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Rangers could potentially look to sign Heerenveen midfielder Joey Veerman after Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s arrival, according to journalist Stuart Hodge.

The Lowdown: Van Bronckhorst takes charge

A new era at Ibrox is now in full swing, with Van Bronckhorst replacing Steven Gerrard as Gers manager following the latter’s switch to Aston Villa.

The Dutchman won his first Premiership match in charge on Sunday, with his side picking up a 3-1 victory away to Livingston.

It is a promising start to life as Rangers boss for Van Bronckhorst, who will be hoping to achieve similar success to his playing career at Ibrox, when he won two league titles.

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The Latest: Veerman linked with Rangers move

He will be no doubt be eyeing up a few signings in order to further stamp his blueprint on the team and one player who could move to Rangers is Veerman, who has been linked with the Scottish champions in recent months.

That’s according to Hodge, who told GIVEMESPORT that he could see a transfer materialising. He said: “That one, yeah, potentially. But I think more so, that’s a market that van Bronckhorst will know well, that’s a market that’s affordable for Scottish clubs.”

The Verdict: Strong creative addition

Veerman is a midfielder with great potential, with Dutch coach Robert Molenaar once hailing him for having ‘extremely good’ technical ability.

Still only 23, he has already registered six assists in just 13 Eredivisie starts this season, highlighting the creativity he could bring to Van Bronckhorst’s team. Only James Tavernier (13) has accrued a higher assists tally for the Gers in 2021/22 across all competitions, with Ryan Kent (five) the next closest.

Veerman’s average of 2.4 key passes per game is also only bettered by Tavernier (3.9) at Rangers, so he is someone who could be an exciting and productive signing.

In other news, some Rangers fans have blasted one player after an incident against Livingston. Read more here.

Recent Crystal Palace and Leeds United transfer target Jeremie Boga is expected to leave Sassuolo over the next six months, according to a report from Calciomercato.

The Lowdown: Palace and Leeds interest

Over the summer, both the Eagles and the Whites were thought to be keen on bringing the former Chelsea winger back to the Premier League, with Boga reportedly snubbing Palace on deadline day.

The 24-year-old signed for Sassuolo in a deal worth £9m back in 2018 and is one appearance away from reaching a century for the Serie A outfit. He’s now valued at £18m, and it seems as if he could be on the move once again.

The Latest: Boga set to leave

Calciomercato shared a story on Monday evening, looking at Boga’s situation. They suggested that the Ivorian has already made it clear that he doesn’t want to extend his contract beyond 2023.

Therefore, a move away between January and June could be on the cards for the 24-year-old, with a number of unnamed clubs keen on his services.

The Verdict: Gallagher 2.0?

Palace and Leeds could possibly still be keeping tabs on Boga, and if they are, the two could lock horns in a transfer battle once again. The Whites thought they were about to sign Conor Gallagher over the summer before the Eagles stepped in right at the death to lure him to Selhurst Park. [TEAMtalk]

It has proven to be an inspired piece of business, with Gallagher (who, like Boga, also has Chelsea connections) already winning two Player of the Month awards.

Boga could also turn out to be a smart signing for the south Londoners if they land him, with his Transfermarkt valuation increasing from £3.15m to £18m during his time with Sassuolo.

He could be approaching the prime of his career and has plenty of top-flight experience under his belt in Italy, so a winter move may appeal to Dougie Freedman and co following this latest update.

In other news: ‘Finally’ – Lots of Palace fans buzz as Matt Woosnam shares ‘exciting’ news

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst has enjoyed a seamless transition to life in Glasgow and is thriving at Ibrox as the club’s new head coach.

He has won five of his first six matches – starting with Sparta Prague – in all competitions, including all four of his Premiership games, and has carried on where Steven Gerrard left off.

However, one issue he has faced has been the fitness of midfielder Ryan Jack. The 29-year-old recently returned after nine months out of action and has now suffered a fresh setback, which is a shame as he has the potential to be a key player for the Dutchman.

Transfer dream

The Gers signed Jack on a free transfer from Aberdeen in the summer of 2017 and he has been a fine servant for the club over the years. At the time of the move, Transfermarkt valued him at just £630k, having played 250 times for the fellow Scottish side.

Since arriving at Ibrox, Jack has made 133 appearances for the club and been directly involved in 23 goals, with 11 for himself and 12 assists. He has also been capped 10 times by Scotland since joining the Gers, making his debut in November 2017.

Back in 2019, then-Gers boss Steven Gerrard claimed that the 29-year-old ‘drives the team on’ with how he demands more from his teammates, saying: “Ryan is an example for the rest of the squad because he never drops his standards, whether it’s a training session or a game.

