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Reported 2018 Liverpool target Jorginho’s poor run of form continued in Chelsea’s 2-0 FA Cup fifth round defeat against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Monday night, and Reds fans were quick to react to his performance on Twitter.

The Liverpool Echo reported last May that the Merseyside outfit were interested in bringing the Italy international to the Premier League, but at the time Manchester City were the favourites to win the race for the midfielder’s signature.

Of course, the 27-year-old ended up linking up with the manager he worked under at Napoli, Maurizio Sarri, in west London instead, and while he started the season well and earnt pletny of plaudits, his displays have dropped off in recent weeks with his shortfalls off of the ball and defensively coming to the fore – as was the case against the Red Devils.

Liverpool supporters took to social media to have their say on the Italian’s latest showing on Monday, and while one said “Jorginho isn’t fit to lace Wijnaldum’s boots”, another said “he can’t defend and his passing is just average”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Jurgen Klopp has gotten quite inventive with his excuses this season. FFC’s James Jones think he has no one but himself to blame for Liverpol’s poor form in the video below…

Rangers continued their superb run of form under Giovanni van Bronckhorst as they won for the fourth time in five games under the Dutchman.

The Gers beat Hearts 2-0 away from home and have now won all four of their Premiership matches with the 43-year-old at the helm.

Alfredo Morelos scored the opening goal with a composed finish from inside the box after electric wing play from Fashion Sakala down the right to tee him up.

Joe Aribo then doubled the lead after he latched onto a sublime pass from Connor Goldson before clinically dispatching a shot into the far corner, with the Gers holding out for the 2-0 win in the end.

Whilst Morelos and Aribo may get the credit for their part in sealing the three points, one player who also deserves immense credit is central defender Calvin Bassey – who impressed at centre-back.

Defensively, he was almost faultless. As per SofaScore, he won 100% (2/2) of his duels on the pitch, whilst making four clearances, two blocks, two interceptions and two tackles. This shows how strong he was defending his own goal, as he was able to make numerous key contributions at the back to keep Hearts at bay.

One criticism of his performance could be that he came close to scoring an own goal in the second half. He was caught in a difficult position at the front post from a cross and deflected the ball up onto his own crossbar and was fortunate that it bounced down the right side of the line from his perspective.

On the ball, he was reliable. As per Sofascore, he completed 100% of his passes as he found a teammate with all 40 of his attempts. He was successful with all three of his long passes and had 51 touches of the ball overall. This shows that he has quality in his distribution to go along with his excellent defending.

Therefore, he was the unsung hero for Rangers as he effectively and efficiently went about his business at centre-back and helped the side keep a clean sheet along with the three points. The £6.4k-per-week beast has been in fine form and van Bronckhorst will surely be hoping he can continue to put in performances like this at the back.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Kent: GvB must seal Rangers deal for £9.3k-p/w gem who “creates opportunities”…

A number of Manchester City fans have been praising Raheem Sterling after he scored his 100th Premier League goal in the 1-0 win against Wolves on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s men were able to maintain their reign at the top of the Premier League table as the champions gained three points at the weekend, taking them up to 38 points from 16 games this season.

Sterling kept his cool to slot home from the penalty spot in the 66th minute following a controversial VAR check, which ruled that Joao Moutinho had illegally blocked Bernardo Silva’s cross, despite claims that the ball hit the player’s armpit.

The England international joins the Premier league 100-goal club as the 32nd player to ever reach this total in the competition and is the eighth youngest to do so at 27 years and three days of age.

Lots of Man City fans laud Sterling

In acknowledgement of Sterling’s landmark goal, Manchester City’s official Twitter channel shared an artistic image depicting the 27-year-old being greeted by other centurions to the ‘Premier League 100 Club’, including former Etihad Stadium team-mate Sergio Aguero.

Lots of City fans were buzzing upon seeing the tweet, with one describing the England international as ‘King Raz’. Check out some of their reactions below:

“King Raz”

Credit: @Kafkaesque_10

“Our GOAT”

Credit: @MCFCHag

“I cannot express enough how genuinely happy I am for him. He’s the whole reason I’m a City fan!”

Credit: @MSU_Cityzens

“One of the great players in City! Raheeeem Sterlingggg! Keep going and get us over the line this year.. Trophy is ours!”

