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Journalist Pete O’Rourke has tipped Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to make the move to Aston Villa this summer.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the respected insider suggested that both Villa – as well as West Ham United – could be a good fit for the Englishman, amid reports that he is set to leave Anfield this summer.

Following speculation linking the 28-year-old to Villa Park, Jones admitted that he can see the former Arsenal man thriving for the Midlands outfit: “I think they’d [Villa and West Ham] be two good landing spots for Oxlade-Chamberlain if he does end up leaving this summer, two ambitious clubs. I think Oxlade-Chamberlain could add a lot to both sides as an attacking midfielder.”

The 35-cap international is likely to depart the Reds in the coming months with just a year remaining on his existing deal, with rumours suggesting that he could be available for as little as £10m.

Gerrard’s own De Bruyne

That could prove to be a bargain fee for a player who was signed by Jurgen Klopp from the Gunners for £35m back in 2017, with Villa boss Steven Gerrard able to welcome in a player with vast experience and undoubted talent.

Dubbed a “rough diamond” by one journalist following his move to Merseyside, Oxlade-Chamberlain remains something of an enigma at times and has been hampered by injury in recent years, although when fit and available he remains one of the most effective midfielders in the division.

That point is rubberstamped by his impressive statistical record from the past year, as he compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 4% for progressive carries and progressive passes received, the top 3% for touches in the attacking penalty area, as well as in the top 8% for dribbles completed.

That would illustrate a player who thrives upon driving his side up the pitch and attempting to make the difference in the final third, with such abilities having also seen him compared to Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, as per FBref, with regards to their stylistic and statistical similarities.

While Oxlade-Chamberlain’s three goal contributions in the league last term were dwarfed by the Belgian’s 15 goals and eight assists, that in part has to do with the Liverpool man’s lack of game time, with linking up with Gerrard and co likely to bolster his chances of regular football.

Like De Bruyne, ‘The Ox’ is at his best when handed the chance to start in that inside right channel as part of a midfield three, with his ability to break the lines and surge forward from deep making him a real menace for any side.

The City man remains the talisman in a team full of stars under Pep Guardiola and there’s no reason why the Englishman can’t be an equally as vital figure at Villa next term if he is to make the move, with his displays only set to improve under the guidance of Gerrard – a man the £125k-per-week gem has admitted to idolizing.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Celtic haven’t exactly come flying out of the traps with their incoming transfer business since Ange Postecoglou’s side were crowned champions.

What’s the word?

That said, it does feel as though some movement is now beginning to take place at Parkhead with the Hoops confirming an exit from the squad.

Error-stricken goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas has departed the club for FC Utrecht on loan, a move that now leaves a gap in their squad.

As a result, the Bhoys are lining up potential candidates to replace him between the sticks. Celtic still have Joe Hart and Scott Bain but according to the Daily Mail, Postecoglou wants more options.

With that in mind, the club have now added 6 foot 4 Benjamin Siegrist to their list of options.

He has been at Dundee United but is out of contract this summer and will be available on a free.

Edouard tormenter

With Siegrist about to become a free agent, it feels like a no-brainer for Celtic to bring him to Glasgow.

After all, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the Scottish Premiership and has shown firsthand just how good he is to Celtic’s players and their supporters.

If we cast our minds back to March 2021, Siegrist was busy tormenting the Hoops’ attack and in particular, Odsonne Edouard.

The Frenchman, now of Crystal Palace, found it impossible to beat the 30-year-old as Celtic drew 0-0 at Tannadice.

Siegrist achieved a quite extraordinary match rating of 9.7 for his efforts from SofaScore as he made a mind-boggling 12 saves in one of the most memorable performances between the sticks in the SPFL over recent years.

Consequently, it’s hardly a surprise that he was once described as a “monster” by Micky Melon.

The mightily tall ‘keeper knows the league inside out and if Celtic want to guarantee some assurance should their no.1 be missing, the Swiss is the perfect choice.

He boasts a phenomenal record against Celtic, is competent when one-on-one while his agility and reactions, as shown back in 2021 vs the Hoops, are simply first-class.

