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Former Scotland defender Alan Hutton has been reacting to Celtic’s interest in Derby County left-back Lee Buchanan, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Buchanan profiled; Taylor injury

Buchanan, who can also play as a centre-back, is out of contract with The Rams at the end of the season.

An England under-21 international, the 20-year-old’s Transfermarkt valuation has been on the rise in the last 12 months, and he has made 13 appearances under Wayne Rooney this season.

Celtic have had their own left-back issues following Greg Taylor’s shoulder surgery in September. Since then, Ange Postecoglou has used Boli Bolingoli, Adam Montgomery and Josip Juranovic to fill the void left by Taylor, and it now seems as if Buchanan could be a possible signing.

The Latest: Celtic visit; Hutton reacts

According to reliable reporter Alan Nixon of The Sun, the Hoops could turn to Buchanan to solve their left-back issues. He claimed that Celtic have sent top scout Mick Doherty to watch the youngster in action – the first move in a possible winter window swoop.

Hutton, who regularly features as a pundit for the BBC, was talking to Football Insider about the links to the Derby youngster. This is what he had to say, admitting that both Celtic and Glasgow rivals Rangers should be looking to take advantage of Derby’s financial struggles:

“There’s never a problem with looking for a bargain.

“If there’s an opportunity to take advantage of a club who are in a difficult situation, you look at the likes of Barcelona selling off their best players – Rangers and Celtic have to take it.

“They’ll be looking to pinch the best talent they can down south because it’s a small fee they will have to pay.”

The Verdict: Worth a low-risk gamble?

Celtic may hold an advantage over any English clubs who are interested in the full-back due to cross-border rules. The Hoops will be allowed to approach Buchanan in the New Year ahead of a possible pre-contract agreement, should his situation remain the same as now.

Another option is for Celtic to make an offer to the English Championship club with a view to an immediate deal, with Nixon reporting that Derby may sell in the next window.

You’d expect that the figure would be a cut-price one as well due to the 20-year-old’s contract situation, so signing a left-back who Rooney hailed as ‘incredible’ and who has been tipped for England could be a low-risk gamble worth taking from the Hoops’ hierarchy, especially given Celtic’s recent instability in that position.

In other news: Lost the ball 44 times, 16 duels lost, only 1 shot on goal: Celtic’s worst 3 performers against Livingston

Celtic have been rather active in the transfer market over the past few years in their constant search for silverware and success.

Throughout the past few transfer windows, the Hoops have spent a significant amount of money to bring new players to Celtic Park.

However, as happens with a lot of clubs, not every transfer deal that takes place ends up being successful.

One prime example of a player that the Hoops and Nick Hammond spent money on that ended up being a waste of time for all parties is Patryk Klimala.

Back in the 2020 January transfer window, the Bhoys secured a £3.5m deal to sign the striker from Jagiellonia Bialystok.

After making just 28 appearances for the Hoops across all competitions, the 23-year-old ended up getting moved onto New York Red Bulls in the previous summer transfer window.

In those 28 appearances, the Polish centre-forward could only find the back of the net on three occasions, meaning that he cost the club over £1.1m per goal.

As well as his lack of regular goals, the attacker’s overall performances in the league were rather uninspiring as well.

With 17 SPFL appearances to his name last season, the striker picked up an overall rating of 6.36/10 from WhoScored, making him the lowest-rated player to start more than one league game.

This shows just how unsuited he was at playing in Scotland.

To further highlight how disappointing the centre-forward was, he ended the 2020/21 campaign with the lowest average of passes per game (3.7) than any other player to feature for Celtic in that season.

Taking all of this into account, it’s hard to deny that Celtic’s move for Klimala was anything other than a mistake for all involved.

Speaking about the move, Hoops journalist Kieran Devlin had this to say on the matter.

He said: “Klimala was always a strange one from the start, underlying reports were never that impressive. Seemed a bizarre move to sanction for that money.”

Moving forward, with the way Ange Postecoglou’s side have been scoring goals for fun throughout this season, it’s safe to say that not many supporters will have been giving much thought to the former Hoops dud since he left.

In other news: “Understand that…”: Journalist drops big transfer update, it’s bad news for Celtic

Ange Postecoglou’s first few months as Celtic manager have been a whirlwind affair at Parkhead.

It started with frustration as the Hoops boss was unable to land his transfer targets quickly and that resulted in the Bhoys being knocked out of Europe’s premier competition.

They are also behind their fierce rivals in the race for the Premiership crown but there have been a number of positives.

For instance, Celtic are in the League Cup final this weekend and they have achieved that primarily because of the signings Postecoglou did eventually get over the line.

