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Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been linked with a move to Real Madrid as the 28-year-old nears the end of his current contract with the club.

What’s the story?

The World Cup winner has been attracting the attention of a host of top European clubs for several months after refusing to put pen to paper on fresh terms at United.

And now, according to Spanish outlet AS (via Manchester Evening News), La Liga giants Madrid are eager to sign Pogba and will try to sign him on a free transfer next year.

He will be available to sign on a pre-contract agreement over the winter window which is good news for Los Blancos who want to secure his signature as soon as possible.

Solskjaer will be worried

Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain were heavily linked with a move for Pogba in the previous window before their shock move for Lionel Messi meant his arrival was no longer a financial possibility.

Since then, United are believed to have offered their academy graduate a new contract worth close to £400,000 per week, and although he’s open to re-signing, Pogba’s taking his time over what is a huge decision at this stage in his career.

However, United’s chiefs are set to face a battle to keep the France international on their books after Madrid reportedly rekindled their interest in the box-to-box dynamo over the international break.

Pogba’s impressive displays for Les Blues during their Nations League triumph were just the latest in what’s been an impressive 2021 for the engine room operator, with club teammate Bruno Fernandes lauding him after his magnificent tally of four assists against Leed United on the opening day of the season.

“I’m pretty sure Paul could do five or six (assists) in one game! Paul is a quality player; we all trust him, we all know his qualities,” Fernandes told MUTV after the emphatic victory.

“The point is making those performances and to help the team do better and I’m pretty sure Paul is here to do that.”

Therefore, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is likely to be very worried about this latest revelation, and the Norwegian tactician will be hoping one of his star players remains at Old Trafford for many years to come. After all, it would be a hammer blow to lose a player as good as the France star.

And, in other news…”They expect” – Romano delivers big Man Utd update, Red Devils fans may be concerned 

Now that the January transfer window has opened, this has set off a flurry of transfer rumours and reports linking numerous players with moves to a range of different clubs.

One club that have been linked with a potential transfer deal in the near future is Aston Villa, who could be set to allow manager Steven Gerrard to make some changes to his squad.

What’s the word?

According to a recent report from The Sun by journalist Alan Nixon, Villa are interested in signing Burnley winger Dwight McNeil as well as fellow Premier League clubs Everton and Crystal Palace.

Since joining Burnley’s U18 side back in 2014 from Manchester United’s youth system, the 22-year-old has gone on to make a total of 127 senior appearances for the Clarets across all competitions, scoring seven goals and providing 17 assists in the process.

In terms of a potential move to Villa, either in the current January transfer window or the next summer window, the report claims that the Midlands club would have to “shift some of their squad for a bid to happen.”

Forget El Ghazi

With this in mind, it could be a good time for Villa to get rid of current winger Anwar El Ghazi, who has been linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks, given how he’s only made three substitute appearances for Villa since Gerrard’s first game in charge against Brighton & Hove Albion back in November.

Taking this into account, getting rid of the Dutch forward could be the first step towards signing McNeil, which would surely be very pleasing for Gerrard given how the Burnley winger has managed to rack up more shots, key passes and dribbles per game than El Ghazi has in the Premier League this season, highlighting his attacking talents.

Depending on what happens with Villa’s current attacking players this month such as El Ghazi or anyone else, there could be an opportunity for the Midlands club to secure a move for McNeil and get him into Gerrard’s squad.

However, with Burnley currently sitting in the relegation zone, it could be easier for Villa to sign McNeil in the summer if Sean Dyche’s side aren’t able to avoid the drop by the end of the campaign. Either way, Gerrard would surely be delighted to welcome him.

In other news: Lange could solve Gerrard’s big AVFC issue with swoop for “complete” £24.3m-rated gem – opinion

Aston Villa have learned the latest information regarding the future of summer transfer target Matthias Ginter ahead of a potential swoop for the Borussia Mönchengladbach defender.

What’s the story?

Ginter, who is set to become a free agent this summer, was questioned regarding links to the Premier League club, with the 28-year-old responding by saying to German media outlet Sport1:

“I would like to hold back on specific clubs or domestic and foreign issues for the time being.

“But of course, you talk to different people and you have a few things that are important to you. Then you will see everything else.”

The 46-cap Germany international could sign a contract extension with Gladbach in the coming weeks, however, it appears as though the 28-year-old will be available to sign for free in the summer.

Earlier this week, Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas shared that Sky Germany had reported Aston Villa’s interest.

