£140k-p/w Star Expected To Retire At Liverpool

Journalist Jacque Talbot has claimed that club captain Jordan Henderson will remain at Liverpool until here retires.

What's the latest on Jordan Henderson and Liverpool?

The England midfielder has won essentially all he can under Jurgen Klopp. Indeed, the duo have lifted the Premier League, the Champions League, and numerous other trophies during their time at Anfield.

At 32 years of age now, however, it remains unclear how many years Henderson has left in him at the very top. He still has a contract that runs until 2025, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll see that out.

By the end of his current deal, he will be turning 35 that summer. So he may want to leave then, or even before that stage, to allow him a final few years at a new club to experience a different challenge.

However, while speaking about the player on his YouTube channel, Talbot insisted that Henderson will remain with Liverpool until he opts to retire.

The journalist explained (32:01): “Henderson won't go for a while man. Henderson is going to be at that Liverpool club until retirement because he's too much of a dressing-room presence.

"You know, the relationships he has there. And sometimes that's important. It's not just about your ability on the ball."

How long has Henderson been at Liverpool?

Klopp certainly has been a big fan of Henderson over the years. After all, the Englishman has played 292 games for his current manager – more than any other coach in his career.

And even this season, the 32-year-old has played 31 games across all competitions. However, he has started just 14 Premier League games which suggests the German may be ready to move on from over-relying upon his captain who currently earns £140,000 per week,

What's more, there has been plenty of talk about how Liverpool want to revamp their midfield in the summer with a couple of big names. For instance, the likes of Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Gavi and Matheus Nunes have all popped up in the media as possible targets.

With that being the case, Henderson could soon see his minutes diminish further and so he could eventually feel as though he'd rather join somewhere else so he can see out his career on the pitch instead of on the bench.

However, Talbot seems to think he'll remain at Liverpool regardless and after so many good years with the club – having joined from Sunderland back in 2011 – any loyalty would be understandable.

Man United must unleash Wan-Bissaka v Betis

Manchester United are likely still licking their wounds following Sunday’s car-crash second-half display away to bitter rivals Liverpool, with that 7-0 thumping having brought Erik ten Hag’s side crashing back down to earth just a week on from tasting Carabao Cup glory.

Thankfully, as far as the Dutchman and his players are concerned, the Red Devils will be quickly able to put that result right with a Europa League, last-16 clash at home to Real Betis to come this evening, with that first-leg encounter offering the chance for United to prove that the weekend shambles was nothing more than a mere blip.

Although the former Ajax boss has been typically reluctant to shuffle his pack in cup competitions this season, the dour nature of the Anfield ordeal should spark notable alterations for the visit of the La Liga side, with tweaks needing to be made to the backline, in particular, following that shocking Merseyside collapse.

Tonight’s fixture should well give the opportunity for resurgent full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka to return to the starting XI, with the Englishman having been surprisingly restricted to a watching brief against Jurgen Klopp’s rampant side.

In his place, Ten Hag had opted to make the “baffling” decision – as described by The Sun’s Luke Gardener – to deploy Diogo Dalot at right-back, despite the Portugal international having looked “off it” since returning from the World Cup, in the words of The Mirror’s Colin Millar.

That move ultimately backfired as the 23-year-old was “really poor” on the day, according to journalist Rob Blanchette, with the former Porto starlet seemingly in need of a break from the action against Manuel Pellegrini’s men, with Wan-Bissaka deserving of a recall.

Should Wan-Bissaka start against Betis?

Since looking surplus to requirements heading into the January window – after previously being tipped for an exit during the summer – the former Crystal Palace man has been reborn in recent months, notably starting seven successive league games following the World Cup break.

Although the 25-year-old has since failed to start any of the last four top-flight games, the £90k-per-week man did feature in both legs of the playoff round triumph over Barcelona, having been a ‘force to be reckoned with’ in the second-leg victory at the Theatre of Dreams, as per Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.

The £50m man followed that up with another impressive impact off the bench at Wembley after the aforementioned Dalot was hooked at half-time, going on to win eight duels in that 45-minute outing, while his 7.6 match rating, as per Sofascore, was only bettered by Casemiro among the United squad.