Celtic will be without Jota for the final and his miss will be a devastating blow. After all, the diminutive Portuguese forward has racked up eight goals and six assists in his 18 outings for the club to date.

It’s worrying, therefore, that Celtic have not yet utilised the £6.5m option to buy they have in the terms of the 22-year-old’s loan contract in Scotland.

If they dally any further, it would not be a surprise if one of Europe’s more prestigious clubs snatched him away from Postecoglou’s jaws. He has already been touted to seal a move to one of the continent’s elite so eyes will surely be watching his performances closely.

If he does exit, it will be disastrous for Celtic but it certainly won’t be the end of the world.

They have been linked with a move for a man dubbed the ‘Iranian Neymar’ over the winter and he could move to Paradise in a cut-price deal.

That happens to be another pocket rocket in Mehdi Ghaedi. Reports from his homeland claim that Celtic are interested in a move and he’d certainly be an exciting addition.

Postecoglou has spoken before of targeting lesser-known leagues after the success of Kyogo Furuhashi and this deal could replicate that.

Ghaedi currently plies his trade for Shadab Dubai in the UAE and has registered four goal involvements in nine outings.

The 23-year-old is an incredibly tricky customer and like Jota, possesses an abundance of creativity, dazzling dribbling and potency in the final third.

Journalist, Navid Molaaghaei, once described the £1m-rated talent as a “magician” after a stunning goal back in 2019. Ghaedi appears to be used to popping up in big moments, being dubbed “extraordinary” after a late solo goal for his team back in September.

The forward waltzed past two defenders before burying an opportunity with remarkable confidence. It was a goal that typifies why he’s exactly like Jota and if the Benfica loanee does depart for good, Ghaedi would be a wonderful replacement at Celtic.

AND in other news, Forget Abada: Celtic gem who won 67% duels proved he’s now someone “Ange can’t ignore”…

With a loan deal for Philippe Coutinho now agreed, Aston Villa now have the opportunity to focus on signing other players who Steven Gerrard feels would improve his squad.

One player to whom the club could turn their attention and realistically get through the door before the end of the month is Liverpool defender Nathaniel Phillips.

In a recent article from The Athletic by James Pearce, it was claimed that the 24-year-old “is attracting plenty of interest from both Premier League and Serie A clubs”.

The report also claimed that the Merseysiders have already rejected a bid of £7m from an unnamed top-flight club for him, with Liverpool having set their asking price set at £15m.

Additionally, the report named Villa as one of the Premier League sides who are in the market for a centre-back this month, so there’s every possibility that the Midlands club could launch a move for Phillips in the coming weeks if they feel he could improve their squad.

Taking into account how Villa have said goodbye to Axel Tuanzebe after his loan spell at Villa Park was cut short this week, there certainly is room for a new centre-back such as Phillips, who is currently valued at £7.2m by Transfermarkt, to come in and try and secure a place in Gerrard’s team.

Also, with a recent poll ran by Football FanCast revealing that 67% of Villa fans think Tyrone Mings is a liability for the team after his performance in their recent 3-1 defeat against Chelsea – when he was at fault for Romelu Lukaku’s goal – this could pave the way for Gerrard to sign Phillips this month and create a solid centre-back partnership alongside Ezri Konsa, potentially fixing the issue of their leaky defence, with 30 goals conceded in 19 league games.

With just four appearances under his belt for Liverpool across all competitions so far this season, a potential move to Villa could be very appealing for Phillips, who has been labelled as a “monster” on the pitch by Jurgen Klopp. If he would be guaranteed regular game-time under Gerrard’s guidance, it would benefit Liverpool at the same time by reaping what they see as a suitable transfer fee for him.

With Villa also being linked with a move for fellow Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez, Phillips could be a much easier deal to secure given the Merseyside club’s reported willingness to sell him this month.

In other news – “What they’re looking at..”: Journalist drops Villa transfer claim, fans will be buzzing

Everton may team Wayne Rooney up with an interim manager, according to The Mirror’s David Maddock. 

The lowdown

The 36-year-old is currently in charge at Derby County, who have been hit a combined 21-point deduction after entering administration and admitting breaches of accounting rules (via BBC Sport).

The Englishman began his playing career at Goodison Park, scoring 15 Premier League goals as a teenager before joining Manchester United in a £27m deal in 2004. He then returned to the Toffees for a single season in 2017 after his Old Trafford career came to an end.

The latest

According to The Mirror, Rooney is on Everton’s list of managerial options, but his limited experience is a concern given the Toffees’ predicament in terms of sitting just four points above the Premier League relegation zone.