Credit: @jkjk52563

“This image made me emotional. I love us. Congrats again, @sterling7”

Credit: @katedemallie

“So happy for him.. just work hard [and] results will come… He is doing it right now”

Credit: @meamitshuklaa

In other news: Lots of Man City fans fume as injury claim emerges

An update has emerged on Sunderland and their pursuit of free agent centre-forward Jermain Defoe…

What’s the talk?

According to INews, the Black Cats have made contact with the player and are one of a number of EFL clubs attempting to sign him.

The report claims that he wants to continue playing until the end of the 2021/22 campaign and is seriously considering a deal to join Sunderland.

SOL rocking

Lee Johnson could get the Stadium of Light rocking with a deal to re-sign the attacker. Not only does he have a successful history with the club but he is also a recognised name in English football and has enjoyed a brilliant career for club and country.

This means that he would almost be a marquee signing in the sense of the fanfare that would come with it, irrespective of his age. In 93 games for Sunderland between 2014 and 2017, he plundered an impressive 37 goals and four assists, which is why fans would surely be over the moon to see him back as they were able to enjoy his immense goalscoring talents previously.

The English predator has scored 200 club career goals to date and found the back of the net 20 times for England at international level. This means that the Mackems could be bringing in a player who has 220 strikes to his name, with the majority coming at the top level for club and country.

Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson once dubbed him “wonderful” and his record in Scotland suggests that he still has something to offer on the pitch at the age of 39. He managed 32 goals and ten assists in 74 games for the Gers, showing that he still has what it takes to be a regular goalscorer.

Therefore, he could bolster Johnson’s squad and score a few goals in League One to help the club with their promotion push back to the Championship. Fans would surely be buzzing to see him back in red and white after his previous spell with the club and the stands will be rocking if he comes in and has an impact on the season, as his statistics suggest that he will be able to do.

He was also part of the coaching set-up at Ibrox before Giovanni van Bronckhorst came in and brought in his own staff. This means that he could come in and play his part on the pitch before potentially retiring and taking up a coaching role at the club moving forward.

AND in other news, Alan Nixon drops Sunderland transfer claim that will leave fans gutted…

Aston Villa had a rather busy January transfer window in terms of their recruitment as well as moving some of their current players out on loan to other clubs.

Even though the winter transfer period has drawn to a close, it seems as though the Midlands club may already have their eyes on one deal in particular that they could look to complete when the summer transfer window opens.

What’s the news?

During a recent online Q&A on the Birmingham Live website, Villa journalist Ashley Preece was asked a question regarding the club’s current left-back situation after Matt Targett made a January deadline day transfer move to Newcastle United on loan.

In response, Preece revealed that the Midlands club are “looking to” try and sign Bologna’s 19-year-old left-back Aaron Hickey when the next summer transfer window opens.

With that in mind and the fact that they were linked with a move for the defender during the recent January transfer window suggests that Villa’s scouting team certainly see the teenager as a suitable recruit for Gerrard’s side.

Likened to Busquets

Prior to joining the Italian side back in September 2020, the £11.7m-rated full-back had racked up 34 appearances for SPFL side Hearts.

Since joining Bologna, the teenager, who has been likened to Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets in the past by Austin MacPhee, has managed to score an impressive four goals in 33 appearances across all competitions.

As well as his goals, the defender has also managed to deliver some solid performances for the Serie A side this season with WhoScored giving him an overall rating of 6.8/10 making him their fourth-highest rated player.

This would also currently place him in the top 10 of Villa’s highest-rated players in the Premier League this season, showing that he has what it takes to perform at a high level.

Moving forward, should Villa end up selling Targett at the end of the season when his loan spell at Newcastle comes to an end and if Ashley Young doesn’t renew his playing contract when that expires in the summer, launching a move for Hickey should definitely be at the top of Villa’s priority list to add some depth and freshness in that area of the squad.

After all, they could just find the next Busquets by doing so, landing a player capable of thriving in a multitude of positions; namely holding midfield and full-back.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano drops major 7-word AVFC deadline day update, Gerrard will be delighted – opinion

Everton will need to get better at taking the chances they create as they have conceded more goals than they have scored this season, leaving them 15th in the Premier League going into the new year.

The attacking prowess at Goodison Park has been spectacularly flat since the arrival of Rafael Benitez in the summer, which can be put down to injuries to key attacking players like Dominic Calvert Lewin, as well as inconsistencies in the squad.

