30 to 23, a decision that the progressive manager took in order to build a side capable of long term success, rather than prioritising immediate glory.

This is something that Cooper has also earned plaudits for, with it being reported that, due to the England U17 World Cup winner’s reputation for developing youth prospects, Premier League clubs now offer Swansea their starlets on loan deals before putting them on the general market – something that has been reported to occur with Lincoln City too.

As such, while losing the services of Cooper is rightly a worry for Swansea fans this summer, if Levien goes on to land Appleton as his successor, it would very much seem as if the club will be in the hands of a perfect replacement for the Welshman, as the 45-year-old’s philosophies would see him continue Cooper’s fantastic work at the Liberty Stadium.

In other news: Major update drops about “outstanding” £25k-p/w Swansea target, fans will be gutted

Glasgow Rangers fans are delighted after it was confirmed that back-up goalkeeper Andy Firth had put pen to paper on a new deal at the club, as he appears to have become something of a cult hero on Twitter.

Since making the move to Ibrox in January 2019, Firth has managed to make just one appearance (Transfermarkt). Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin this campaign have prevented him from even getting a sniff of first-team action – at the moment, it looks unlikely the 24-year-old will be playing any time soon.

However, despite his lack of action, he has been given another one-year contract at the club. He does have plenty of years left ahead of him, and so he may be able to play at some point in the future, but it may have been a better move from Steven Gerrard and co to promote a younger goalkeeper into the first-team squad instead.

Still, it seems the Gers fans were happy with the update, albeit perhaps tongue-in-cheek. The news was shared on Twitter by the club’s official account, and the supporters took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Firth news below

“YASSS”

Credit: @rossbarclay3

“Finally the last bit of jigsaw sorted.”

Credit: @SpeckyRSC

“Hero”

Credit: @BillyMain72

“Announce Quadruple next season”

Credit: @Fayezakram10

“The real hero of 55.”

Credit: @SteveMorrison_

“Never mind 55. This is the best news of this season”

Credit: @Rjeffrey1872

In other news, Rangers are interested in this midfielder.

Jordan Campbell has been left buzzing over some Glasgow Rangers news which has now emerged involving James Tavernier.

The Lowdown: Players’ POTY

The Ibrox club announced on Sunday night that Tavernier has won the Men’s Players’ Player of the Year Award (POTY).

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The right-back has been dubbed the team’s best performer in both the Premiership and the Europa League, scoring an astounding 13 goals and supplying a further 15 assists in both competitions combined (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Campbell reacts

Taking to Twitter, The Athletic journalist Campbell buzzed over the update as it was announced, claiming that Tavernier was the ‘clear choice’ alongside Calvin Bassey as Young Player as he stated:

“The clear choice this season, along with Bassey as young player.

“I think this is the best football Tavernier has played of his career as his overall game has been brilliant under Van Bronckhorst.

“He looks more emboldened than ever.”

The Verdict: Deserved

The reward for Tavernier is so well-deserved, and as Campbell suggests, the right-back really seems to have stepped up his game under new manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Under Steven Gerrard earlier this season, the Englishman had managed three goals in total over all competitions. Since Van Bronckhorst’s arrival, he has added another nine, including six crucial strikes in the Europa League to help them all the way to the semi-finals (Transfermarkt).

The captain has certainly led by example, especially in Europe, and while they slack behind Celtic in the Premiership, this could still be a quite remarkable season if they manage to go all the way in the Europa League.

In other news, find out who the Gers are now targeting this summer

Mike Ashley should dig a little deeper into his pockets to fund a successful move for Newcastle United to sign Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer this summer.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the Toon are readying an £8m offer for Ajer as they look to play on Celtic’s weakened bargaining position.

Ajer will enter the final 12 months of his £14,000-a-week contract this summer and will be able to begin negotiating free transfers with foreign and cross-border clubs from January.

Ajer, who Noel Whelan describes as a “big personality”, has set his sights on a move to the Premier League if he is to leave Parkhead, but also has interest from clubs in Serie A, per Daily Mail.

AC Milan were heavily linked with the Norway international last summer after technical director Paolo Maldini confirmed the San Siro natives’ interest, but Ajer was denied a move as Celtic considered him to be a key player.

The Hoops value Ajer highly yet are aware that his current deal leaves the Scottish giants at risk of losing the 22-year-old for a fraction of their asking price, which is thought to be close to £35m.

Newcastle have held a long-standing interest in the 6 ft 6 enforcer, although the St James’ Park natives are aware of the need to secure their Premier League status in order to present an attractive destination in the off-season.

Steve Bruce’s position at the helm is not thought to affect United’s interest in Ajer, who the Toon believe will have a wealth of suitors in the next transfer window.

Should Newcastle sign Celtic’s Ajer?

This summer looks set to be the end of Ajer’s time at Celtic as the defender has relentlessly been urged to quit Parkhead and join a more competitive division by the Norway setup.