They’ve been looking at potential interim candidates, ‘pursuing a similar idea to Manchester United’, who have given Ralf Rangnick the reins until the end of the season. There is a possibility that Rooney could work ‘alongside an interim with an appropriate CV’.

The verdict

Rooney has done a commendable job in hugely difficult circumstances at Derby, hauling them off the foot of the Championship table earlier this month. Without those points deductions, they’d actually be knocking on the door of the top half.

Everton’s hesitation is understandable – he has never managed in the Premier League before and they’re uncomfortably close to the relegation zone – but he has had to cope with mighty adversity at Pride Park.

With a more experienced hand to offer guidance at first, giving him the job might not be the worst idea, even if it would be a unique arrangement in the English top flight.

In other news, many Everton fans fumed over links to this manager

According to a report from The Daily Mail, Aston Villa are interested in signing Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin. 

The lowdown: Explosive start

The 25-year-old has been a revelation since arriving in England from Ligue 1 club Nice and is a fan favourite at St James’ Park.

Since making the £16.5m switch (BBC), the mercurial Frenchman has scored 12 times and provided 14 assists in 85 appearances for the Tyneside club. However, the Magpies could be ready to sell their prized asset, and Villa are watching on with intent…

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The latest: Villa interest

As per the Daily Mail, the Villans are believed to be ‘monitoring developments’ surrounding the skilful left winger.

Despite only signing an improved six-year deal at Newcastle in October 2020, it is claimed that the Magpies are ‘willing to cash in’ on Saint-Maximin in order to boost their own transfer budget.

The report stated that Newcastle will ‘listen to offers’ of £50m for the former seven-cap France under-21 ace.

The verdict: Money well spent?

As Steven Gerrard attempts to put his own stamp on the Villa squad, adding a player with the flair and natural ability of Saint-Maximin would be a superb piece of business.

Albeit often flattering to deceive when it comes to end product, as borne out by providing just eight direct goal contributions this season having completed the most successful dribbles per game (4.3) in the entire top-flight (Sofascore), the dazzling Frenchman would be a welcome addition to the Villa ranks.

Predominantly a left winger, the man once hailed as ‘unplayable’ by Rob Lee would likely act as an alternative option to Leon Bailey, who has endured an injury-ravaged first campaign in the Midlands.

In other news: Journalist drops updates on the pursuit of multiple summer deals. Read more here!

Journalist Stuart Hodge has dropped a major claim on Rangers manager Steven Gerrard, regarding his future at Ibrox.

What’s the talk?

The Scottish reporter has claimed that the 2021/22 campaign could be the head coach’s last season in Glasgow as he attracts admirers from elsewhere unless the Gers fail to win the Scottish Premiership title.

Newcastle were recently touted with interest in Gerrard, but appear to have moved their attention towards Portuguese manager Paulo Fonseca.

Hodge told GIVEMESPORT:

“I think this will be his last season at Rangers.

“The only way I think it might not be is if they didn’t win the title. If that were the case, it could be a case of where he wants to win it back.”

Worries

These comments will surely frustrate Rangers fans as there appears to be a growing belief that this could be his final campaign at the club.

The speculation surrounding the Newcastle job and now this claim from Hodge plays into the narrative that Gerrard could take the next step in his managerial career within the next 12 months and that could be a horrible thought if you are of a Gers persuasion.

Gerrard is a key figure for the club and has achieved great success since his move to Ibrox in 2018. He ended Celtic’s domination of Scottish football by leading Rangers to the title last season and that, on its own, is surely enough to be deserving of immense admiration from the fanbase.

After years of the Hoops being the most successful side in the country, the Gers have been able to seize back control of Glasgow and the Liverpudlian has played a major role in that.

In 114 Premiership matches in charge of Rangers, the ex-Liverpool man has led his side to 82 wins and 267 points – averaging 2.33 points per game. They won the title last term and are currently sat top of the table on 23 points after winning seven of their opening ten matches.

This illustrates just how important Gerrard is to Rangers, with the retired England international re-installing a winning mentality at Ibrox and piecing together a side capable of winning trophies. His impressive management is exactly why supporters will be worried by the speculation over his future.

AND in other news, Possession lost 20x: Rangers lightweight with 75% duels lost let Gerrard down badly…

Transfer insider Dean Jones has dropped some interesting news regarding Leeds United and their pursuit of Red Bull Salzburg attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson. 

The lowdown: Reunion on the cards?

The Whites have been linked with a move for the 21 year old for some time now, dating back to when Marcelo Bielsa was still at the helm at Elland Road.

According to The Athletic, Leeds had an initial £15m bid rejected for the USA international during the January transfer window.

