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This has been a seriously impressive winter for Aston Villa as Steven Gerrard sinks his teeth into a transfer market while manager of the Midlands club for the first time.

Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho are the marquee additions but in the mind of Johan Lange, there is more work to be done before the window slams shut.

What’s the word?

This has been a rather momentous 24 hours in the world of Villa’s recruitment team if you believe reports.

They are still very much interested in Yves Bissouma while an offer has even been tabled for Luis Suarez according to sources in Spain.

If that wasn’t enough, they’ve now been urged to make a move for another superstar plying his trade in the Spanish capital; Eden Hazard.

That’s the word of former Dutch star Johan Boskamp who told Het Nieuwsblad, via Sport Witness: “I really hope he changes clubs this winter

“Then maybe he can play 25 games in the next few months. Because if he stays at Real, I don’t think he will play many more games this season.

“And then the World Cup is coming up. It’s a tricky situation. I don’t dare say Chelsea are the answer.”

Boskamp continued: “Eden plays better in a team that has the ball. So I don’t know if he fits into coach Thomas Tuchel’s plans. He has also brought back Lukaku, and that is not going well either.

“They could also loan Eden to Aston Villa or another club. It doesn’t matter where; he just has to play. That’s the most important thing.”

Time to revive Hazard

The Belgian sensation has rather gone off the rails since swapping Chelsea for Real Madrid but there is no denying that he is still a remarkable player.

He has scored just five goals in 59 outings since a mega £89m move back in 2019 but the fact of the matter is that Hazard is someone who not only knows English football inside out, but is a player who performed spectacularly during his time at Chelsea.

The 31-year-old racked up a supremely high volume of 110 goals while contributing a seriously impressive tally of 92 assists as well.

In the process, Hazard won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and also took home two Europa League trophies.

It was his performances that played a massive hand in securing those honours and he was met with some eye-catching praise as a result.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hailed him as a “special” player, while others mentioned the forward in the same breath as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Furthermore, he has been compared to one of the greats we’ve seen on English shores. Christophe Dugarry once said of the Belgium international: “He’s faster than Zidane, more technique than Thierry Henry.”

Of course, his stock has fallen since those appraisals, so much so that Madrid reportedly accepted a €40m (£33m) proposal from Newcastle for his services, only for the player to reject them.

With that in mind, he may well reject any potential advance from Lange and co too, but a six-month stint alongside Coutinho is surely attractive for Hazard.

His star isn’t burning quite so bright as it was but he is still special and there is never any reason to question his technique.

A fifth deal of the winter when you consider incomings and outgoings, specifically Hazard, is unlikely for Villa but if a deal can be struck, he’d be quite the coup.

AND in other news, Sky Sports journo drops exciting AVFC transfer update on live TV, fans surely buzzing…

Aston Villa fans should be excited by the arrival of Steven Gerrard’s assistant manager.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to The Athletic’s Aston Villa correspondent Gregg Evans, who claimed in a post on Twitter that Michael Beale, Gerrard’s number two at Rangers and likely assistant at Villa, is widely considered to be something of a genius behind the scenes.

Evans went on to share Jordan Campbell’s article for The Athletic regarding Beale’s route into coaching, the influence the 41-year-old has during training and his importance in implementing Gerrard’s tactical vision within a team.

In his tweet, Evans simply said: “Michael Beale is described as a ‘genius’.”

Fans should be excited

While Gerrard’s appointment as the new Aston Villa manager will undoubtedly steal the headlines over the coming days, should Beale indeed follow the former Liverpool captain to Villa Park, fans should be equally as excited about the appointment of the coach as they are about Gerrard.

Indeed, having gained experience as a coach in both the Chelsea and Liverpool academies, Beale also spent a brief spell as Rogerio Ceni’s number two at Brazilian side Sao Paulo, before returning to England as Liverpool’s head of academy coaching in the summer of 2017.

He would spend just one season in this role, as, following Gerrard’s appointment at Rangers in 2018, the 41-year-old manager offered Beale a role as his assistant at Ibrox, which he duly accepted.