Head coach Stale Solbakken told Norwegian newspaper VG earlier this month: “He has to change league now. He does not have enough challenges in everyday life there.

“Therefore, I think he has got some habits, which you do not notice until he meets better opposition in international matches or Europe. So, I think that is a smart move by him.”

Former Fulham defender Brede Hangeland, now an assist coach for the Norwegian national side, has allegedly told Ajer several times that he needs to change clubs to find a bigger challenge, too.

However, it would be expected that Celtic would reject Newcastle’s approach for Ajer if the Toon only present an £8m bid to offer the defender a taste of Premier League football this summer, should they stay up.

Celtic held firm against interest from AC Milan last year when they were only said to value Ajer at £25m, while rumours also surfaced of interest from Arsenal and Leicester City – who would be expected to present the promise of another year of European football.

Newcastle will not have the allure of Champions League or Europa League action to impress the centre-back, so Ashley may have to dig a little deeper into his pockets and present not only the funds Celtic are demanding but also a contract which carries a significant pay rise.

Doing so would see the United owner, who is not thought to be planning on bankrolling deals, land the Magpies a promising young centre-back who already has an amazing skill set, as noted by interim Celtic boss John Kennedy, who said last month [via quotes shared by The Scotsman]:

“I’ve no doubt that there will be interest in him. He’s still very young and he’s an international player. With his profile of speed, size, technique and ability – there’s going to be interest in him.

“He’s a great character and a leader, in terms of how he works and conducts himself. We know he’s a good footballer, but we’ve always tried to work on his aggression the box. That didn’t come naturally to him as a kid, but he’s got it in his game now.”

AND in other news, Newcastle are closely monitoring a £13.5k-p/w dud who’s “been caught out” this season…

Sunderland have announced that Aiden McGeady has put pen to paper on a new contract at the Stadium of Light.

The Lowdown: McGeady deal ran out

McGeady’s deal with the Black Cats ran out at the end of the previous campaign, and it looked like he could be leaving the club after a four-year spell when the bulk of free agent contracts expire on July 1.

However, there has now been a big update on his future in the north-east, with the club finally dropping the news fans were hoping for.

The Latest: New deal agreed

Sunderland have confirmed that McGeady has signed a new deal to keep him at the club (safc.com).

The new contract is just one year in length, so Sunderland will be hoping the former Ireland international can inspire the side to promotion after a stunning end to the campaign last term.

The Verdict: Exciting

Make no mistake – it is absolutely vital that Sunderland have managed to tie McGeady down to a new deal. With six goals and 17 assists in all competitions last time out (Transfermarkt), he was one of the Black Cats’ most dangerous players under Lee Johnson as they narrowly missed out on promotion.

With 88 goals and 122 assists throughout his career, he has constantly proven his ability to influence the attacking play of the sides he has played for.

And, even though he is now 35, he does not seem to have lost his quality. Johnson will feel a lot better about the side’s promotion hopes now he has McGeady back in the fold.

In other news, Sunderland fans want to the club to sign this international.

Sunderland fans are delighted after it was confirmed by the club that George Dobson has departed the Stadium of Light by mutual consent.

The Black Cats are preparing for an assault on promotion after narrowly missing out last term. So far, though, they have not made a single signing, with plenty of players instead departing such as Josh Scowen, Max Power and Grant Leadbitter (The Northern Echo).

Charlie Wyke, meanwhile, looks to be on the verge of a move to Celtic (Football Insider).

Now, Dobson has also departed (safc.com). Signed in 2019 from Walsall, the midfielder made 47 appearances for the club but spent last term on loan at Wimbledon (Transfermarkt). It hasn’t taken him long to find a new club, though – he has joined Sunderland’s League One promotion rivals Charlton Athletic.

The news was shared on Twitter by Sunderland’s official account, and it attracted plenty of attention from the supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Dobson below

“Good news”

Credit: @davis0688

“Today is a great day”

Credit: @igfield73

“What a start to the day”

Credit: @BoatsLaa

“Shut the door on the way out lad”

Credit: @GazJFisher

“yes!!!!!”

Credit: @LeeGamble1973

“What a waste of money that was”

Credit: @Bunney_91

In other news, Sunderland fans are delighted by this man’s exit as well.

Everton dropped more points in the race for Europe away to Brighton on Monday night.

The Toffees, who were without 10 players through injury, played out a goalless draw with their relegation-threatened opponents.

Having failed to win for the fourth league game in succession, they have slipped seven points off the top four. They retain a game in hand, but their form is a real concern.

Why is the mood flat at Everton?

Everton may end up looking back on their season as one of missed opportunities, with this latest setback a continuation of their struggles against lower-placed opposition.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been beaten by Burnley (16th), Newcastle (17th) and Fulham (18th) in 2020/21 and this week picked up only two points from their meetings with the 15th-placed Seagulls and 13th-placed Crystal Palace.