“He knits everything together, he drives the team on, he demands from everyone else around him.”

The £12k-per-week beast played an important part in Rangers’ title success last season. He averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.14 as he managed 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game, whilst completing 90% of his passes overall.

At the time of writing, Transfermarkt value him at £3.15m and, at the age of 29, he still has the opportunity to improve on that valuation if he is able to return to fitness and play a leading role for the club in the second half of the campaign.

Therefore, Rangers pulled off a transfer blinder by landing Jack on a free in 2017. He has surpassed 100 appearances for the club, heavily increasing his value and turning in impressive performances on a consistent basis in a title-winning season. Hopefully this will not be the end of his Gers career and he will continue to prove his worth under Van Bronckhorst when he returns from injury.

AND in other news, Forget Tavernier: “Terrific” Rangers beast with 51 duels won is already GVB’s key man…

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in a deal to bring Donny van de Beek to Molineux in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Birmingham World, who claim that, despite Manchester United recently sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and replacing him with Ralf Rangnick, the new manager is also not convinced by the ability of the central midfielder, and is looking to bring a new player into the position this winter.

As a result, it would appear as if the Netherlands international will be available to either loan or buy this January, with Wolves previously believed to be one of the clubs thought to be keeping a very close eye on the situation of the 24-year-old ahead of a potential swoop.

Forget Sanches

While it is true that, since his £35m move to Manchester United in the summer of 2020, Van de Beek has not hit anywhere near the heights of his time at Ajax, the midfielder nevertheless proved during his time in the Netherlands that he would make a fantastic addition to Bruno Lage’s options in the middle of the park for the second half of the season.

Indeed, over his 23 Eredivisie appearances during his final campaign at Ajax, the £26m-rated man scored eight goals, registered five assists and created six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots and making 1.8 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £120k-per-week 24-year-old who smarterscout’s ‘similar player’ search likened to Thomas Muller earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.32, ranking him as the joint 12th-best player in the top-flight of Dutch football back in 2019/20.

As such, while Wolves have also been linked with a move for Renato Sanches this January, when considering the fact that Van de Beek now has a decent amount of experience in English football under his belt, should a move be available for the player who Solskjaer claimed can “unlock close defences,” it would appear highly advisable for Jeff Shi to forget all about the Portuguese midfielder and instead concentrate his efforts on getting a deal for Van de Beek over the line.

In other news: Luke Hatfield drops teasing transfer update that will surely leave Wolves fans furious

Manchester United may possess an impressive armoury of offensive players but Ralf Rangnick is looking at improving the options available to him.

Erling Haaland has been regularly linked but he’s not the only offensive player on the radar of the Red Devils.

What’s the word?

It feels unlikely that Haaland will arrive in January and a solid alternative could be a forward currently plying his trade in South America.

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano who claims United have sent scouts to watch River Plate star, Julian Alvarez.

Taking to Twitter, the journalist said: “There are no talks for Julian Álvarez to Manchester United as things stand. Monitoring talents is normal for top clubs – but there are no conversations open to sign him in January as of now.”

That came after reports linked the Red Devils with a swoop for the promising 21-year-old.

Alvarez is currently valued at £18m via Transfermarkt.

The new Tevez

United certainly aren’t strapped for attacking options with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani all fighting for places.

With that in mind, signing another striker in 2022 seems a little foolish.

However, when taking a look at the statistics and potential that Alvarez possesses, it becomes evident why he’s on the radar of Rangnick and co.

He has scored 18 times this term in just 21 outings, taking his tally for River to a whopping 36 strikes.

Based on that, he’d certainly improve the club’s forward line and he could even become the club’s new Carlos Tevez.

Another Argentine, the bullish attacker netted 34 times in United colours while registering 14 assists too.

In the process, he won two Premier League titles and the Champions League too in what was a decorated stay at Old Trafford.

It’s unlikely that Alvarez would help United to European glory anytime soon but his style of play is certainly comparable.

Described as “hungry” by Sebastian Abreu, he’s also been compared to one of the great strikers of the modern game. United podcaster and journalist, Ty Sports, took to Twitter to make the following comparison:

“That Julian Alvarez gives me Carlos Tevez vibes. His running style, link-up play and type of finishing. Based on clips I’ve seen, I can see why top clubs are after him. He looks to have the determination of a player who wants to play at the highest level,” he commented.

Touted to reach dizzy heights within the game, it’s easy to stake a claim for Rangnick signing him next year. United simply have to get a deal done to improve their attacking line in the long term.

