Sam Preston Archives: 12/2018

Italian giants Juventus appear keen to bolster their central midfield ranks during the January window and focus targets such as Isco and Paul Pogba serve as a boost to Wolves’ bid to keep talisman Ruben Neves at Molineux.

Fernando Llorente looks set to leave Tottenham in the January transfer window and going back in for Alvaro Morata would give Mauricio Pochettino a higher calibre of striking backup, even if the bid would be speculative.

A high asking price and interest from Arsenal could have a major impact on Newcastle’s attempts to sign their number one January target Miguel Almiron.

Leigh Griffiths’ recovery is of course the most important concern for Brendan Rodgers after he announced yesterday. But the Scotsman does need to be replaced up front by Celtic and a loan swoop for Jermain Defoe could just do the trick.

The Rangers manager struggled badly as a young player to control his discipline. With Gerrard, it was tackling, with Alfredo Morelos, the issue is being unable to ignore provocation. But the Colombian has the right manage to help him overcome his issues.

Rangers need improvement in the striking department and offloading flop Umar Sadiq in the same window as bringing Dominic Solanke in from Liverpool should be a superb spot of January business from Steven Gerrard.

Both Eric Bailly and Gary Cahill are on a three-man shortlist of central defenders Arsenal have in their sights with a view to a January swoop, but only one can offer the Gunners something long-term.

Both Manchester United and Real Madrid are in the hunt for Mauricio Pochettino but they both also suffered embarrassing, abject European performances last night, just 24 hours after Tottenham silenced the Nou Camp.

Roy Hodgson needs a proven goalscorer to transform his Crystal Palace side and one is not getting a look in at Bournemouth…

Leigh Griffiths has made reference to getting near Henrik Larsson’s European goal tally for Celtic but of Brendan Rodgers’ two current striking options, Odsonne Edouard more closely resembles a younger version of the legendary Swede.

Manchester United are reportedly interested in the Middlesbrough starlet who has flickered intermittently over the last two seasons but he is the kind of exciting talent Everton should be in the hunt for.

Barcelona’s asking price for Ousmane Dembele looks certain to price Liverpool out of a January bid, but if Jurgen Klopp is searching for a new dimension to add to his Reds attack, battling Tottenham for Marco Asensio would be a good place to start.

Kevin Thomson’s comments about his former Rangers team-mate Steven Davis make it clear that Steven Gerrard would be getting a player who could still be influential if he did make a January return to Ibrox.

Liverpool needed a moment of inspiration from their talisman to ensure Champions League qualification from Group C and Mo Salah didn’t disappoint. He is rediscovering last season’s form at just the right time for the Reds…

Wolves are keen on Shoya Nakajima but they already have one expensive winger who is struggling to show his true potential at Molineux – Adama Traore – which should make them think twice before going higher for the Japanese international.