Lucas Digne was the only Everton player to send out a post-match tweet in the 12 hours following the final whistle. “Still believe in our chance with the good spirit,” he wrote, defiantly insisting that the Toffees’ top four hopes are not dead.

However, these fans on Twitter weren’t up for replicating the Frenchman’s optimistic stance.

Everton fans struggle to buy into Digne’s optimism

“Work hard? Well not one of you worked hard yesterday”

Credit: @steainsey

“Lucky to finish in top 10 the way we going and that’s poor (missed our best midfield all season though) keep going and start taking free kicks please”

Credit: @David42797784

“Not one clear cut chance in 90 mins…I like your positivity, but that was a truly poor performance last night in an attacking sense.”

Credit: @Agassi1980

“Really??! We don’t create enough, can’t score or defeat lower teams at home… I truly hope and wish.”

Credit: @DSteveF

“Not today please. Not today”

Credit: @chilemjh

“I just remember you owe me 90 minutes of my life Lucas”

Credit: @JoakoCalvo

“It’s over mate, we try again next season”

Credit: @Kevin76199061

In other news, Everton have been urged to make a move for this London-based outcast.

The identity of the man behind the ongoing takeover attempt of Derby County has been revealed.

What’s the latest?

According to a report by The Sun, the former Manchester City CEO Garry Crook is the man behind an American takeover bid for the Rams.

The businessman is said to have been going through Derby County’s finances with the current owner Mel Morris, who is believed to owe money to HMRC, former players and staff, as well as £17.5m to MSD Holdings.

Fans will be buzzing

With Crook boasting an impressive record of signings during his time in charge of Manchester City between 2008-2011, bringing players such as Nigel de Jong, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Carlos Tevez to the club, as well as appointing the eventual Premier League-winning manager Roberto Mancini, the businessman certainly has good stock in the game.

Indeed, the Birmingham-born man would very much seem to be a better choice of owner than Erik Alonso, who made a series of embarrassing faux pas after agreeing a deal to purchase Derby back in April, before Morris decided to pull the plug on that transaction.

And, with Derby facing a points deduction for breaking the EFL’s Financial Fair Play rules, with the sanctions likely to be less harsh if a takeover is completed in an efficient manner, both Morris and Crook will undoubtedly be hoping to conclude their business quickly.

This is sure to come as great news for fans of the club, who will very much be hoping to put this season behind them as fast as they possibly can, as well as praying that their club will back Wayne Rooney in the transfer market this summer, in order to mount a push towards the Championship play-off places at some point in the near future.

And, this would appear something that is all the more likely with Crook and his American financiers in charge of the Rams, with the businessman’s interest appearing to be a positive step for the club and something that will have fans buzzing about Derby’s future.

In other news: DCFC dealt transfer blow over “magnificent” £7.7k-p/w gem that’ll leave Rooney gutted

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has proven to be an inspired managerial appointment at Rangers since his arrival at Ibrox in 2018.

The former England midfielder has successfully managed to wrestle back supremacy for the Gers in Scottish football, winning the Premiership title in the 2020/21 campaign and now trying to defend Rangers’ crown this term.

Along the way, he has made some shrewd decisions in the transfer market, both in selling players and in signing them. One player on whom he made an astute call was left-back Declan John.

Gerrard arrived in 2018 and the sale of John was one of the first decisions he had to make in terms of recruitment, with the defender ultimately being sold to Swansea for a reported fee of £801,000. This was after he played 31 times the previous season, scoring three goals and providing four assists from left-back.

In the subsequent three years since leaving Ibrox, John has gone on loan to Sunderland and Bolton and then left Swansea permanently for the Trotters and is currently playing in English League One, having been promoted out of the fourth tier last season.

Transfermarkt currently has him valued at just £270,000. This is a 66% decrease from the fee Rangers received from Swansea for his services in 2018, despite him now being in what should be the prime years of his playing career at the age of 26.

His value plummeting since leaving Rangers suggests that it was a masterstroke from Gerrard to sell him at the time, as his decrease in value could have happened with the Ibrox club had they opted not to cash in on him. Therefore, it may have been perfect timing from Gerrard and the Light Blues in making the most of the situation by getting rid of someone who, quite frankly, had been a bit of a flop in Glasgow.

What makes the deal even better from a Rangers perspective is that the man they brought in to replace John was Borna Barisic. The Croatian left-back has gone on to play 119 times for the club, scoring seven goals and providing 33 assists and is now valued at a cool £5.4m, 20 times greater than John’s current valuation.

Therefore, it was an all-around masterclass from Gerrard. The 41-year-old was able to sell a player in John before his career took a turn for the worst and duly replaced him with an upgrade in his position who is now worth far more than his predecessor.

AND in other news, Gerrard provides fresh injury update that’ll leave Rangers fans delighted…