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However, following the appointment of Jesse Marsch – who selected his compatriot on 25 occasions whilst at Salzburg – Leeds are expected to reignite their interest in Aaronson this summer.

The latest: Kent or Aaronson?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has revealed that the Yorkshire club are inclined to prioritise a move for the American over a possible swoop for Rangers winger Ryan Kent, who has also been linked with a switch to Elland Road of late.

The journalist claimed: “Brenden Aaronson is (still high up in Leeds’ summer plans), so I think that one is still more likely.”

The verdict: Get it done

Having joined the Austrian giants from Philadelphia Union in 2021 for just over £4.9m (Transfermarkt), Aaronson has enjoyed a superb start to life in Europe.

With 12 goals and 15 assists in 60 appearances for Salzburg, the versatile midfielder would be a welcome addition to the Leeds ranks, and he should have no issue settling into life in Yorkshire having previously worked with Marsch to good effect.

So far this season, the American youngster – who was once dubbed ‘unbelievable’ by Thierry Henry – has scored five times and provided 10 assists in 35 appearances across all competitions, all whilst earning invaluable Champions League experience.

Four years younger than Kent, it would come as no surprise if the Leeds board opt to move for the 18-cap USA starlet ahead of the Rangers forward.

In other news: Leeds have been linked with one La Liga striker. Find out who it is here!

Fabio Paratici is reportedly now ‘incredibly keen’ to sign Paulo Dybala for Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lowdown: Showing what he can do

The 28-year-old put on a masterclass for Juventus in their 2-0 win at home to Udinese in Serie A on Saturday night, scoring the opening goal and putting in a real captain’s performance.

The Argentina international was rated as the best player on the pitch (7.9) by SofaScore, winning eight of his duels in total while also recording four shots, three successful dribbles and seven accurate long balls.

Nonetheless, with his contract up in the summer, he can now agree a pre-contract agreement with a club outside of Italy…

The Latest: Paratici keen on Dybala

As per Football Italia, Paratici is now ‘incredibly keen’ to bring Dybala to Tottenham in the summer. The news outlet does not specify whether this would be on a pre-contract agreement, but Antonio Conte ‘would be happy’ to work with him.

However, both Inter Milan and Barcelona are also interested in his signature, so Spurs are likely to face some heavy competition for the player.

The Verdict: No-brainer

If the Lilywhites can sign Dybala on a free transfer, given that he is currently rated at £45m by Transfermarkt, then it is surely a no-brainer.

Described as a ‘formidable talent’ by Inter and Bayern Munich legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge last month, it is hard to believe that the Argentine is still only 28 years of age, as it feels as if he has been around forever.

He has scored 140 goals in total so far over the course of his club and international career and won plenty of trophies along the way.

Former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino, who is still loved by the Spurs faithful, once called fellow countryman Dybala a ‘wonderful’ player. If he rates the striker that highly, then he is surely who Daniel Levy should be targeting.

In other news, find out what ‘bizarre’ Tottenham transfer update has emerged

Despite having an average squad age of 26.4, three of Wolves’ five oldest senior players are defenders.

One of those is 30-year-old centre-back Willy Boly, who along with being one of the squad’s oldest current players also has a rather worrying injury record over recent months and years. It was also recently revealed by Old Gold manager Bruno Lage that the Ivorian has suffered a muscular injury.

With this in mind, a potential dip into the transfer market during the upcoming January window could be on the cards for the Midlands club.

Recently, journalist Luke Hatfield said that he thinks Wolves could be “keen to revive their interest” in Lille defender Sven Botman in January if a deal can be done after being linked with him during the previous summer transfer window.

Since joining the French club from Ajax’s under-21 side back in the 2020 summer transfer window, the 21-year-old has gone on to make 59 appearances for Lille across all competitions, chipping in with one goal and one assist along the way.

Furthermore, the 6 foot 3 Botman has proved himself to be a solid defensive unit for Lille by averaging 4.4 clearances per game and winning 68% of duels in Ligue 1 this season.

Labelled as a potential “leader” on the pitch by former Lille manager Christophe Galtier, the 21-year-old could not only fix Lage’s short-term issue of Boly being out injured for the time being. The Dutchman could also prove himself to be a suitable long-term replacement for the likes of Boly and Romain Saiss given his young age.

Taking all this into account, working out a deal in January to bring Botman to Molineux in January should be at the top of Fosun’s priority list to help the club strengthen their squad with a player who has admitted to having dreams of playing in the Premier League at some stage in his career.

However, with the defender also being previously linked with a number of other Premier League clubs in the past, Wolves could have some competition for his signature if those reported suitors also see an opportunity to sign him in January.

In other news: One man is edging closer to a significant deal with the club