Having since been forced to sit out the narrow FA Cup win over West Ham United and the subsequent loss to Liverpool, Wan-Bissaka – who has been branded a “monster” by CBS reporter Aaron West in the past – will likely be chomping at the bit to prove his worth again against the Seville-based outfit this evening.

On the evidence of Dalot’s recent errant performances, the right-back starting berth seemingly now appears firmly up for grabs.

Rangers: Gunn could be McGregor upgrade

Glasgow Rangers suffered defeat in the final of the Scottish League Cup last weekend and are now in danger of ending the campaign without a trophy to show for their efforts.

Michael Beale’s side have already been knocked out of Europe, after failing to progress from their Champions League group, and are nine points off the top of the Premiership table.

This means that the Light Blues’ last realistic chance, barring a late collapse from Celtic in the top flight, of winning a trophy is the Scottish Cup, in which they face Raith Rovers in the quarter-finals later this month.

A trophyless season for Rangers would be a disappointing end to the campaign and one that could signal the end of an era heading into Beale’s first summer transfer window in charge of the club.

The English head coach may want to refresh his squad by bringing in upgrades on the current old guard and one player who could come in is Norwich’s Angus Gunn.

Would Angus Gunn be an upgrade on Allan McGregor?

Rangers are reportedly interested in the former England U21 international and the shot-stopper could come in as a big upgrade on first-choice goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Gunn, who was signed for £5m from Southampton, has enjoyed a fantastic season in the Championship this term. The titan has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.99 and saved 75% of the efforts on his goal, whilst also completing 0.7 run-outs per game.

McGregor, 41, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.80 across 16 appearances in the Premiership and saved 61% of the shots against him – making just 0.3 run-outs per match – with that suggesting the veteran has not been outstanding at stopping shots or sweeping for his defence.

These statistics indicate that the Englishman would be a big upgrade between the sticks for the Gers because of his exceptional ability to keep the ball out of the net, his general performance level, and his sweeping skill, which makes him a well-rounded, impressive, goalkeeper.

His former Norwich coach Daniel Farke once stated that the gloveman was at a “perfect” age and that remains the case as the 27-year-old is a whopping 14 years younger than the Gers number one.

This means the Canaries giant could be a long-term signing for Beale and someone who could be the first choice for many, many, years to come, which would allow the club to nail down that position for the foreseeable future.

The 6 foot 5 colossus would, therefore, be an upgrade on McGregor for Rangers both in terms of what he can offer on the pitch right now and what the gem can provide the club moving forward, irrespective of whether or not the veteran stays on for another year.

Nottingham Forest: John Percy shares double injury blow

Nottingham Forest look set to be without central defenders Willy Boly and Scott McKenna for the foreseeable future after suffering injuries in last weekend’s defeat to Fulham, John Percy reports.

The Lowdown: Unwanted record

Boly and McKenna both got the nod at Craven Cottage last weekend, however, both defenders were forced off early on.

The pair required treatment around the five-minute mark due to hamstring issues, with Steve Cooper forced into a double substitution as a result. According to Opta, relayed by Nottingham Post, it is actually the earliest any side has ever subbed off two starters in a Premier League fixture.

The Latest: Percy’s post

Reliable reporter Percy took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share an update from Forest on Boly and McKenna.

He stated that Boly is set to be ruled out for up to three months and McKenna potentially two months.

The Verdict: Bad news

As Percy mentions, this update means that Joe Worrall and Felipe are the only recognised senior centre-backs available to Cooper, with Moussa Niakhate not ready to return just yet.

Steve Cook was also left out of the club’s 25-man squad, so Worrall and Felipe look certain to start against Manchester City tomorrow afternoon.

Hopefully, the pair will remain fit over the coming weeks and will be joined by Niakhate relatively soon, but the updates on Boly and McKenna will come as a big blow to all those associated at the City Ground.

Man United: Tielemans can fix Eriksen blow

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will no doubt be sweating on the fitness of Christian Eriksen, with the Danish playmaker set to undergo a scan after sustaining an ankle injury during Saturday’s FA Cup win over Reading.

The 30-year-old was forced off just after half-time as a result of a reckless challenge from opposition striker Andy Carroll. It is yet to be seen just how long the summer arrival will be ruled out of action, having featured in every game in all competitions so far this season aside from the goalless draw at home to Newcastle United in October.

