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According to a recent report from The Daily Mirror, the future of Gary Cahill remains uncertain heading into the final few days of the January transfer window. The 33-year-old defender currently plays his football at Premier League giants Chelsea and has done so since 2012, although struggles for regular game time under new Blues boss Maurizio Sarri this season has plunged his future at the 2017 league champions into doubt.

And a recent report from The Daily Mirror suggests that Arsenal are seeking to lure the centre back across London in the last knockings of the window, while Cahill’s availability should also be of interest to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp given his defensive concerns – as such, the Reds must try their hand at an audacious move for the linked-away ace.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the centre back ranks at Anfield have taken something of a hit in recent times given Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, and Dejan Lovren have all been struck down by either injury or illness in the last few weeks – in fact, the former doesn’t look like returning to full fitness anytime soon.

And with messrs Lovren and van Dijk doubts for their clash with Leicester City in the Premier League on Wednesday, and plenty of other big matches to come in February in the form of the Champions League and league clashes against West Ham and Manchester United, Klopp must be aware that his side’s season could be defined on results in the coming weeks.

Add in a suspension to the commanding van Dijk for the first leg of their last-16 clash against Bayern Munich in Europe’s elite competition, and Klopp looks set to be very thin on the ground – playing messrs Lovren and Matip against Bayern could be asking for trouble.

And that is why a move for Chelsea’s Cahill would make some sense this month, as although at 33 he may be entering the twilight of his career, he retains the quality and indeed the know-how to help the Reds navigate what looks set to be a testing period of the season.

The centre back has enjoyed much success at Chelsea after joining from Bolton Wanderers back in 2012, with the Englishman since then helping the Blues win two Premier League titles, as well as triumphs in the Champions League, the Europa League, and the domestic cup competitions – he’s certainly a well-decorated defender.

Yet it was only the 2016/17 season a few years back in which the 33-year-old shone in Antonio Conte’s defence to help inspire Chelsea to the Premier League title – not only would he give Liverpool some much-needed trophy-winning experience off the field, but he could certainly do a job on it as well.

And while it would be something of an audacious move, what with Chelsea perhaps unlikely to help out a Premier League rival, it’s a move the Reds should make nonetheless, as doing so could help Klopp’s side negotiate what looks set to be a season-defining few weeks.

Liverpool fans… what do you think? Let us know!

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Tottenham Hotspur have enquired about the possibility of signing Franck Kessie from AC Milan, per TuttoMercatoWeb.

Spurs are reportedly making plans for the summer after going two transfer windows without signing a single player.

What’s the word?

Per the aforementioned report, Spurs have initiated contact with Kessie’s representatives to discuss the possibility of a move.

Kessie joined Milan on an initial two-year loan deal from Atalanta in 2017 but Milan hold an obligation to buy him at the end of the 48-month period this summer. TuttoMercatoWeb claim that the price stands at €20million (£17.56m).

However, the report states that Milan now value Kessie at €40m (£35m), opening up the prospect of the Italian club turning a healthy profit by securing his signature and then selling him on.

TuttoMercatoWeb also claim that PSG are monitoring Kessie’s progress in Serie A, where he has become an important member of Milan’s starting XI.

The 22-year-old has made 21 appearances in Serie A this season and has a total of 81 games to his name for the Rossoneri.

The end of Wanyama?

Victor Wanyama has struggled immensely with injuries at Spurs and is still on the sidelines this season.

The Kenya international has made just 10 appearances in all competitions this season, five of which have come in the Premier League.

Wanyama’s questionable fitness, coupled with Eric Dier’s injury woes in 2018-19, have regularly left Spurs thin in midfield, with Harry Winks the only senior option in the squad at one stage.

However, signing Kessie would solve that problem at a stroke.

The young defensive midfielder fits the profile of Pochettino signings perfectly, as he has the ability to improve under the Argentine’s management and also has the pedigree to instantly command a place in the starting XI in north London.

An investment of €40m is not cheap, but chairman Daniel Levy will surely see the value of it too, such is the resale potential if Kessie follows in the footsteps of the likes of Son Heung-Min and Dele Alli and becomes a star due to the Spurs boss.

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Tottenham fans will absolutely love the latest transfer rumour out of Spain, as reports claim Gareth Bale could be open to a return to north London.

What’s the story?

According to Marca, via Sport Witness, Real Madrid are once again considering selling Bale.

The Welsh wing wizard was the source of plenty of speculation after last season’s Champions League final, but of course it was Cristiano Ronaldo who departed, with Bale supposedly set to take the helm in Madrid.

That hasn’t happened though, and the report from Marca claims Bale “doesn’t rule out” a return to Spurs, while also including the Lilywhites as one of the interested parties.

According to the report, Bale has been overshadowed by Karim Benzema and Brazilian youngster Vinicius, and he could be used as part of a swap deal to land Christian Eriksen.

Is he worth losing Eriksen?

Real Madrid paid around £90m for Bale back in 2013, and that was before the transfer market exploded due to players like Paul Pogba and Neymar, so they will be looking for a hefty fee even as the Welshman approaches his 30th birthday.