AND in other news, Rangnick must seal MUFC swoop for “outstanding” £113m gem who drives Roy Keane “crazy”…

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Filip Kostic to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this month.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report from Spain (via TEAMtalk), who claim that Antonio Conte has informed Tottenham managing director Fabio Paratici that he wants to sign the Eintracht Frankfurt wing-back in the January transfer window.

The report goes on to state that the 52-year-old manager attempted to sign the Serbia international during his time at Inter Milan, as well as suggesting that, should Spurs be unsuccessful in their bid to sign the 29-year-old this month, the club will attempt to land the defender again at the end of the season.

Paratici must move

Considering just how impressive Kostic has been in Germany so far this season, in addition to the fact that the wing-back would very much appear to be a perfect fit for Conte’s 3-4-3 setup at Spurs, it would appear highly advisable for Paratici to do all he can to seal a deal for the versatile defender this month.

Indeed, over his 16 Bundesliga appearances in the current campaign, the £18m-rated man has been in remarkable form for Eintracht, having already scored three goals, registered six assists and created an extraordinary 13 big chances for his teammates – with the latter being second only to Thomas Muller in the German top flight – as well as making an average of 2.8 key passes and taking 1.9 shots per game.

These returns have seen the £43k-per-week wing-back average a rather remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.34, not only ranking him as Frankfurt’s best performer in the league, but also as the 11th-best player in the entirety of the division.

As such, it is clear for all to see why Conte is reported to be so keen on securing a deal for the player who has been compared to Gareth Bale and dubbed a “mentality monster” by Kevin Trapp this winter, and why Paratici must do all he can do get a deal over the line for Kostic before the month is up.

Indeed, should Spurs be successful with a swoop for the 29-year-old this January, Conte could very well have the club’s next Bale on his hands for the second half of the campaign – something which is certainly a very exciting prospect.

In other news: “I understand”: Big twist emerges in THFC pursuit of £25m-rated gem, AC surely buzzing

Ange Postecoglou has dropped an update on Celtic’s remaining January transfer plans.

What’s been said?

In recent comments cited by the Daily Record, the Hoops manager suggested that he is far from done with his dealings in the current transfer window, with the 56-year-old insisting that he still stay alert throughout January.

The Greek-Australian coach went on to state that he will make sure he brings in new additions in every position that he feels is in need of strengthening ahead of the restart of the Premiership season.

Speaking about his transfer business, Postecoglou said: “You’ve got to stay agile through this period. We’ve had a couple of players go out on loan which is also important. So we’re looking at the squad through the whole January window.

“We’ll make sure that what we need – if it’s available – we’ll bring in. I don’t expect it to be too hectic but we’ll stay alert and make sure, if the right thing comes along, both in terms of incomings and outgoings, we’ll be able to move.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering that Celtic have already confirmed the arrivals of Japanese trio Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi, as well as reportedly securing a move for Johnny Kenny, the news that Postecoglou is still not done with his January transfer business is sure to have left the Parkhead faithful buzzing.

Indeed, with the Bhoys currently sitting six points behind their Old Firm rivals in the Premiership title race, it is clear that they need to significantly strengthen their squad if they are to have any hope of catching and overtaking Rangers in the second half of the campaign.

Furthermore, with Celtic having suffered an extraordinarily large number of injuries so far this season – something which has often left the manager with no choice but to field players out of position, or to unleash a number of the club’s younger talents – greater strength in depth is clearly required at Parkhead in order for the Hoops to have a successful season.

As such, despite appearing to have already added four players to his squad this month, the news that Postecoglou is not done with his winter business is undoubtedly good news for the club’s title hopes, as well as being hugely exciting for fans of Celtic.

In other news: Big twist emerges in Celtic’s pursuit of “massive” January signing, Postecoglou will be livid

An exciting claim has been made regarding Rangers’ potential revenue for the 2022/23 campaign…

What’s the talk?

Finance expert Kieran Maguire has reacted to claims that the Gers could make £20m from Champions League qualification by revealing that the figure could actually be much larger than that.

Rangers will qualify for the group stage of the competition if they win the Premiership title, rather than heading into the qualification rounds and potentially dropping into the Europa League.

Maguire told Football Insider: “Pre-[pandemic], they were making about £60m.

“So that is increasing your revenue by a third. That is transformational. When he talks about £20m, that’s a worst-case scenario. You get €2.7m for every victory and €900,000 for every draw. A few good results for Rangers and that £30m becomes £40m.

“Then, if you manage to make the knockouts, £40m can become £50m and so on. That’s enormous. It also has an impact on your UEFA coefficient, so it becomes a virtuous circle.”

Wilson will be buzzing

Ross Wilson will surely be left buzzing by this claim from Maguire as it directly relates to his role at Ibrox. He is tasked with making key decisions on the football side of the club, and having an extra £20m to £50m to spend would have a major impact on his job.