Villa need Ginter

It’s no secret that Villa manager Steven Gerrard will be looking to heavily bolster his squad as the Englishman prepares for his first full season in charge of the West Midlands outfit next term.

There’s no doubt that, under the 41-year-old, Villa have improved, however, there has certainly been inconsistency throughout.

After ending a run of just one league win in seven matches with three consecutive victories, the Villans have since gone on to lose their last four matches in the top flight.

Moreover, in the last four matches, Gerrard’s men have conceded nine goals, with the statuses of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa being regular centre-backs again next season now under scrutiny.

Therefore, signing a defender with the quality and experience of Ginter would certainly be a shrewd move, particularly signing the German on a free transfer.

The Germany international is still a regular fixture in his country’s squads, having been part of the World Cup-winning side in 2014 and has made 46 appearances for the national team, now managed by former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick.

In terms of the current campaign, the 28-year-old has also been a regular for Gladbach, missing just three Bundesliga matches all season.

However, in general, it’s been a disappointing campaign for the North-Rhine outfit – who currently sit 11th in the German top flight with European football looking extremely unlikely next term.

The £21.6m-rated centre-back currently averages a whopping 80.2 touches per league game, whilst completing 84% of his passes and making 1.3 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and three clearances per game.

According to SofaScore, Mings has been Villa’s best-performing centre-back this season. However, the 29-year-old averages fewer touches than Ginter with 59 whilst completing 81% of his passes and making 1.2 interceptions, 0.7 tackles and 3.9 clearances.

Although the 28-year-old has only played in the Bundesliga throughout his career, it’s clear to see the quality and experience Villa would be receiving by securing his signature, so now it’s on sporting director Johan Lange to strike as the centre-back is seemingly set on a new challenge elsewhere.

AND in other news: Forget Young: Gerrard must finally unleash Aston Villa’s £2.5k-p/w “mini Gareth Barry”

With Valerien Ismael fielding a strong West Bromwich Albion side in Saturday afternoon’s FA Cup clash against Brighton, it is clear that the 46-year-old was hoping to secure something of an upset against Graham Potters’ Seagulls.

However, despite taking the lead through Callum Robinson’s strike shortly after half-time, all hope of securing a Premier League scalp at The Hawthorns vanished in a matter of minutes – two, to be exact – as Albion’s stand-in centre-back Cedric Kipre received two bookings in the space of just 120 seconds.

Indeed, Jakub Moder pulled the visitors level with just nine minutes of normal time remaining – ensuring that the fixture would go to extra time – before Neal Maupay completed the turnaround on 98 minutes. Ismael’s hope of a top-flight scalp was an opportunity very much missed, with the match finishing 2-1 to Brighton.

While it was undoubtedly the 25-year-old’s dismissal which turned the tide in the game, the £900k-rated defender’s overall performance today demonstrated exactly why Ismael is reportedly open to parting with the former Ivory Coast under-23 international this month.

Fewer touches than Button

Indeed, over his 69 minutes on the pitch, the £14k-per-week defender had just 34 touches of the ball – 16 fewer than David Button between the West Brom sticks – completed just 18 of his 25 passes (a success rate of just 72%) and lost possession of the ball nine times.

These returns saw the defender receive a hugely disappointing SofaScore match rating of just 6.0, the lowest of any Albion player to feature this afternoon. The Athletic’s Steve Madeley also dubbed Kipre “daft” for giving “the ref a decision to make” regarding his second yellow card.

As such, while West Brom are currently short of options at centre-back – with Semi Ajayi away at the African Cup of Nations and Dara O’Shea not yet back from injury – Ismael must nevertheless do all he can to axe the 25-year-old before the month is up. His display against Brighton is only the latest time Kipre has cost Albion dearly, and we believe that the defender must surely have played his final game for the club.

In other news: Alan Nixon drops 4-word transfer update which will leave West Brom fans furious

As per reliable reporter Dan Kilpatrick of The Evening Standard, there has been a big update on Tottenham Hotspur’s bid to sign Lewes starlet Ollie Tanner.

The Lowdown: Tottenham table bid…

The Athletic first broke news that Tottenham had tabled an offer on Saturday to sign the non-League sensation as they aim to beat Premier League rivals Brighton to his signature.

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Tanner has been making waves for Lewes in the Isthmian League Premier Division, attracting interest from the English top flight as Spurs now aim to secure a deal for the forward.

Sharing an update on their pursuit, Kilpatrick says today could be big.

The Latest: Club chiefs set for talks…

According to the reporter, Spurs have indeed ‘made a bid’ to sign Tanner and Lewes club chiefs are ‘due to hold a board meeting’ today over whether to accept it.