Despite the struggles Everton has faced in the first half of the season, two of the signings that Benitez made in the previous transfer window, Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend, are currently the two top scorers for the club this season. Therefore, the Spanish manager definitely has an eye for what can work in attack and should use that nous when dipping into the transfer market this month.

One player who has been linked to the club is former Arsenal star, Aaron Ramsey, who has been reported to be leaving Juventus in a matter of days, with the Welshman only going back to Turin to say goodbye to his team-mates.

It was reported earlier this week that a swap loan deal for out-of-favour Lucas Digne could be on the cards, but it now looks like Ramsey will be making different plans in the coming days and weeks, and the Toffees manager should be capitalising on the 31-year-old’s impending departure from Serie A.

The attacking midfielder has an impressive 148 goals and assists throughout his career, compared to current Everton midfielder Tom Davies, who despite being eight years Ramsey’s junior can only boast 19 goal contributions from 190 career appearances.

Davies’ team-mate Abdoulaye Doucoure would thrive with a player like Ramsey by his side, as the pair could form a deadly midfield partnership to take the Toffees back where they belong in the top half of the table by the end of the season.

Doucoure’s strength in positioning is one of his best attributes, as well as his ability to offer creativity and goals from midfield, with two goals and four assists so far this season.

Combining those strengths with Ramsey’s consistently outstanding passing accuracy from playing in many midfield positions, and his experience of elite competitions, could be a huge threat for Everton’s opponents in the second half of the season. Benitez must do everything he can to try and make it happen this month.

In other news: Everton start given green light to return as training pictures emerge

Celtic have been dealt a major setback in their bid to bring Daniel Mandroiu to Parkhead in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Record, who claim that, despite Ange Postecoglou’s reported interest in signing the Shamrock Rovers attacking midfielder during the winter market, sources in Ireland now believe that Celtic will be unable to complete a move for the 23-year-old in the coming months.

Postecoglou will be fuming

Considering the vast amount of potential Mandroiu appears to possess, in addition to the fact that Tom Rogic’s recent injury highlighted just how short Celtic currently are of attacking midfield options, the news that a move for the Shamrock Rovers star now looks to be unlikely in January is sure to have left Postecoglou fuming.

Indeed, over his 35 Premier Division appearances this season, the £248k-rated midfielder scored a whopping 15 goals and provided his teammates with six assists, playing a key role in helping his side secure the League of Ireland title.

And, while there is undoubtedly a gulf in standard between that of the Scottish Premiership and the top flight in Ireland, the general opinion of Mandroiu is that he is a player who could easily make the step up, with his former manager at Bohemians, Keith Long, stating of the midfielder:

“Big players perform on big occasions. He’s a very good technical player with an outstanding future ahead of him. I think the sky’s the limit for him. He can be whatever he wants to be.”

Furthermore, aside from the 23-year-old’s own ability, there is also a rather desperate need for a fresh face in attacking midfield at Parkhead, as Postecoglou currently only has the options of Tom Rogic and David Turnbull in the position – something that has seen the Hoops struggle to break down a particularly stubborn opposition already this season.

As such, the news that a deal looks unlikely for Mandroiu in January is sure to come as a major setback for the 56-year-old Bhoys boss, who now looks as if he will have no other choice than to turn his attention elsewhere in the winter market.

In other news: Exciting Celtic transfer development emerges, Ange will be buzzing

Brenden Aaronson isn’t Leeds United’s only target this January transfer window…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor, who delivered an exciting update on the Yorkshiremen’s plans heading into the final few days of the month ahead of Monday’s deadline.

“From what I understand of the situation, he’s not the only target this month,” he revealed to GIVEMESPORT this week.

Good news

This should alleviate some of the fears mounting around Elland Road from worried supporters and perhaps even manager Marcelo Bielsa too.

The Argentine’s depleted squad has been stretched thin over the last few months.

A number of key first-team stars have fallen victim to the ongoing injury crisis around Thorp Arch, including last season’s top goalscorer Patrick Bamford, skipper Liam Cooper and midfield anchorman Kalvin Phillips.

[snack-amp-story url = “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-lufc-transfer-rumours-gossip-bielsa-orta-radrizzani-elland-road-updates” title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer updates and much, much more!”]

It has been so bad that Bielsa could only name one senior professional amongst a bench of nine players during their Premier League clash with West Ham United earlier this month.

There has also been a need for a new central midfielder for quite some time, with the last arrival in the role coming four years ago when Adam Forshaw joined from Middlesbrough in January 2018.