Not only would it broaden his horizons in terms of the level of player he could look to attract to Rangers, it would also mean that more funds are available to retain key players and to improve the club’s facilities. They could provide further funding to the academy and the first team training ground to give Giovanni van Bronckhorst the best possible tools to get 100% from his squad.

Wilson could afford to spend an extra million or so when attempting to seal a transfer, whereas he may be forced to give up on a deal for the same price in current circumstances. It would give him extra leeway in his negotiations and potentially raise the bar on the calibre of signing he can make as a result of the added finances, which could be exciting for him and for Van Bronckhorst.

The Ibrox chief will now be hoping that the Dutchman is able to see the team through to Premiership glory between now and the end of the season to clinch qualification for the group stage of Europe’s top club competition. Wilson will be elated as the prospect of having another £20m to £50m in the bank, while supporters will surely be excited for Champions League football to return to Ibrox…

AND in other news, “Rangers keen”: Jordan Campbell drops exciting transfer claim which will delight Van Bronckhorst…

Pete O’Rourke has dropped an update on Celtic’s reported interest in a deal to bring Ahmed Kendouci to Parkhead in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

In a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT, the journalist stated his belief that, after missing out on the signing of FC Charlotte central midfielder Riley McGree to Middlesbrough, Ange Postecoglou could well firm up his reported interest in the ES Setif playmaker with an offer during the closing stages of the current transfer market.

Speaking about Celtic’s interest in the 22-year-old, O’Rourke said: “Celtic probably are looking for a central midfielder after missing out on Riley McGree. That was a player they thought they were going to land until Middlesbrough came in late doors and managed to lure him to the Riverside, so Kendouci could be a target for Celtic.”

Dream McGree alternative

While McGree would have undoubtedly been an impressive signing for Postecoglou to get over the line this month, considering the sheer amount of potential Kendouci is quite clearly in possession of, the signing of the Algeria U23 international would very much appear to be a dream alternative to the Australian.

Indeed, the self-titled football talent scout, Jacek Kulig, is very much of the belief that the left-footed 22-year-old is a player with a huge future in the game, stating that Kendouci’s strengths are his “pace, passing, vision, technique, ball control, creativity, long shots [and] tackling,” as well as comparing the ES Setif midfielder to Tottenham Hotspur’s Giovani Lo Celso and awarding him an 8/10 regarding his potential.

It is easy to understand why Kulig feels this way, as, over Kendouci’s £1.17m-rated playmaker scored ten goals and provided ten assists, as well as bagging a further goal and two assists over eight outings in the CAF Confederation Cup – taking his haul for the 2020/21 campaign to 11 goals and 12 assists.

As such, considering the fact that Celtic did indeed miss out on McGree, in addition to Callum McGregor picking up an injury in the Scottish Cup win against Alloa Athletic on Saturday, Postecoglou could well be tempted to once again dip his toe in the transfer market prior to its closure at the end of the month – with the “complete” Kendouci looking as if he would make an extremely impressive addition to the Bhoys’ current options in the middle of the park.

In other news: “I’m sure…”: Teasing January transfer claim emerges that’ll have Celtic fans buzzing

Many Sunderland fans have been left buzzing over some transfer news that has emerged involving Jermain Defoe.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the free agent revealed that the Stadium of Light faithful is one of the options that he has to get back into playing football after leaving Glasgow Rangers earlier this month.

“My phone’s gone mad! If you’re phone’s ringing at 39 it’s a good thing!

“I’ve got a few options! Obviously the Sunderland one’s well documented.”

Defoe has been linked with a return to the Black Cats ever since his departure, and now he has admitted himself that it is an option.

Of course, he is still loved by SAFC supporters, after scoring 37 goals in 93 matches over all competitions across three campaigns (Transfermarkt), including a memorable winner at home to rivals Newcastle United in the Premier League in 2015.

Nonetheless, at 39 years of age, it would be a dream return to football for the Englishman.

Sunderland fans on Defoe transfer news

These Sunderland fans buzzed as the transfer news was shared on Twitter:

“On my knees”

Credit: @_harrymcbeth

“Pay the man whatever money he wants, bring him home”

Credit: @maxsafc100

“I’d drive him here myself. GET. IT. DONE”

Credit: @Owensara5

“Yeah boii. Come home JD”

Credit: @mickysafc20

“I know I shouldn’t… but ha’wayyyyyyyyy”

Credit: @BryceWilcock

“Make it happen please!!!!”

Credit: @Tanya_M_S

In other news, find out who James Hunter says Sunderland may be ‘close’ to signing here!