That said, it is likely that the Lilywhites would have to sacrifice Eriksen to land Bale just like Marca claims, with the Danish international yet to show any signs of penning a new deal at the club.

Eriksen will be out of contract in the summer of 2020, but Daniel Levy and Mauricio Pochettino should be doing everything in their power to stop him from leaving, as the fan favourite playmaker is far younger and less injury-prone than Bale.

Bale may be a world-renowned superstar, but he has suffered countless muscle injuries in his five-and-a-half years in Madrid, and Eriksen is a more proven fit in Pochettino’s system.

Eriksen must be the club’s priority, but all things considered Bale isn’t exactly a bad contingency plan.

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Leeds fans have taken to Twitter to react after it was revealed on the club’s official website that Kemar Roofe will spend a period on the sidelines after damaging knee ligaments in the recent win over Swansea.

The news will come as a big blow to promotion chasing Leeds, who will now be without their top scorer for the bulk of the run-in – 2-goal Patrick Bamford will most likely step in to cover the English striker.

Roofe has scored 14 goals in 26 Championship starts this season, so his absence will be a huge blow to Marcelo Bielsa who currently has his side sat in third and just two points off the top, along with a game in hand.

It is yet to be revealed just how long Roofe will be out for, but with such little striking depth in reserve who can match the 26-year-old’s output, Leeds supporters on Twitter are understandably worried about their chances of promotion following the crippling news…

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Loads of Liverpool fans have been reacting to a possible transfer setback, as Timo Werner has reportedly agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich.

Reported by SportBild and confirmed by Manuel Veth, Werner has agreed terms to join Bayern Munich this summer.

The report claims that Red Bull Leipzig have not yet agreed a deal with the current Bundesliga champions.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Still, if the player has his heart set on a move to the Munich then that is a hammer blow to Liverpool, who have been constantly linked with Werner in the last couple of months.

The Reds of course already have a ferocious front three, but outside of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino there is little attacking talent at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal.

Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge are both expected to leave the club this summer, meaning the Reds will have to invest at the top end of the pitch.

Plenty of fans have been reacting to the news that a deal for Werner could now be off the table, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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According to the Liverpool Echo, Everton are keen to keep Mason Holgate at the club despite interest from West Brom, who are looking to turn the right-back’s loan move into a permanent one having impressed during his loan spell at the Hawthorns.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Toffees boss Marco Silva remains a fan on Holgate, despite sending the Englishman out on loan to the Baggies after struggling to find a place for him in his starting lineup.

Holgate signed a new contract with the Merseysiders in December before leaving on loan, so he is clearly in Silva’s plans.

In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

The former Barnsley defender was involved heavily at the start, making five Premier League appearances as the Toffees suffered a few injuries and suspensions at the back, but lost his place after Kurt Zouma imposed himself on the team – Holgate is too good to be sat on the bench, however, so was shipped out on loan in order to remain fresh.

A solution to Everton’s right-back problem?

It’s no secret that the Toffees have a bit of a situation at right-back. This season, Seamus Coleman has looked far from the player we’ve become accustomed to watching marauding up and down the flank over the years, whilst second-choice Jonjoe Kenny hasn’t done enough to take the Irishman’s place in his few appearances so far.

Holgate has impressed under Darren Moore’s promotion hopefuls since arriving in the January window, and has already grabbed three assists in just nine appearances from right-back.

Still just 22 years of age, Holgate has plenty of room for improvement and is already showing form that could see him drafted in at right-back under Silva for the next campaign.

Should the Toffees make that decision, it could save them a fair bit of cash and solve a huge problem in the starting lineup.

Nobody could have predicted the season that West Ham have had under Manuel Pellegrini. Inconsistency has been a big problem for the Hammers, and that was best highlighted when they faced Cardiff City last weekend. Coming off the back of a strong performance against Newcastle, another good display was needed.

However, that isn’t what Pellegrini got. Instead, he had to sit through the same lifeless display that he’s seen on more than one occasion this term.

It’s clear, at this point, that improvement is needed at West Ham. The team have improved under Pellegrini, but he can only take that so far. He needs new players, and that’s why talk of a move for Celta Vigo forward Maxi Gomez is so exciting.

Indeed, according to the Mirror, the Hammers are set to move for him again this summer after a failed January move, and given his current side’s perilous situation – in which they’re well in with a chance of being relegated – his relegation release clause could make him as much as £20 million cheaper than he was in January.

In January, this was a deal that made perfect sense for West Ham. They lacked attacking depth, and at that stage, there was too much of a reliance on Marko Arnautovic going forward. Add in the struggles of players like Javier Hernandez and Andy Carroll, and it’s clear that West Ham could do with an extra body up top.

In Gomez, they’d have a lethal forward, as highlighted by the 9 league goals he’s bagged this year, but also a fantastic overall player. He’s got good technical ability, he can hold up the ball well, and he’s a fantastic finisher. Not to mention, at a whopping 6ft1, his physicality and aerial prowess would make him perfect for the Premier League

Value-wise, the deal makes sense too. To nab a player of his quality for just £22 million, which the Mirror note is possible if Celta Vigo are relegated, West Ham will be laughing all the way to the bank. That will leave room in the budget for even more signings, and that’s what the Hammers need.