In Glasgow, Gerrard – and Beale – would go on to transform Rangers, winning the club’s first league title for a decade in considerable style, with Gers remaining undefeated for the entirety of the 2020/21 Premiership campaign, as well as reaching the last 16 of the Europa League in each of the last two seasons.

Beale’s role in this success is undeniable, with the 41-year-old coach being understood to lead the vast majority of Rangers’ first-team training – taking a particularly hands-on role with the club’s midfielders and forwards – as well as watching the first half of Rangers’ fixtures from the stands, in order to gain a better tactical understanding of what is happening in a match before offering his findings to Gerrard at half time.

Furthermore, Beale has drawn considerable praise for the work he has done thus far in his career, with Gerrard himself stating of the coach: “It would take me 15-20 years to become as good as Michael Beale as an on-pitch coach, delivering sessions on a daily basis, so I let Mick be Mick because he’s the expert.”

The former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday also claimed that the 41-year-old is one of the best coaches he has ever worked with, stating: “He’s probably the best coach I’ve worked under. His attention to detail and defensive organisation is incredible… it’s the clarity and the role he gives every single player within the system. It’s very refreshing as a player to go into a game and know exactly what’s expected of you.”

As such, while Gerrard is very much the face of the operation, Beale is undoubtedly the brains, with his potential appointment at Villa being an extremely big positive for the club, players and supporters alike.

In other news: Gregg Evans drops major Aston Villa manager update that will have fans elated

Liverpool are interested in re-signing Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling in what would be a sensational move, according to journalist Ekrem Konur.

The Lowdown: Sterling on the move?

The England international left the Reds for City back in the summer of 2015, just a few months before Jurgen Klopp took charge at Anfield. The 26-year-old has enjoyed an excellent career at the Etihad Stadium, scoring 116 goals in 307 appearances and winning three Premier League titles along the way.

Sterling has fallen out of favour of late, though, starting just three league games this season, and he could be allowed to leave if he wishes.

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The Latest: Liverpool linked with shock transfer

According to Konur on Twitter, Liverpool are keen on bringing the England international back to the club, in a deal which may come as a shock to many

The journalist tweeted: “Liverpool could make an offer to Manchester City for Raheem Sterling.”

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The Verdict: Won’t happen, but would be great

There will likely be plenty of Liverpool fans who won’t want Sterling back because of his acrimonious exit six years ago, but he could be a perfect addition for Jurgen Klopp. At 26, he still has years left in him, and his pace, directness and consistent end product would make him an ideal option in the final third.

There was a need to bring in another attacker at Anfield in the summer but it didn’t happen, and Sterling seems tailor-made to thrive in Klopp’s system.

That being said, it would be a huge surprise if he ended up back at Liverpool given the nature of his 2015 exit, with a move abroad perhaps more likely even though Klopp has hailed him as ‘brilliant’ in the past.

In other news, some Liverpool fans are fuming at a Reds injury update. Read more here.

As per Football Insider, former England number one Paul Robinson believes that Nathaniel Phillips is more likely to be allowed to leave Liverpool than Joe Gomez, amid strong interest from West Ham.

The Lowdown: West Ham’s centre-back crisis

West Ham are now running short in the defensive department due to injuries sustained by centre-backs Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma.

Ogbonna is expected to be out for the rest of the season after suffering from a cruciate ligament rupture on the 7th of November, whilst Zouma sustained a hamstring tendon injury during the Hammers’ 3-2 victory against Chelsea.

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The 27-year-old Frenchman is especially important to West Ham’s defensive success, as he leads the team’s statistics with 5.2 clearances and 0.5 offsides won per game. The Italian defender also deploys the high-line to perfection, sitting second with 0.4 offsides won per game.

As a result of this huge blow to David Moyes’ plans, Liverpool player Phillips has been shortlisted as a January transfer target, and it is believed that a fee around £12m would be enough to secure his services.