Unlike Barkas, he is clearly reliable in goal and would come £4.5m cheaper as well. As a result, Celtic must ensure he’s playing for them next season.

AND in other news, Ange can land his own Denayer as Celtic eye £7k-p/w gem who has “fire in his belly”…

Everton assistant manager Duncan Ferguson is in advanced talks with Blackburn Rovers over becoming their new first-team boss, reports Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Rovers’ manager hunt

After five years in charge at Ewood Park, manager Tony Mowbray left the Championship club upon the expiry of his contract.

Rovers made a strong start to the Championship campaign but ultimately tailed off towards the end of the season, finishing just outside of the play-off spots in eighth place.

The Latest: Ferguson interviewed

According to a report by Football Insider, Ferguson is in advanced talks with the Championship club over becoming their new manager ahead of next season.

Football Insider claim that a recruitment source has informed them that Ferguson has already been interviewed by Blackburn, and that he is now the clear front-runner to take charge at Ewood Park.

Everton are said to have accepted Ferguson’s departure.

The Verdict: Big loss

As a player, the Scotsman spent over a decade lining up for the Toffees over two separate stints at the club (via Transfermarkt).

More recently, the 50-year-old has enjoyed two spells as Everton’s interim manager; after Rafael Benitez was sacked in January, Ferguson took over for a couple of weeks before Frank Lampard was permanently appointed.

With such experience in the Everton dressing room and at Finch Farm, Ferguson will be a big loss to the Merseyside club, and Lampard will need to be swift in his search to find a new assistant manager.

In other news: Everton: Dean Jones drops Armando Broja claim

Nottingham Forest will take on Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final on Sunday, and if they are successful at Wembley it would be their first season back in the Premier League since 1999.

Steve Cooper has performed miracles at the City Ground, with the Welshman taking Forest from the bottom of the table, with just one point from seven games when he took over at the end of September, to a fourth-place finish just eight points shy of automatic promotion.

If Forest secure promotion back to the Premier League for next season, Cooper must do everything he can to strike a permanent deal for Middlesbrough loanee Djed Spence, who has been attracting attention from a number of clubs following his season at Nottingham Forest.

Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have also been linked with interest in the defender, and it’s not hard to see why when you consider his standout performances this season in the Championship.

Spence has excelled on loan

As per SofaScore, the £20m-valjued ace –  who was dubbed “unbelievable” by Ian Wright – has scored two goals and contributed three assists this season, making 1.5 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 1.1 clearances per game and winning the majority of his aerial duels (57%), proving that he is effective in defensive and attacking play.

Indeed, Cooper himself is a huge admirer of the 21-year-old, whose commitment to the Forest cause has been championed by his manager.

Despite interest from two massive clubs who compete regularly for Champions League qualification, it was reported earlier this month that Forest would have the chance to keep the 21-year-old right-back should they get promoted, which is a huge boost for the club if they can achieve it.

Earlier this month, TEAMtalk reported that Spence would turn down a move to the aforementioned London duo and commit his long-term future to Forest, should the club to whom he is currently loaned get the job done at Wembley this weekend.

With that being said, Cooper and the powerbrokers at the City Ground must work fast to seize that advantage on their competitors should they get back into the top flight on Sunday, and in that event, signing Spence permanently could be a major coup for the club in their attempts to compete in the Premier League.

AND in other news: Signed for nothing, now worth £13.5m: Forest struck gold with “wonderful” £2.5k-p/w livewire

Celtic are reportedly looking to secure a summer transfer move for Ferencvaros striker Ryan Mmaee.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from the Daily Record, the striker has “emerged on their radar in recent months – with extensive data analysis undertaken.”

The report also adds that Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou “is keen to add more firepower ahead of their return to the Champions League following a five-year absence.”

The Moroccan only arrived at Ferencvaros last summer, but with 37 appearances under his belt across all competitions, the striker has quickly become a star figure for them by scoring 19 goals and supplying 11 assists in the process.

