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Steve Bruce could bin DeAndre Yedlin before the January transfer window closes if Newcastle United sign anyone on loan.

What’s the word?

According to Chronicle Live, Yedlin’s Tyneside future is up in the air ahead of Monday’s Deadline Day as United eye late reinforcements for Bruce’s side.

Newcastle named a complete 25-man squad for the Premier League season last summer and are yet to offload any of those in the winter market, leaving no space for potential arrivals.

Yedlin would serve as a prime candidate to depart if suitable offers are received in the coming days, with the United States international now inside the final six-months of his £30,000-per-week contract and yet to be offered a new deal.

The 27-year-old has spoken on his frustrations at the lack of clarity on his situation, having seen United chiefs fail to make any contact with the defender or his agent.

“Obviously, with my situation, currently I have six-months left on my contract. It has been a bit frustrating because me and my agent have had no communication with Newcastle at all about what their plans are for me, if I can go or if they want me to stay,” he told CBS Sports HQ.

Yedlin has also had visa issues rule him out of Newcastle’s last two Premier League games after his previous work permit expired, which may yet play a role in United’s decision over whether or not to retain the £4.5m-rated titan.

Should Newcastle get rid of Yedlin?

If Newcastle are to strengthen Bruce’s squad before Monday’s deadline passes, the Toon will have to make a tough decision on at least one of his current players and the indicators point to Yedlin being the most at risk.

Yedlin has emerged as a potential target for sides in Turkey and America this month, with reports suggesting the defender – whom Rafa Benitez once said about “I love this player” – has been offered a Major League Soccer return and a move to Super Lig giants Galatasaray.

His preference may be to remain at St. James’ Park and sign a new contract, yet that option may never be one Yedlin can explore as his form – despite being the star of the show against Fulham and Liverpool – would suggest he may not be a huge loss, if one at all, now that Javier Manquillo has returned from Covid.

Among the four players Bruce has fielded at right-back more than once in Premier League fixtures this season, Yedlin’s efforts have only returned marginally superior results to those of Emil Krafth and Jacob Murphy in some regards but often trails those of Manquillo.

Bruce sees Manquillo win the highest number of successful tackles (2.3) and with the second-most attempts (2.7) per 90 – Yedlin offers 1.8 from 3.0 – while Krafth is first for clearances, as he keeps things simple to protect Karl Darlow’s goal with 3.5 a game to Yedlin (2.6), Manquillo (1.5) and Murphy (0.5), per WhoScored.

Murphy tops the charts for interceptions (1.5) to Yedlin (1.4), Krafth (1.3) and Manquillo (0.7), and looks to drive play forward when on the ball far more often than his positional rivals with the 25-year-old making 3.5 successful runs from 5.5 attempts to Krafth (0.3/0.5), Yedlin (0.2/0.4) and Manquillo (0/1).

Murphy matches his drive with quality at the top of the pitch, as well, to deliver 0.8 accurate crosses from 3.1 deliveries a game to Manquillo (0.8/3.3), Krafth (0.3/2.8) and Yedlin (0.2/2.6). It also helps the £3m-rated maestro to create more goalscoring opportunities with 0.8 key balls to Manquillo (0.7), Yedlin (0.6) and Krafth (0.5).

So, if Bruce was to lose Yedlin in the final days of the January transfer window, it may not be a blow for Newcastle to endure, so long as United first meet the one condition needed for his exit. Signing a player who will improve a squad winless in 11 games across all competitions.

AND in other news, Newcastle have landed a huge boost in their pursuit of a £4m-rated beast…

Marcel Brands must urge Carlo Ancelotti to unleash Joshua King far more than he ever fielded Cenk Tosun, after Everton signed the AFC Bournemouth striker on Deadline Day.

What’s the word?

According to talkSPORT presenter Alex Crook, King’s last-ditch move to Merseyside saw the Toffees agree to sign the Cherries forward on an initial six-month contract.

Everton will have an option to extend the Norwegian’s time at Goodison Park at the end of the season, with the transfer potentially worth up to £5m.

The Blues paid Bournemouth a nominal sum to finalise a deal in the final hours of Deadline Day, after the Vitality Stadium outfit sought to secure a fee for a striker who was set to be out of contract when his £45,000-per-week deal expired in the summer.