A consistent presence in the team, the former Brentford man has been a mainstay alongside Brazilian sensation Casemiro in recent months, and United’s squad resources now set to be tested even further with Donny van de Beek already having been ruled out for the season.

That dearth of options has ensured that the Old Trafford outfit may be forced to dip into the transfer market before the end of the January transfer window, with Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth having revealed that the severity of Eriksen’s issue will determine whether or not a move is pursued.

One potential option to help ease the loss of the former Tottenham Hotspur gem and also bolster Ten Hag’s midfield options in general could well be Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans, with journalist Thomas Alencar sharing earlier this month that the Red Devils hold an interest in the Belgian.

CBS reporter Ben Jacobs has since suggested that the Premier League giants could be “ones to watch” in the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, while transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed last week that United are “keeping an eye on the market” amid those links to Tielemans.

The former Monaco star could well represent a potentially astute low-cost option for Ten Hag and co before deadline day, with the “incredible” talent – as lauded by pundit Michael Dawson (Sky Sports News, 23/10/2021, 12:59) – having just five months remaining on his deal with the Foxes.

The £35k-per-week magician would be required to help fill the creative void of Eriksen if he were to arrive at the Theatre of Dreams, with the latter having already provided nine assists in all competitions so far this season.

While Tielemans only has one assist to his name for the struggling Midlands club so far this term, he has typically been a reliable threat in an attacking sense in recent years, boasting a haul of 53 goal contributions in 184 games during his time at the King Power Stadium to date.

The 5 foot 9 gem also notably ranks in the top 20% in Europe’s big five leagues among those in his position for progressive passes, with that figure only slightly lower than Eriksen, who ranks in the top 12% in that regard.

Equally, while the latter has averaged 4.3 shot-creating actions per 90 over the past 12 months to illustrate his ability to make the difference in the final third, Tielemans has averaged only slightly lower at 3.3 per 90 for that same metric.

The former Anderlecht man would also offer the benefit of his ball-winning prowess, as he ranks in the top 17% for tackles made. He actually has a far superior record in that regard to the current United playmaker, who ranks in the bottom 2%.

Therefore, turning to Tielemans could well allow Ten Hag to find a player who can prove to be not only an ideal short-term solution, but also a long-term fit as part of the midfield ranks at Old Trafford.

Newcastle ditch Shelvey for Loftus-Cheek

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe appears to be keen to strengthen his midfield ranks this month, with the Magpies’ options having been further depleted following the recent loss of long-serving playmaker Jonjo Shelvey to a calf injury.

The 30-year-old has only featured five times this term after missing the first few months of the campaign with a hamstring issue sustained in pre-season, although it now appears that he could be facing another extended period on the sidelines due to this latest problem.

The expectation is that the former Liverpool midfielder could now be out for six to eight weeks, with that putting his long-term future at St James’ Park into doubt, with the £70k-per-week ace reportedly needing to start two more games in order to trigger a new 12-month contract extension.

As such, it could well be the case that the experienced asset is offloaded at the end of the season should his current deal expire, with that set to leave Howe without a player he has described as an “incredible technician” in the past.

Even if Shelvey is to trigger that one-year clause, though, it may well be wise for the Tynesiders to think about showing the one-time Swansea City man the door, with the arrival of a quality addition potentially set to help hasten his exit.

According to The Telegraph, one man who could be an ideal replacement for the Romford native is Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with Newcastle said to be ‘looking into the possibility of signing’ the towering Englishman.

Although the Blues are said to be ‘reluctant’ to part ways with the 26-year-old, he only has 18 months remaining on his existing deal, having been linked with a €20m (£18m) switch to Inter Milan last summer.

The 6 foot 3 powerhouse is a truly “fantastic specimen” according to Rio Ferdinand, having also been described as a player who “has everything”, in the words of his former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.

While the ten-cap maestro has endured his own injury woes in recent years, he has caught the eye for the Stamford Bridge outfit this season, notably averaging 1.1 tackles per game in his 14 top-flight outings.

The former Fulham loanee could offer something of an upgrade on Shelvey due to his imposing and commanding presence in midfield. He has used his stature to good effect of late as he ranks in the top 15% among his European peers for aerial duels won, with the current Newcastle man ranking in the bottom 28% in that regard.