Throughout his career, the 24-year-old has scored 51 goals and delivered 26 assists in 143 club appearances at senior and youth levels.

Taking this into account, it’s easy to see why the Hoops have identified Mmaee as a suitable figure to come in and add some strength to their attack.

Supporters will be buzzing 

The previous summer transfer window saw the Bhoys cash in on Odsonne Edouard by selling him to Crystal Palace in a deal worth £15m.

During his time with the Parkhead club, the Frenchman scored 86 goals in 179 appearances across all competitions.

To replace the 24-year-old, Celtic brought in Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis, who ended up scoring a combined total of 25 goals between them in the league.

Labelled as a “feisty” player by journalist Tomasz Mortimer, Mmaee could end up being a better version of Edouard for Celtic. He has a clear knack for scoring and creating goals, which is something that the former Hoops star has failed to find at Palace this season, suggesting the Hoops were right to wave farewell to him.

Of course, Edouard scored plenty in Glasgow but his performances dwindled in 2021/22 with just nine goals to show for his efforts. Mmaee, it would appear, is in better form than the Frenchman and would surely be a hit at Parkhead.

He has scored a goal every 83 minutes this term, while Celtic’s former Bhoy only managed a goal every 137 minutes in his final campaign in Scotland.

Should they find themselves securing the Ferencvaros star’s signature this summer, it would surely leave Celtic fans rather pleased given the attacking talent he has and the depth that he can give their squad.While the Hungarian club will surely be reluctant to let their summer recruit leave after just one season in their ranks, Celtic must do all they can to bring the sharpshooter to Parkhead in the coming weeks.He could be exactly what they need to put them in a good shape to secure as much silverware as they can next season.In other news: Worth £1.8m in 2021, now worth £4.9m: Celtic struck gold on “magic” £18k-p/w star

There will be ‘hell’ if Liverpool don’t tie down Mohamed Salah to a new contract this summer, according to former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.

The Lowdown: Still no new deal for Salah

The saga surrounding the Egyptian’s future at Anfield has been rumbling on for months now, with a new contract still not signed.

Salah is out of contract at the end of next season, but his representatives and Liverpool are yet to reach a compromise regarding the terms of the deal.

The hope is that the 29-year-old extends his stay soon, although it is difficult to predict at this stage.

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The Latest: Kenny warns Liverpool over Salah

Speaking to Football Insider, Kenny warned that there would be uproar at Liverpool if Salah ends up moving elsewhere during the summer transfer window.

The former Republic of Ireland international stated:

“I don’t know how this still isn’t done. If there has been a positive update then yeah, that’s great. But nothing is done until it’s announced.

“If he hasn’t signed and an offer comes in this summer, what happens then? It’s like with a new signing, until he’s on the pitch with a scarf, it’s not done.

“I’ll guarantee you one thing, there will be hell on if he doesn’t sign by the start of next season.”

The Verdict: Could Madrid snap him up?

It still feels likely that Salah will extend his stay at Anfield eventually, especially as Liverpool are arguably a step up from any other club in Europe at the moment, in terms of the trophies they’ve won under an inspirational manager in Jurgen Klopp, whose own future on Merseyside is secure.

That being said, Kylian Mbappe deciding to remain at Paris Saint-Germain could mean that Real Madrid eye a move a different superstar this summer. That could potentially be Salah, who has been linked with Los Blancos in recent months.

It would be an enormous shame if his head is turned and he fails to agree terms on a new contract, but no player is bigger than the club and Liverpool may be best advised to plan now for the eventuality of Salah going so that they are not left high-and-dry if it does happen this year or next.

In other news, Liverpool have been linked with a new midfield signing. Find out who it is here.

Liverpool are ‘ideally placed’ to sign summer transfer target Aurelien Tchouameni, who sees Anfield as his ‘priority’, according to a fresh update in the French press.

The Lowdown: Tchouameni a primary target for LFC

The 22-year-old has stood out as arguably the Reds’ top transfer target this summer going by the constant links and rumours, with him being one of Europe’s most sought-after young players.