Aaronson is a player capable of adding goals and creativity to the attacking midfield department, the sort of player they have long lacked in the final third but so far, their attempts to sign him have been thwarted with two bids of £15m and £20m being knocked back.

It’s hard to envisage him becoming a Leeds player much before the summer, which leaves them in a tricky and worrying spot. However, Taylor’s claim suggests that he isn’t their only target and that’s much more encouraging to hear.

The Whites are by no means out of the relegation dogfight just yet and with no signs of the injury crisis easing up, Victor Orta and co desperately need to add quality to Bielsa’s squad.

AND in other news, Marcelo Bielsa on verge of grave January disaster at Leeds United…

Steve Bruce must axe goalkeeper Sam Johnstone for the remainder of the season in order to prepare for life without him after the summer.

The former Premier League champion has had a “successful” career at the Baggies in the words of reporter Steve Madeley, but it looks like it could be about to come to an end with his contract set to expire in the summer.

When speaking to the Athletic, manager Steve Bruce said “the likelihood is that Sam is going to leave.”

The shot-stopper is poised to join a club in the Premier League in the hopes of gaining a place in the England squad at this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.

West Brom will now be looking at replacements for Johnstone but their campaign as good as done, they should consider axing the ‘keeper from their starting line-up now to best prepare for life without him.

His record this season is pretty good having kept 15 clean sheets overall in the Championship which is just three short of the league’s best which is held by central defender John Egan.

The 29-year old still has some of his best years left and has played over 15,000 minutes for West Brom. His overall record is impressive with 45 clean sheets in 167 appearances.

He has even been described as the “best English goalkeeper” by Jason Cundy.

So why drop him? Well, the Baggies have little to play for this season, their slim hopes of achieving a play-off spot were virtually ended with a 1-0 defeat to rivals Birmingham City the other week.

The remaining games they have would provide a great chance to give one of their other goalkeepers valuable experience in the league and would provide the coaching staff with a good idea of whether or not they could replace Johnstone.

Alex Palmer is the youngest of the three stoppers the club have available to them and has come through the academy having spent various spells on loan.

One of his most recent loan spells last year at League One outfit Lincoln City saw him make 46 appearances and keep 19 clean sheets in the division.

When you compare his performance last season to Johnstone’s, he has a better save percentage at 72.7 compared to 70.6.

Now would be the perfect opportunity to give him a more regular chance at Championship level and it could pay off for Bruce.

IN other news: West Brom: Grady Diangana struggled in defeat to Stoke City…

When Celtic spent £2m on the signing of Marian Shved back in January 2019, it would be fair to say that many at Parkhead were not overly convinced about the winger’s suitability for the club.

Indeed, shortly after the 21-year-old’s arrival in Glasgow, Brendan Rodgers appeared less than enthused about the capture of the Ukraine international, stating: “I can’t say I know a great deal about him but what I have seen he is a talent and something that will probably benefit the club in the future.

“We’ve got about a million wingers and don’t need another one but he’s a talent and in the summer we’ll probably lose wingers and he’ll look to come in. It’s an opportunity for the club to sign a young talented player but not one that will probably help us now.

“The club have been in contact with his representatives and he is a player for the future. I haven’t seen a great deal of him to be honest. It is something that has come to the club through circumstance and he has been watched. I think that they will look to get the deal done on him and he will probably be out on loan.”

As the Northern Irishman suggested, Shved did indeed depart Celtic Park on a temporary basis shortly after his arrival in Glasgow, returning to Karpaty Lviv for the remainder of the 2018/19 campaign.

However, what Rodgers did not predict was that the forward would also spend the vast majority of 2019/20 away from Parkhead, with the £810k-rated winger linking up with Belgian side KV Mechelen in August 2020 after making just three appearances for Celtic – once in Champions League qualifying, once in the Premiership and once in the Scottish Cup.

After Mechelen made the 24-year-old – who Wouter Vrancken dubbed a “loner” and suggested should “play billiards for the rest of his life” rather than football – a permanent signing for an unspecified amount last summer, the £7.9k-per-week Shved’s status as a Celtic flop was confirmed.

Indeed, with the attacker setting Celtic back around £1m in wages over his 129 weeks at Parkhead, in addition to his £2m transfer fee, it is clear that the Bhoys had a shocker when signing the Ukrainian, who well and truly rinsed Dermot Desmond.

AND in other news: Ange can axe “infectious” ace as Celtic become “serious contenders” for “massive” deal