Equally, Loftus-Cheek appears a more probing and dynamic option for Howe as he ranks in the top 6% for dribbles completed and the top 18% for progressive passes received, while Shelvey ranks in just the bottom 17% and the bottom 1% in those same metrics respectively.

Even despite the latter having been praised by Magpies boss Howe as someone who “can play passes all over the pitch”, he does appear something of a liability in possession as he only ranks in the bottom 42% for pass completion, while his potential replacement ranks in the top 14% in that metric.

That should well indicate that if Newcastle decide to part with Shelvey after more than six years at the club, they could land a possible upgrade with the signing of his compatriot Loftus-Cheek, with the latter also providing the versatility to feature on the flanks or in a wing-back role.

After Wober: Leeds could eye ‘new Bamford’

Leeds United are likely to make a new striker a priority after sealing their first signing of the January transfer window this week…

What’s the word?

The Yorkshire giants announced the arrival of versatile defender Max Wober in an £11m deal from RB Salzburg on Tuesday, reuniting with his ex-manager Jesse Marsch and two former teammates in Rasmus Kristensen and Brenden Aaronson.

Now, according to transfer insider Dean Jones, the club could target a forward before the end of the month. When asked about the prospect of landing frontline reinforcements now that the Austrian is through the door, the journalist told GIVEMESPORT:

“Yeah, absolutely. This is the position that ultimately defines their season.

“Can they find a focal point in a team? A goalscorer? A new Patrick Bamford that they can lean on and know that those big moments, those big chances are going to be eaten up.”

Striker solution needed

The Whites’ troubles up top stem from Bamford’s sorry injury record over the past 18 months. Since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, the Englishman has only been able to start 11 matches, coming off the back of a 17-goal and seven-assist return just a season earlier.

Bamford had undergone surgery during the recent World Cup break in a bid to be fit for the Premier League’s return, however, Football Insider have revealed that there has been a setback in his recovery, meaning he’s set to remain out for the foreseeable future, which is terrible news for Marsch.

Leeds director of football Victor Orta is now in a race against time to find a viable solution before January 31st as technically, the 29-year-old is the only senior striker at the club. Rodrigo has filled in superbly, having bagged ten goals this term, whilst summer signing Wilfried Gnonto and players like Joe Gelhardt can also play there.

But that isn’t enough as the Yorkshiremen are merely another injury or further problems to Bamford away from a disaster, so strength in depth in the role is desperately needed.

Whether they can find another version of the prime talisman, as Jones suggests, remains to be seen but they have been linked to a multitude of names, including Coventry City’s 12-goal bagsman Viktor Gyokeres and Southampton’s Che Adams.

There is certainly hope that they can give the remarks, so hopefully Orta can find the right man to help alleviate one of Marsch’s biggest problems at Elland Road at the moment.

AND in other news, Orta could sign Leeds’ next Milner in swoop for £40m “leader” who’s “Mr Dependable”…

Everton: Charlie Setford is Pickford 2.0

Everton recently began a conquest to tie down some of their better players, with Alex Iwobi and Anthony Gordon having both made big strides in securing long-term deals.

However, the one who seems to be taking longer than fans will have wanted is Jordan Pickford, who has established himself as one of the division’s outstanding shot-stoppers in recent years.

Such is his pedigree now, he has become a mainstay for Gareth Southgate’s England, breaking numerous records with his sensational performances for club and country.

Despite Frank Lampard remaining confident they can match his ambitions, some of the Premier League’s elite continue to be linked with a move for the 28-year-old.

The 44-year-old could be seeking out the heir to his dependable ‘keeper already, however, with reports linking the Toffees with a move for Ajax youngster Charlie Setford.

With the 18-year-old boasting interest from the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur, plenty of Europe’s elite have been put on high alert as he is set to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.

The teenage sensation is yet to represent the Dutch giants at the senior level but boasts appearances at every level from U17s to U21s despite his youth.

In his eight appearances last season in the Eerste Divisie, he had made 20 saves whilst boasting a 73% pass accuracy.

The fact that he would even average 5.6 accurate long balls per game is indicative of his talents as a fine modern goalkeeper.

His exploits were recognised as the Englishman won Ajax’s prestigious ‘Talent of the Future’ award, which is reserved for the best academy player for that year.