Tchouameni has already developed into a midfield colossus for Monaco, scoring three goals, registering two assists and averaging 2.5 tackles with 2.9 interceptions per game in Ligue 1 this season.

After members of the French media suggested a deal is close, Liverpool’s pursuit of Tchouameni seems very much genuine, with both parties seemingly now keen on making this move happen.

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The Latest: Liverpool lead the way Tchouameni

According to Foot Mercato [via Sport Witness], Jurgen Klopp’s men remain ‘ideally placed’ to acquire Tchouameni’s signature as they enter pole position, with Real Madrid still also in the conversation.

Joining the Reds is thought to be ‘a priority’ in the Frenchman’s mind, further adding fuel to the fire.

The Verdict: He’s needed in midfield

Tchouameni really does look like a special prospect – the youngster has been hailed as ‘incredibly talented’ by former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson – and Liverpool must do all they can to get a deal over the line this summer, particularly if the 22-year-old seems intent on moving to Anfield.

Midfield is an area of the pitch which could threaten to look a little tired soon, due to the age of several players in that position, and the Monaco gem would inject legs and quality in the middle of the park.

Eventually the likes of Jordan Henderson, Thiago and James Milner will move on, and Tchouameni can be the long-term star of Liverpool’s midfield, hopefully alongside fellow transfer target Jude Bellingham, if he were to join the Reds further down the line.

In other news, Paul Joyce has dropped a double Liverpool injury update. Read more here.

Football.London correspondent Rob Guest has now mooted chairman Daniel Levy to strike a ‘decent’ Tottenham Hotspur deal for Inter Milan star Stefan de Vrij this summer.

The Lowdown: Spurs in mix…

The Netherlands international, out of contract in 2023, has been at the centre of recent reports linking him with a San Siro exit and Spurs are firmly in contention to bring him to the Premier League.

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Rumours of transfer chief Fabio Paratici and the club’s interest can be traced as far back as November with those links continuing long into 2022.

Lilywhites head coach Antonio Conte is allegedly a real fan of de Vrij and could well move for his former Inter star in the next transfer window, as per murmurs out of Italy.

Now, a source closer to home in football.london reporter Guest has mooted a potentially ‘decent’ Spurs deal for the 30-year-old who could save the club ‘millions’.

The Latest: Guest moots ‘decent’ de Vrij deal…

The journalist, citing chairman Daniel Levy, believes Tottenham’s chairman ‘could possibly get a decent deal’ to sign de Vrij due to his contractual situation.

Guest also believes that the centre-back may be a ‘cheaper option’ due to his age with also preferring experienced figureheads.

As a result, the reporter backs that de Vrij is a target Paratici and co may ‘consider’ as the window looms.

The Verdict: Make a move…

All of these factors suggest Conte’s ex-mainstay for Inter is not only a financially viable signing, but also one which could tick many factors in terms of a seasoned, quality addition.

Hailed as a ‘world-beater’ by former Leeds striker Noel Whelan, another pundit in ex-Spurs defender Alan Hutton has also claimed that de Vrij could be the ‘perfect’ player to partner Cristian Romero in a back-three.

Recent reports have suggested that the Nerazzurri could green-light his sale for as little as £15 million, arguably very little considering his reputation and glowing endorsements.

He could well be the answer for Spurs as Conte eyes a major overhaul.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano: Conte could now lose ‘monster’ Spurs player who’s ‘expected to leave’! Find out more here.

Celtic have cashed in on a number of their players over the past few years such as Odsonne Edouard, Kristoffer Ajer and Moussa Dembele among others.

Another man for whom the Parkhead club picked up a significant transfer fee is left-back Kieran Tierney, who joined Premier League club Arsenal in August 2019 for £25m.

A product of the Parkhead club’s youth system, the defender made 170 appearances for the Hoops across all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing 37 assists in the process.

Prior to joining the north London club, Barry Ferguson claimed that a transfer fee of £50m for the full-back would have been cheap, highlighting just how highly the 24-year-old was rated during his days in Scotland.