Tottenham, however, are ‘not yet thought’ to have met the 19-year-old’s asking price amid ‘widespread’ interest from a number of other sides.

The Verdict: Get it done…

The teenager has attracted plenty of praise for his performances, with his manager Tony Russell calling Tanner ‘special’, and it is important that Tottenham find a like-for-like academy replacement for ex-winger Dilan Markanday.

Markanday completed a permanent move to Blackburn Rovers earlier in the window and his departure will have left a sour taste in the mouths of some within Spurs – especially going by his exceptional goal return at youth level this season.

Given Tanner’s demand across the Premier League, it is clear that he could slot into Markanday’s stead and make up the numbers as Spurs continue to nurture their prospering academy.

In other news: Conte ‘very, very close’ to signing which ‘could really excite the Tottenham fans’…find out more here.

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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has admitted via The Birmingham Mail that he has used suspended midfielder John McGinn at left-back in training this week, because of the number of options he has in the centre of the park ahead of the trip to Stoke City on Saturday.

What’s the word, then?

Well, McGinn has established himself as a key player for the Midlands outfit following his move to Villa Park last summer, but he will miss the clash against the Potters and the subsequent fixture against Derby County after picking up his 10th booking of the campaign against West Bromwich Albion last time out.

His absence gives the likes of Glenn Whelan, Mile Jedinak and Birkir Bjarnason to stake a claim for a spot in the starting XI, and Smith has admitted that he has played the former Hibernian man out of position as result.

The 47-year-old told The Birmingham Mail: “I’ve even been putting John at left-back in training this week! He’s missing for two games so I haven’t needed him in central midfield in training.”

Could he do a job there in future?

The 24-year-old probably could with Neil Taylor hardly pulling up any trees in recent times, but McGinn should only ever play there if it is a necessity.

The Scotland international has become such an integral player in the middle that he needs to be there whenever he is available, given the drive, quality and commitment he brings to the position and the team in general.

Villa will be looking for some momentum in the coming weeks for a promotion push either this season or next, and having McGinn in his best position is key to those aims.

Celtic are ready to cash in on centre-forward Albian Ajeti in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Record, who claim that Michael Nicholson is ready to cut the Bhoys losses on the 24-year-old forward this winter, with the Record going on to state that the striker will go down in Celtic history as an expensive flop.

A further report by the Daily Record went on to reveal that, as a result of his struggles at Parkhead, the Switzerland international has been overlooked in selection for his national team by Murat Yakin, with the Switzerland boss stating:

“In my view, I look at each player’s individual performances and situation before I decide to name my squad. And that’s why in this instance I have chosen not to include Albian Ajeti.”

Fans will be buzzing

While fans of Celtic would have undoubtedly rathered Ajeti was a massive hit for their club, considering his poor performance levels, as well as his general lack of fitness and overall commitment during his time in Glasgow, the news that Nicholson is actively looking to ship the centre-forward out this January is sure to have left fans buzzing.

Indeed, over his 44 appearances for the Bhoys, the £2.88m-rated man has scored just nine goals and registered a mere five assists, with the player who Packie Bonner dubbed a “problem” averaging a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.85 last term – ranking him as the Hoops’ joint 12th-worst performer in the league.

Furthermore, the £16k-per-week forward has not completed 90 minutes since September, with both Neil Lennon and Ange Postecoglou being reported to have concerns regarding the 24-year-old’s fitness levels.

As such, while it would appear likely that Celtic will have to take a substantial hit if they wish to move Ajeti on this winter, considering the fact that the striker has already cost the club over £1m in wages, it would indeed appear highly advisable for Nicholson to get rid of the former West Ham United forward as quickly as possible, as he is quite simply stealing a living at Parkhead.

In other news: Forget Jota: “Outstanding” £4.5m-rated Celtic gem who made 8 key passes stole the show

Pundit Frank McAvennie has urged Newcastle to launch a move for Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Alli to leave, Newcastle in contact

A Spurs source has informed Football Insider that the club are willing to move Alli on in the January window, with the 25-year-old not in Antonio Conte’s plans.

Alli has featured in just two minutes of Premier League action under Conte, with Tottenham allegedly open to loan, loan-to-buy or permanent transfers.

Reports from Teamtalk have revealed that the Magpies have been in contact with Spurs regarding a move for Alli and would want an option to buy, as long as they avoid relegation.

The Latest: McAvennie’s claim

McAvennie was talking to Football Insider regarding the news on Alli.