This move ticks all the boxes for West Ham.

Thoughts?

There comes a time in every squad’s cycle when things become a little stagnant – and Celtic are currently fast approaching that point.

This summer represents a major period of transition for Celtic – they have won the title (again), they and they are challenging for their ninth successive domestic victory – but with relatively few familiar faces as eleven are primed to leave.

Indeed, this is the problem that the next permanent manager at Parkhead is due to face, and whether it be old Bhoy Neil Lennon – who is surely the most viable option – or a new candidate, it will be a mammoth task replacing those who have so capably served the club.

Amongst those leaving, star players Dedryck Boyata (out of contract) and Scott Sinclair (out of contract) are the most noticeable – having arguably contributed the most in recent years.

However, it will be a point of concern for fans that most of their current right-backs, in Mikael Lustig (out of contract), Cristian Gamboa (out of contract) and Jeremy Toljan (end of loan), are set to depart shortly – leaving just Anthony Ralston as the only recognised replacement.

Good news though: the mass exodus is due to free up some serious wages.

Yes – according to The Scottish Sun, there will be plenty of money to throw around this coming window as the club look to address some of the more pressing issues in the squad.

And the right-back position falls neatly into that category.

It is a matter of necessity now that the club make a statement in the next window; not because they are losing half their squad, no; but because of the need to reassure fans that they do not plan on conceding their dominance anytime soon.

Celtic fans, how many signings would like to see come in over the course of the summer? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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According to The Sun, Manchester United are reportedly set to hijack Arsenal and Chelsea’s moves for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who will be available for free in the summer.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Frenchman is refusing to sign a new deal with the Parisians with his current contract set to expire in the summer, and is said to have held talks with Barcelona, Tottenham, the Gunners and the Blues.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is preparing a list of targets to overhaul an ageing midfield containing the likes of Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata, both of whom are 30 years of age, whilst Ander Herrera is only a year younger.

Is the emergance of a ‘big 6’ good news for English clubs in Europe? Pl>ymaker FC’s Ed Tarlton certainly thinks to in the video below…

It is believed that Rabiot would demand a weekly wage of £200k-a-week if he were to move to Old Trafford, as well as a huge £10m signing-on fee, which the Red Devils are said to be willing to pay.

Huge mistake

Perhaps the most significant thing that Solskjaer has done since taking over from Jose Mourinho is instilling a huge amount of self belief and confidence into a United squad previously bereft of such.

In doing so, the Norwegian boss has created a fantastic morale amongst the squad, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku all in good spirits now the shackles of Mourinho’s football and harsh words in the media are gone.

So, by signing Rabiot, a man who is currently expelled from the club after being told to stay away following his actions after the Champions League defeat to United, would be extremely detrimental to morale.

The 23-year-old was sanctioned by PSG after going out partying in a nightclub following the embarrassing, last-gasp defeat, and has also come under scrutiny after liking an Instagram post from Patrice Evra celebrating United’s progression into the quarter-finals at the expense of Rabiot’s own side.

Solskjaer has got something good going at Old Trafford right now, and would be stupid to plague that with the signing of a seemingly bad egg in Rabiot.

It is an exciting time to be a Portsmouth fan, isn’t it?

After years of financial ruin and uncertainty in regards to the future of the club, it appears as if Pompey are finally on their way back to the big time.

Next week’s Checkatrade Trophy clash with Sunderland will be the first time that they have been back at Wembley Stadium since losing in the FA Cup final to Chelsea in 2010. According to The News, Pompey are expected to be backed by over 40,000 supporters in a game which is almost certain to break the attendance record for the competition which currently stands at 80, 451 (via the Express and Star).

Yet despite an understandable buzz around their visit to Wembley, it is extremely important that Kenny Jackett’s side do not overlook Saturday’s match against Shrewsbury Town. Currently fourth in League One, a victory at the Montgomery Waters Meadow could see Portsmouth move within one point of the automatic promotion positions. However, if they enter the game thinking solely about their game against Sunderland, they could suffer a defeat which may have to see them settle for the lottery that is the play-offs at the end of the season.

With a strong squad at his disposal, there is no reason why Jackett cannot lead his side to the double triumph of winning both promotion to the Championship and securing success in the Checkatrade trophy. Therefore, maintaining the same level of commitment in their game against the Salop is vital for Pompey as they look to continue their recent resurgence in form.

In terms of looking at the future for Portsmouth, it could be argued that a return to the Championship may be more financially viable in the long run than a one-off success at Wembley. However, fans will be keen to point out that during their seven-year stay in the Premier League, their greatest ever moment in recent history actually came at the home of the England national team as Nwankwo Kanu’s goal secured their first FA Cup triumph in 69 years back in 2008.

What do you think Pompey fans? Are you worried that your side may be overlooking their game against Shrewsbury at the weekend? Or would you settle for the play-offs if it meant winning the Checkatrade trophy? Let us know below.