King will provide Ancelotti with vital cover for Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Everton after Tosun was allowed to re-join Besiktas on loan until the end of the season, having failed to secure a regular starting berth under a succession of managers.

Reports by Norwegian television channel TV2 had claimed King decided to join Everton over Fulham after Bournemouth accepted offers from both Premier League sides, but the Blues first had to offload Tosun and his wages to afford the £10m-rated beast.

King is yet to score a league goal in a heavily disrupted campaign for the 29-year-old, having sustained a thigh injury in pre-season before later testing positive for coronavirus and missing almost two months.

Ancelotti must trust King

King found his eye for the goal in the FA Cup with a brace against Oldham Athletic and a solo strike in the fourth round against Crawley Town last month, while providing assists in each tie. Showing that he has not lost his edge in front of the net, which saw the Manchester United product score 48 Premier League goals with Bournemouth over five seasons.

Everton’s Director of Football Brands must now urge Ancelotti to place his backing in the 51-cap Norway international, having seen the Italian only field Tosun for 43 minutes in the top-flight this term.

Brands has put his faith into King offering Ancelotti a greater attacking threat than Tosun could ever bring to the table, with the Turkey international only scoring nine Premier League goals since January 2018.

The Dutchman has also struck what could prove to be a masterstroke by including clauses that will allow Everton to sign King to a long-term contract in the summer, without having to pay the £15m Bournemouth were allegedly wanting for the versatile forward who their former head coach Eddie Howe lauded as the “complete package”.

But that will prove worthless if King does not feature, despite having the potential to offer the goals form the bench that could secure the Toffees European football, which Ancelotti did not previously have.

Everton have not seen a substitute score a single goal in the Premier League all season, an unwanted stat which only goal-shy duo Burnley and West Bromwich Albion can also lay claim to.

If 11-goal striker Calvert-Lewin has not found the net, the Toffees also struggle, with the Blues only scoring seven in their last seven games, running back to when the 23-year-old last scored.

King does not have to do much to offer more of a threat than Tosun but if he’s to get the goals the Merseyside outfit have been lacking, Ancelotti will have to back him.

AND in other news, the exit of a £28k-p/w dud is great news for a “gifted” Everton outcast…

Glasgow Rangers have been handed a major injury boost with the news that James Tavernier is available to face Royal Antwerp in the Europa League.

As reported by The Daily Record, via The Daily Mail, the Rangers captain had limped off the pitch during first-team training at Auchenhowie and was a doubt for this evening’s Europa League last-32 tie against Antwerp due to injury.

But Steven Gerrard has branded these reports as “fake news” while speaking to reporters in his pre-match press conference in the build-up to the clash at The Bosuilstadion later today.

Gerrard’s side have been hampered by several setbacks this season, and they have sorely missed star strikers Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe after the pair were hit by retrospective bans from the Scottish FA on charges of violent conduct.

They have also been deprived of the services of the likes of Ryan Jack and Scott Arfield at various points this season and could be without Nathan Patterson for some time after the young right-back was removed from the first-team squad following the latest Covid breach.

However, ahead of the trip to Antwerp, Gerrard has given his side a much-needed boost after he confirmed the skipper is fit to travel to Belgium before the first-leg of their Europa League last-32 clash this evening.

Speaking to Rangers TV, the Ibrox boss said: “We’ve seen recent rumours that James is carrying a niggle which is fake news. There’s nothing in that.”

After Tavernier – who is currently valued at £7.2m via Transfermarkt – was named the Scottish Premiership Player of the Month for September, Gerrard praised the impact of the “powerhouse” and his attitude.

Gerrard said: “He’s looking like the powerhouse we know we can be.

“He returned hungry and his application and return from lockdown has really impressed me.

“The challenge now is to maintain that standard and he really deserves the accolade.”

With 11 goals and nine assists in 29 top-flight appearances, the 29-year-old tops the charts out of the entire Rangers squad in the Premiership this season by some margin, with only Roofe and Morelos his closest rivals on ten and seven goals respectively.