The Latest: Robinson reacts to Phillips links

As reported by Football Insider, Robinson, a regular pundit on Sky Sports, believes that there is more chance of Phillips leaving Liverpool in the January window than Gomez. The former Spurs keeper said: “Phillips has got more chance of leaving than Gomez has, that’s for sure.

“I still think a deal will be difficult to do though given the injury crisis Liverpool had last season.

“Phillips was brilliant at the end of last season but whether he is of the same level as Zouma and Ogbonna, I would question that.

“It’s an area that Moyes probably need to address though.”

The Verdict: Phillips a possibility

The Sunday Mirror have reported (as shared by Football Insider) that the Reds will block any attempt at luring Gomez away from Anfield.

However, it is understood that Jürgen Klopp will listen to offers for the 6 foot 3 Phillips, who is deemed to be lower in the pecking order at Liverpool. This could open up the possibility of the 24-year-old making the switch in January.

The Englishman may not be as technically gifted as Zouma and Ogbonna, exemplified by not having made a key pass when playing in the League cup this season, but Klopp has hailed his heading ability, saying that “in the air, he’s a monster!”

Therefore, Phillips may just be the perfect addition to help reduce West Ham’s defensive crisis and simply add a bit more depth and solidity where Moyes needs it most.

Liverpool have been handed a big injury blow ahead of their UEFA Champions League tie with RB Leipzig, with Roberto Firmino reportedly doubtful.

According to Sky Sports, the Brazilian has suffered a knock on his knee, causing him to miss training ahead of the second-leg in Budapest.

His potential absence is surely set to be a sore one for the Reds and Jurgen Klopp.

Put simply, Firmino is Liverpool first-choice forward. In five years at Anfield, he has made 281 appearances, scoring 84 goals and providing 67 assists.

The former Hoffenheim striker is one of the players that Klopp has relied on more so than any other on Merseyside. Since the German’s arrival, Firmino has appeared in just under 90% of the available matches, with Klopp even labelling him as a “difference-maker”.

It’s hard to argue with that assessment considering not only his record but also his pivotal moments in the UEFA Champions League for the club.

The £64.8m-rated forward has played 40 matches in the competition for the Reds, scoring 15 goals and providing 13 assists –  a goal contribution rate of 0.7 per game.

Whilst he hasn’t had quite the desired impact on this season’s edition of the competition, only making two starts in the group stages, he will have been hoping to find that golden touch in Europe once again.

After all, there is not really a viable option for his replacement as a natural striker.

Divock Origi could be called upon but he gets nowhere near the Brazilian’s contribution on the pitch, with Firmino superior to him in shots, key passes, dribbles and pass accuracy per match according to WhoScored.

Diogo Jota could also deputise but neither he, Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane are natural centre-forwards and considering Klopp’s reliance and favouring of Firmino, the German will likely be gutted to not have the Brazilian to call upon later this evening.

AND in more news, Rob Lee has called for the Reds to be patient with summer signing Thiago as the club’s crisis continues…

West Ham United boss David Moyes is desperate to sign a new striker target as news emerges on Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins, as per insider reports.

The Lowdown: Irons eye striker…

The Irons and Moyes, reportedly convinced that Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata had signed in the late hours of January, thereby ending West Ham’s long search for a forward, were left bitterly disappointed (The Evening Standard).

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Phone calls to the Colombian’s representatives were unanswered with the 31-year-old going AWOL, leaving Moyes stranded without a senior back-up option for the second half of 2021/2022.

Their quest to add a new central striker now continues into the next summer transfer window, and according to club insider Claret & Hugh, the Hammers boss is very keen on Premier League star Watkins.

The Latest: Moyes sets sights on Watkins…

Moyes has allegedly been ‘seriously tracking’ the 26-year-old in his quest to finally fill the striker’s position.

Watkins is the Scotsman’s top target, and despite Steven Gerrard’s side being adamant they won’t sell, it is believed that won’t stop West Ham from attempting a move.