He appeared to urge Newcastle to follow through with the approach and launch a move for the attacking midfielder, although he did have one concern in regards to being involved in a relegation battle.

“He’s a good player, there’s no doubting that.

“Going to Newcastle? What an asset he would be to them if he got his form back.

“If he plays as well as we know he can, he is the man to save them.

“What concerns me is whether you want him in the trenches with you.

“Is he going to put his foot in and do the dirty work in a relegation fight?

“I’m not saying he won’t or can’t. We have just never seen it before.

“If the option is there for Newcastle and they have already secured the new defenders they need.

“I think they could do a lot worse than getting Alli in, even on loan.

“He can be phenomenal on his day.”

The Verdict: Sign

A loan with an option to buy next season, as long as Eddie Howe keeps Newcastle in the Premier League, seems to be a smart move.

Howe has just one senior attacking midfielder on the books at this moment in time in Miguel Almiron, with the 27-year-old yet to contribute to a goal in 14 league appearances.

Alli has 88 Premier League goal contributions in 179 games, so would add that attacking threat and experience that could prove priceless in the second half of the season.

In other news, find out which ‘sensational’ signing NUFC are now ‘closing in’ on here!

While Leeds United starlet Illan Meslier has firmly established himself as the number one goalkeeper at Elland Road, had things turned out slightly differently a decade ago, it may well have been a certain Kasper Schmeichel holding the gloves.

Reports claimed that the Whites sold Schmeichel for less than £1m, with then boss Simon Grayson making it clear that the call to sell the Denmark international was one that was in the “best interests” of the Whites, and that it was the “right deal for the club”.

Speaking after a move to the Foxes was confirmed, the Denmark international let it be known that the decision for him to leave Elland Road was taken out of his hands, and that it was well and truly against his wishes.

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He said: “I want to put on record that I have never asked to leave the Leeds United, nor did I reject an offer for a new contract, since one was never put to me. I was enjoying being a Leeds United player and was looking forward to winning promotion this season with the club.

“I have spoken to the manager Simon Grayson and he has made it clear to me, that, in spite of having played well for him, this is something he believes is a good deal for Leeds United. I have been put in a very difficult situation and will spend some time considering my options for my future.”

Since then of course, Schmeichel has developed into a Premier League stalwart, having earned promotion to the top-flight with Leicester and being part of that now historic side that clinched the title against all odds in 2016.

Then, the goalkeeper added to his credentials as a Foxes icon and legend by delivering an impressive display in the FA Cup final victory last year, leading manager Brendan Rodgers to dub his performance as “special”.

All in all, he’s now played 466 games in total for Leicester, including featuring in the Champions League, Europa League and the Europa Conference League too.

The big Dane has also picked up 80 senior caps for his country, while he was even named by FIFA as one of the three finalists for the world’s best goalkeeper award back in 2018.

While Meslier has finally offset the impact of Schmeichel’s departure, you can’t help but feel a sense of what if with the goalkeeper.

Leeds suffered a bit of an embarrassment in letting the Dane go.

AND in other news: Orta can now axe “awful” £55k-p/w flop as Leeds eye “underrated” £12.5m-rated “threat”

Liam Kennedy has given his reaction to some early Aston Villa team news before their trip to Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Konsa out

After Ezri Konsa was sent off for a second yellow card in Villa’s 3-3 draw at home to Leeds United in midweek, it means that he will now be suspended for the game at St. James’ Park.

Kortney Hause will likely partner Tyrone Mings in the North East, and while the inexperienced player may usually be the target for a big centre-forward like Chris Wood, it was the England international who had a tough time against the Tyneside outfit last time they played.

The Latest: Kennedy reacts

In an exchange with fellow Newcastle World journalist Jordan Cronin on Twitter, Kennedy has claimed that Wood should fancy his chances up against Mings, especially with Konsa unable to partner him in defence:

“Wilson did (bullied Mings) down there this season, until the referee showed him an unwarranted yellow.

“Wood must fancy a bit of that.”

The Verdict: Great opportunity

With no goals to show in his three matches so far the Magpies, Wood will no doubt be hungry to get off the mark at the weekend.

He actually has a decent record against the Villans, scoring four times in seven appearances, and with Konsa out, Villa’s partnership with Mings will be disrupted.

Described as having a ‘shocker’ against Leeds by Kennedy, the centre-back will no doubt be under pressure to perform, and Wood can certainly take advantage of that.

In other news, find out which ‘untouchable’ colossus could now be tempted by a summer move to NUFC here!