And when you take a closer look at the numbers, it’s easy to see why he’d be such a massive miss for Gerrard if he had been ruled out due to injury. He ranks third for key passes in the Europa League (1.5 per 90), fourth for clearances, and sixth for interceptions, which just goes to show that his all-round game is good and he can put in a shift at the back as well as find the back of the net.

Tavernier leads by example from the back, and thankfully for Gerrard, he has been one of his most reliable performers so far this season.

Rangers fans should now be feeling more confident about their side’s chances of clinching victory in the crunch stage of the competition ahead of the trip to Antwerp.

AND in other Rangers news, Why Steven Gerrard must unleash Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos on Antwerp…

With Neil Lennon no longer manager of Celtic Football Club, plenty of rumours have come out the woodwork over who will come in to replace the Irishman. Interim manager John Kennedy will stand in for now, but the club will likely be broadening their search once the Scottish Premiership season comes to a close.

The Hoops have been linked to a number of high profile names, including Frank Lampard and Rafael Benitez. But one man who has pricked up a lot of ears is none other than Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. Bookmakers have included the ex-striker in the running for those in line for the job, with odds as low as 12/1 being fared.

Dean Windass spoke to Football FanCast about the likelihood of Henry joining Celtic and discussed the French link between him and Odsonne Edouard, who has been linked to a move away from Parkhead in recent months.

“It probably will do,” the pundit said when asked whether Henry’s potential appointment would make a difference on Edouard’s future with the club. “But nobody knows. Edouard wants to go on and play Champions League football. But if Thierry comes in and has a little word and says ‘this is where I want you to be and you’ll be my main man’ then it might swing it.”

It was recently confirmed that Henry has left his position as manager of CF Montreal and will be returning from the US in order to be closer to his family. This in itself could hint that his next job will be in Europe and Celtic would certainly be a big project he could take on.

With the 43-year-old being a former France striker, he could nurture Edouard’s talent whilst he’s still young and also coach him towards his endeavour to transition from the French youth ranks to becoming a fully fledged senior international.

In other news, Rafa Benitez has dropped a potential hint amid new Celtic manager link…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Sheffield Wednesday frontman Dean Windass been discussing Jordan Henderson’s recent injury.

The England midfielder had missed just four of Liverpool’s Premier League matches this season, but is now facing a spell on the sidelines following a groin problem sustained in last month’s Merseyside derby at Anfield.

Henderson was replaced by Nathaniel Phillips just 30 minutes into the Reds’ 2-0 defeat, and whilst the Liverpool Echo revealed that the Liverpool captain is expected to play again this season, the club are yet to comment on when he might return to playing action.

However, the Echo confirmed that Henderson won’t feature before the upcoming international break, meaning he’ll miss Premier League games against Chelsea, Fulham and Wolves, plus their Champions League second leg against Leipzig.

And Windass told FFC that Liverpool have lost their “back-bone” with Henderson out the side. He said:

“They’ve missed him in midfield, they talk about Van Dijk, he’s been the biggest one, they haven’t had a settled back-two because Robbo [Andy Robertson] and Trent have always been the right back and the left back.

“Jordan is a good organiser, he learnt everything through Stevie, and went on to captain and win the Premier League, so the back-bone of the team has slipped away. The biggest loss is that Jordan’s been out of the midfield. It’s a blow for Liverpool, but the defence has always been a problem since Van Dijk has been injured.”

Whilst the injury to Virgil Van Dijk has been well publicised following his impact in the last two seasons, Henderson’s absence is a major blow in more ways than one – their midfield and centre-back options are even more limited, whilst they’re also without their captain and biggest leader on the pitch.

Steve Bruce must unleash Matty Longstaff against Aston Villa on Friday night amid claims of a potential recall for the outcast Newcastle United midfielder.

That’s according to Football Insider, who suggest the 20-year-old is set to be re-introduced to the Toon first-team fold after a welcome run out in the academy side on Monday.

Longstaff had not featured for either the Magpies senior team or Under 23s since playing a majority of January 18th’s Premier League defeat to Arsenal, with his previous junior outing coming back in October when beaten at West Bromwich Albion.

Longstaff was given a full 90-minute showcase away to Sunderland as the north east rivals drew 1-1 in the PL2 on Monday in a bid to rebuild his match fitness, with Bruce seemingly set to recall the frozen-out prospect.