A ‘key London Stadium insider’ told C&H: “It’s become clear Villa are not interested in selling the player but that won’t stop us trying.”

The Verdict: Move on…

There are various stumbling blocks to this move, not just Villa’s strict no sale stance, but also the fact he could cost around £60 million, according to reliable reporter Luke Hatfield.

Moyes’ interest is certainly understandable given Watkins’ status as a fairly young England international with proven goalscoring ability over the last few seasons.

He’s also been called ‘unbelievable’ by Villa pundits like Dan Bardell (via This is Futbol), but given the appear to make West Ham’s life difficult in attempts to land the striker, it could be best to move on for now and look at alternatives.

In other news: West Ham insider makes contrary Rice claim in big boost for Moyes, find out more here.

When Tottenham agreed a deal with Southampton for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg during the summer transfer window, a lot of Lilywhites fans will have been more than happy to see Kyle Walker-Peters head in the opposite direction.

The youngster, who was a product of Tottenham’s academy, had struggled for regular game time under both Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho, making just 24 first-team appearances for the Lilywhites; in which he contributed one goal and five assists.

He spent the second half of the 2019/20 season on loan with Southampton and after impressing with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, it was clear that the Saints wanted to make his move a permanent one, which worked in Spurs’ favour as it allowed them to complete a deal for Hojbjerg.

Whilst the Danish international has impressed since joining and has been a mainstay in Mourinho’s side, it seems as if the club may be beginning to regret letting Walker-Peters go for £12 million.

The 23-year-old has been in superb form with the Saints this season, averaging an excellent 7.06 rating for his displays in the top-flight, whilst also helping the South Coast club earn eight clean sheets, which is the joint-best record of any team in the division, whilst he has made an impressive 49 tackles this season.

Meanwhile, Spurs’ summer signing of Matt Doherty is not yet bearing the fruit many thought it would, with the Irish international having struggled to cement his place in the Lilywhites’ starting side, whilst his baffling sending off in the final moments of the 3-0 win against Leeds recently will surely have left Mourinho fuming.

Fellow right-back Serge Aurier enjoyed an impressive start to the Premier League season but he has not featured since his dreadful display against Leicester City recently, where he, perhaps, relapsed into his old error-prone self by giving away a needless penalty in the first half.

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Therefore, when you consider how well Walker-Peters is settling in with Southampton, helping transform their defence into one of the best in the Premier League, it could definitely be argued that Daniel Levy and Mourinho made a mistake in letting the £12m man go, especially as Doherty is yet to find his feet in a Spurs shirt.

And, in other news… Mourinho must consider axing THFC flop who causes “major problems” in January

According to Football Insider, Fenerbahce are close to signing Glasgow Rangers’ long-term target Bright Osayi-Samuel from Queens Park Rangers.

What’s the word?

The 23-year-old winger is high on Steven Gerrard’s shopping list and has attracted interest from a number of clubs, including Premiership rivals Celtic, and has also been linked to Premier League clubs Leicester City, Fulham and Brighton.

Osayi-Samuel has been in such fine form for Mark Warburton’s side, scoring three times in the Championship this season, but after his refusal to sign a new contract the Loftus Road boss axed him from his squad in October, which has paved the way for a possible move to Ibrox.

But, according to Football Insider, it’s Turkish side Fenerbahce who have stolen a march on the 54-time Scottish champions, and are set to snap up Osayi-Samuel for free in the summer.

Wilson must act now

The news will come as a huge blow for Gerrard, as it’s fair to say that the Nigerian could have been a real bargain for the Ibrox boss.

At the tender young age of 23, he already has a considerable amount of experience under his belt, and has made 20 appearances in the Championship this season, bagging three goals and three assists, via Transfermarkt.

Osayi-Samuel has impressed during his three-and-a-half years with the R’s and is now ready to take the next step in his career.

QPR manager Mark Warburton recently heaped praise on his young charge after his performance in the 3-2 win against Rotherham, saying: “He looked very good tonight. He looked dangerous and was a constant threat.