Now that the summer transfer window is around the corner, this could give Ange Postecoglou the chance to sign his own version of Tierney and bring a new left-back to Celtic.

Back in December, the Parkhead club were linked with a move for Hibernian full-back Josh Doig, but they failed to secure his signature in the January transfer window.

With the summer in mind, this should give the Hoops an ideal period to reignite their interest in him and finally bring the 19-year-old to Glasgow.

Having played in 74 senior games for his current club, the teenager has scored one goal and provided six assists along the way.

In comparison to current Celtic left-back Greg Taylor, the Hibs youngster has shown just how capable he is of playing in the Premiership. This season has seen the 19-year-old record more crosses, interceptions and tackles than Taylor.

Even though the Hibs youngster has played 10 more games than the Celtic defender, he has still committed fewer fouls (12) than his fellow countryman (21). This shows that he may not be as much of a liability as Taylor, whilst still having the talent to be a defensive and attacking threat.

Hailed as a “phenomenal” player by Ray McKinnon, Doig could be an ideal long-term replacement for Tierney and be a major competitor for Taylor in the Hoops’ line-up.

Moving forward, if Postecoglou thinks that his defence needs some reinforcements during the summer, securing a deal for the Hibs talent should be at the top of their list.

In other news: Postecoglou can finally axe “unacceptable” Celtic dud with move for “class” £1.6m star

Respected transfer insider Gianluca Di Marzio has dropped an exciting update regarding Arsenal’s interest in Monaco midfielder, Aurelien Tchouameni…

What’s the word?

Speaking to German outlet Wettfreunde, the Italian Sky Sports journalist revealed that the Gunners are one of the clubs that “are following” the talented Frenchman, with the 22-year-old said to be keen on a Premier League move.

Previous reports have credited Mikel Arteta’s side with an interest in the former Bordeaux man, although they may face stiff competition from both Manchester United and Chelsea in the race for his signature.

In full, he said: “A lot of clubs in the Premier League are following him. Arsenal, Manchester United to name just two. He would like to play in the Premier League. He has stayed at Monaco for another year to await a chance to play in the Premier League. I think that will be the summer when he changes.”

Supporters will be buzzing

The north London outfit are currently flying high with a Champions League spot well within their grasp, although one position that remains an area of concern is central midfield, with Arteta currently down to the bare bones with regards to potential options.

Summer signing Albert Sambi Lokonga is yet to truly establish himself in the side, while former Atletico Madrid powerhouse Thomas Partey has been plagued by injuries since his £45m switch two years ago, with the Ghanian facing a race against time to feature again this season.

That has left both Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny as the club’s senior midfield options, although the latter faces an uncertain future with just a month or so left on his existing deal, despite having been the subject of praise from pundit Owen Hargreaves.

A new addition is then of paramount importance this summer, with Tchouameni seemingly the perfect fit as the defensive presence in an attack-minded side.

Not only does he fit with the club’s youthful transfer policy of late – with the Emirates outfit signing six players under the age of 23 last summer – but he also offers genuine quality, having been tipped to become a “complete midfielder” by teammate and former Gunner Cesc Fabregas.

The Spaniard knows what it takes to star in an Arsenal side, with his club colleague showing all the signs that he can be the man to pull the strings in midfield for years to come. However, his physical qualities are also symbolic of a certain Patrick Vieira, someone the north Londoners have been trying to replace for over a decade now.

The Monaco man has enjoyed another fine campaign for club and country, having made 2.8 tackles and 2.5 interceptions per game in his 32 Ligue 1 outings so far this season, while he’s also won an impressive 64% of his total duels.

Equally, he also ranks in the top 17% for progressive passes made and in the top 13% for total shots among players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues, showcasing he is much more than just a midfield destroyer.

Dubbed a “monster” by France U21 boss Sylvain Ripoll for his athletic ability, the £36m-rated ace is the type of player that the Gunners are simply crying out for at present, with a marquee midfield addition needed to help them kick on again next year.

IN other news, 0 passes all game: Arsenal flop doing a “Sanogo impression” must now never start again…