January’s defeat at the Emirates Stadium marked only Longstaff’s fourth first-team start of the season in all competitions so far, having enjoyed a mini run in the side after Christmas before being shunned back to the fringes.

The youngster was named on the bench for five of the Toon’s following six top-flight games but has been left out entirely from Bruce’s last three matchday squads, much to the apparent anguish of his teammates.

It is noted that Bruce’s refusal to field Longstaff or his elder brother, Sean, has angered members of the dressing room, as resentment continues to grow towards the head coach who ‘disgusted’ his players with the handling of Karl Darlow being dropped.

The mood at Darsley Park could swing back in Bruce’s favour if Longstaff is now recalled, with the academy graduate thought to be earmarked for minutes – and a potential start – at home to Villa.

Bruce stated that he had been “desperate” to retain Longstaff last summer when his junior contract was due to expire, but the Newcastle boss’ faith in the midfielder has been very questionable since he penned a new deal.

Admittedly, Longstaff’s start to the season was hindered by a “very problematic” thigh injury after suffering a recurrence of the soft-tissue issue that he picked up at the end of last term.

But the 20-year-old had built his fitness with four starts in five games from Boxing Day’s defeat at Manchester City to January’s loss at Arsenal, and kept battling throughout the Etihad Stadium affair despite United clearly being second-best.

He earned a nine out of 10 match rating from Chronicle Live for his performance against Liverpool, too, having been ‘ice cool in the middle of the park’ while dictating how the Toon played on route to a 0-0 draw.

Longstaff again held his own against Leicester City and was solid in north London, yet was benched and booted into the wilderness after that, so he is surely itching for another chance.

And Bruce must hand him one against Aston Villa. Longstaff will be expected to offer far more against Dean Smith’s side than a player like Jeff Hendrick, who was once again one of United’s worst players in Sunday’s draw with relegation-rivals West Brom.

Hendrick has offered nothing of real value in any of his recent outings, while Longstaff stood out – often amongst a sorry bunch – for Newcastle at the turn of the year.

It is surely now time that Longstaff, who almost scored a winner for the U23s on Monday, is given another shot, as Bruce can ill-afford to have any passengers with relegation such a distinct threat.

AND in other news, Newcastle United eye £2m titan who “makes the people he’s playing with better”…

Glasgow Rangers legend Ally McCoist believes the Gers could lose a couple of important players ahead of the next campaign.

McCoist suggests exit

The Gers have already been confirmed as Premiership champions and are in with a chance of reaching the Europa League quarter-finals.

However, McCoist believes one or two players could depart at the end of the term. He told BT Sport (via Ibrox News):

“Recruitment is key, he’s (Steven Gerrard) intelligent enough and been in the game long enough to know you don’t stand still, you’ve got to move forward.

“You’ve got to plan. It’s one thing getting there, you’ve got to stay there, you’ve got to improve.

“Performances in the Europa League have been fantastic but the Champions League is a different ball game.

“I’ll be interested to see players coming in and I don’t want to tempt fate but [Gerrard] might lose one or two because of the success that they’ve had…it wouldn’t surprise me.”

Could happen

Unfortunately, McCoist may well be right. This has been a successful campaign so far, and the Gers do have a shot at Champions League football to offer to their stars, but the fact of the matter is that the Scottish Premiership lacks the glamour, finances and competitiveness of the Premier League and several other top European divisions.

For the Ibrox outfit, at least, they are now in a position to demand higher fees for their star men. Long gone are the days when they could be signed for bargain fees – their performances both domestically and on the continent mean that is no longer possible. They will be in demand, and Ross Wilson and co must use that to their advantage.

In other news, Rangers fans react to this Sky Sports news.

According to a report by The Mirror, Leeds United are eyeing Crystal Palace defender Patrick van Aanholt and consider his capture on a potential free transfer as a ‘real coup’, with the Dutchman out of contract at Selhurst Park when this season concludes.

Van Aanholt – a hugely experienced Premier League figure having made 209 appearances in total, scoring 21 goals and assisting 15 others (Transfermarkt) – could leave Palace for nothing as there has been no development on a new deal for the 30-year-old.