Previous winners of late have been Christian Eriksen, Matthijs de Ligt and Ryan Gravenberch, with the latest being the 6 foot 4 starlet destined for greatness.

Potentially a future starter for the Three Lions, perhaps Kevin Thelwell could replace the current number one with one for the future, should his contract talks continue to falter.

Tottenham: Adrien Rabiot own Bellingham

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to move on an old target who has admitted to an interest in the Premier League…

What’s the latest?

With Calciomercato reporting in late November that Fabio Paratici was a big fan of Adrien Rabiot, his recent comments will sound delightful for the Italian.

The 27-year-old claimed: “I have always said that I’d like to play in England in my career. I still have that desire. I’d like to evolve in the Premier League.”

This has spurred transfer insider Dean Jones to issue his own thoughts and add some context on a potential move to GIVEMESPORT: “It’s interesting that Rabiot has admitted he is open to the Premier League because clubs like Spurs have had a look at him in the past. 

“Manchester United did too and while I still think it was the right choice not to sign him, he could be a good fit in the right club.”

He will be available for a reported €20m (£17m).

Spurs’ own Bellingham

Whilst Jude Bellingham has earned all the plaudits for his sensational displays in the World Cup, there has been plenty of other admirable performers worth talking about.

It seems the Borussia Dortmund man will only be available to a handful of Europe’s elite who could afford his enormous value, with Spurs certainly not being one of them.

However, in this move for Rabiot, they could secure their own version of the former Birmingham City man for a fraction of the price.

Already regarded as an “elite level midfielder” by journalist Dominic Booth, he has proven this with his combative displays for France, displaying Bellingham-like qualities to galivant the central areas.

Where there was panic due to the absence of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, the 6 foot 2 maestro has more than deputised for them both.

He is averaging a 7.16 rating, having scored once and assisted another in his five games. This is further supported by his impressive defensive stats, where he records 1.4 interceptions and 2.0 tackles per 90, via Sofascore.

This is neatly paired with an 86% pass accuracy that outlines him as a truly exceptional all-around midfielder who would offer Antonio Conte plenty.

These statistics are not all that far away from England’s 19-year-old prodigy, who too has only scored and assisted once, but has a 7.34 average rating and recorded 3.2 tackles a game, via Sofascore.

There is a reason why Bellingham is rated at £214m by CIES Football Observatory, yet Rabiot would not offer much less.

It could be a stroke of genius to save themselves nearly £200m by signing a player who lacks the same remarkable ceiling but could definitely perform immediately at the highest level.

Spurs must land Axel Disasi in January

Tottenham Hotspur were heavily linked with a move for Axel Disasi during the summer transfer window, and with Antonio Conte reportedly keen to strengthen his defence in the January market, it would appear wise for Fabio Paratici to rekindle his interest in the 24-year-old.

Indeed, back in June, Marca reported that, after two years of tracking the centre-back, Spurs were eyeing a move to bring the AS Monaco defender to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, when September’s transfer deadline came and went, Disasi remained at the Stade Louis II Stadium, something that, considering his form so far this season, appears to have been an oversight by the Premier League club.

Indeed, over his 15 Ligue 1 appearances in the current campaign, the £44m-rated talent has been in imperious form at the back, helping his side keep five clean sheets, as well as making an average of 2.2 interceptions, 1.3 tackles, 3.0 clearances and winning 4.3 duels – at a success rate of 62% – per game.

The £12k-per-week defender has also impressed going forwards, having scored one goal, registered three assists and created two big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 0.7 shots, playing 3.3 long balls and completing 39.9 passes – at a success rate of 82% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the player who Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig dubbed both “complete” and “dominant” – as well as compared to Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk – average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.04, currently ranking him as Monaco’s joint seventh-best performer in the French top flight.

Furthermore, as a result of Disasi’s exceptional form in 2022/23, the 24-year-old also earned a call-up to Didier Deschamps’ 26-man France squad for the Qatar World Cup – something that will allow the defender to put himself firmly in the shop window ahead of January.

As such, with it being clear to see that Disasi is extremely strong in defence, capable of both playing and bringing the ball out from the back and a threat in the final third, it is not hard to understand why the Frenchman has earned comparison’s to Van Dijk – nor is it difficult to argue that Paratici must do everything he can to land the Monaco star this winter.

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