“The people above my pay grade are still talking. If someone wants to buy him I’m sure they can – every player in the world has got a price.

“All he’s doing right now is concentrating on playing football and that’s what he needs to do – just enjoy his football, enjoy being a good player and enjoy playing for QPR.”

He’s not wrong, either, as the young Nigerian has started to show signs of his untapped potential, having scored 13 goals and supplied 13 assists in over a hundred appearances across all competitions for the Championship club, via Transfermarkt.

Rangers are in danger of missing out on a player who has a bright future ahead of him and Ross Wilson must act swiftly to try and bring him to Ibrox.

Wilson will know he can land him for nothing at the end of the season and this is simply an opportunity far too good to miss.

AND in other news, Gerrard must unleash Cedric Itten on the right wing against Aberdeen…

Harvey Elliott has been described as ‘certified special’ by a Blackburn Rovers team-mate following a superb spell at the Championship club.

The Lowdown: Elliott shines at Blackburn

The 18-year-old moved to Ewood Park back in October, with Jurgen Klopp failing to guarantee him regular playing time at Liverpool.

While some young players can get eaten up by the physical nature of the Championship, Elliott has excelled, scoring seven goals and registering a hugely impressive 11 assists.

The forward has now completed his stint at Blackburn and will return to Liverpool ahead of pre-season training in the summer.

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The Latest: Enormous praise for Reds youngster

Elliott has clearly impressed those around him at Ewood Park, not least Rovers captain Elliott Bennett, who has waxed lyrical over the Reds man [via Anfield Watch Academy on Twitter] as he said:

“This kid is certified special. Good luck brother. Stay hungry. Stay humble. Keep shining.”

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The Verdict: Very special talent

Some young players stand out from the rest, possessing outrageous technical ability and a swagger about their game, both of which apply to Elliott. To have ripped up the Championship at just 18 years of age is a standout feat and he appears to have a huge future in the game.

It would be reckless to begin calling for Elliott to start regularly at Liverpool next season given that he has rarely featured for the club, but Klopp must surely consider making him a part of the Reds’ matchday squads.

With the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi possibly moving on, the teenager could take their places as he continues to mature into a potential future Anfield star.

In other news, Liverpool have been given a major boost in their quest to sign a Premier League player this summer. Read more here.

Amid consistent transfer links to Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, with the most recent claim coming from reliable source ExWHUemployee – who claimed he is someone West Ham ‘will look at’ in the summer – plenty of Irons fans still want to see the Englishman come through the doors at the London Stadium. 

As he is reportedly at the centre of a contract dispute in west London, the Hammers have very recently been linked with Abraham by numerous outlets, with Ex, Eurosport’s Dean Jones and the Daily Star all saying that West Ham hold an interest in the 23-year-old.

The forward looks like a potentially serious transfer target for West Ham – and it’s safe to say that many supporters want to see him come through the door.

Flocking to Twitter in full debate over Abraham, one supporter claimed he would be a ‘fantastic signing’, and it’s hard to argue with that assessment given he bagged 15 goals in 25 Premier League starts last season (WhoScored).

Find some of the best verdicts below.

West Ham fans want Abraham amid transfer links

“I’d take him in a heartbeat”

Credit: @jackjooker

“Take him in a heartbeat, he would be a fantastic signing”

Credit: @Customhouseham1

“Take him all day long”

Credit: @MarkPer74361199

“Would be a good fit for our system…”

Credit: @mark9726

“Top player”

Credit: @miktol52

“Bonkers. One decent season and suddenly were too good for Abraham? He’d be class for us.”

Credit: @Hayds_

“If he’s a 100k a week player how much is Yarmolenko because he’s our highest earner with more than that. I’d say try to get him. Solid addition for me”

Credit: @bradley_eadon

“Would suit us perfect, can’t even believe the comparison to Haller. Chelsea’s main man last season and there’s a reason for that. I’d snap him up straight away”

Credit: @SamGaler1

In other news: West Ham fans loved this club announcement, find out more here.