Leeds eyeing potential ‘real coup’

This has prompted Leeds and, by extension, Victor Orta to take note of the situation, with a new left-back high on the priority list for Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road.

The defender has now emerged as a summer transfer target given his soon-to-be status as a free agent, and the Whites view his possible capture for no transfer fee as a ‘real coup’.

Transfer Tavern take

Bielsa is said to be keen on a swoop for Van Aanholt, coming after the Argentine previously hailed how ‘dangerous’ he was against his side during Leeds’ 4-1 mauling at the hands of Palace back in November (Leeds Live).

Indeed, he apparently fits the profile of an attacking full-back Bielsa wishes to bring in, but it remains to be seen whether Leeds manage to secure him this summer.

In other news: Leeds have been urged to sign ‘amazing’ striker, find out more here.

Some Everton fans have been criticising the performance of Dominic Calvert-Lewin in their 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup on Saturday evening.

Late goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne were enough in the end to send Pep Guardiola’s men through into the semi-final stage of the competition and sink the Merseyside club at Goodison Park.

There were some decent performances for Carlo Ancelotti’s team, but Calvert-Lewin flattered to deceive in the eyes of some Everton fans.

The former Sheffield United man lost seven of his duels and also relinquished possession of the ball no fewer than 14 times throughout the match, the most out of any outfield Toffees player to have set foot on the pitch (Sofascore).

Everton fan reaction to Calvert-Lewin display

These Everton supporters slammed his performance on Twitter, with one fan even going as far as to claim that the 24-year-old England international striker was ‘terrible’ against the Premier League leaders:

“Thought Calvert-Lewin was lazy for their first goal. Let their centre-half run right past him.”

Credit: @sav4efc

“Not good enough. If you’re making the decision to defend all game….you defend all game. Calvert-Lewin literally cantered back and watched him run the ball past him to take the shot tipped on to the bar. If he had pressed this could’ve ended completely different.”

Credit: @Reverand_dave

“Asked for that all game, invited them every time they had the ball, backed off and with the team like them it’s a matter of time that you pay for it! Gomes, Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison all terrible tonight!”

Credit: @CJonesLJ

“Calvert-Lewin has to do more there, should be applying far more pressure than he does!!”

Credit: @ChrisPickles24

“Calvert-Lewin’s head seems in another place here. A good 5-7 yds off the game.”

Credit: @connjam

“#EVEMCI #FAcup We played well until 84th min, against a great #mancity team. #DCL #richarlison are NOT scoring enough goals, they need to play with an experienced striker! Next season we should improve! #weekendvibes”

Credit: @RitaBruceEFC

In other news, find out which Everton player some fans have slammed after comments emerged!

Kevin Phillips has urged Sunderland to sign on-loan ace Dion Sanderson on a permanent deal this summer.

Phillips urges Sunderland to sign Sanderson

The centre-back made the move to the Stadium of Light on a temporary basis from Wolverhampton Wanderers at the start of this season.

It has recently been revealed that the Black Cats have entered talks over a permanent deal for the 21-year-old (Daily Mail), and Phillips believes his capture should be a priority for Sunderland. He told Football Insider:

“I would get a permanent deal done for Sanderson as soon as possible. I think it will be a priority.

“He looks like he really enjoys being at the football club. In the final the other week you could hear him and a few of the other lads cheering on Sunderland so it looks like he loves the club.

“On the pitch, he has been amazing so I would definitely be looking to tie him down to the club permanently.”

One for the future

The 1.88m (6 foot 3) defender has grown into an important member of Lee Johnson’s squad as this season has progressed. He started just one of the first 17 League One matches of the campaign, but has been named in the starting XI for the last 11 (Transfermarkt). During that run, the Wearside outfit have not lost even once and have conceded on just four occasions.

At just 21 years of age, Sanderson clearly has a big future ahead of him, and may well relish playing in the Championship if Sunderland are able to earn promotion. For the reported £2m Wolves are said to be seeking, he could be an absolute bargain signing, so Phillips is right to implore the Black Cats to land him on a permanent basis.

In other news, many Sunderland fans loved these Aiden O’Brien comments.