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Liverpool are still reportedly interested in signing Sampdoria and Denmark midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard before the transfer window closes.

The Lowdown: Damsgaard linked with Liverpool move

The 21-year-old made a name for himself at Euro 2020, helping Denmark reach the semi-finals without key man Christian Eriksen, scoring twice and assisting once in the tournament.

Damsgaard has been linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, as he potentially looks for a bigger challenge away from Sampdoria.

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The Latest: Another update emerges

It appears as though the Reds’ interest in the attacking midfielder hasn’t gone away, with La Repubblica [via Sport Witness] reporting that they are ‘eligible candidates’ to sign him, along with Leeds United.

Damsgaard’s current Sampdoria deal doesn’t expire until 2024, however, so a sizeable bid may be needed to prise him away.

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The Verdict: Much-needed addition?

Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea was further proof that Liverpool lack attacking options from the substitutes’ bench, with Jurgen Klopp’s men running out of steam against ten men – the manager opted to bring on left-back Kostas Tsimikas when chasing a goal.

Damsgaard could be a player who comes in and provides that, producing guile in attacking areas and possessing the versatility to thrive centrally and out wide.

Admittedly, he remains relatively unproven, despite his performances at the Euros, but he could thrive working under Klopp and may be seen as a long-term investment.

In other news, some Liverpool fans are not happy at a new transfer story that has emerged. Read more here.

With Everton going through October and November without a win in the Premier League, Toffees boss Rafa Benitez has a tough test ahead of him to get December off to a good start with Liverpool making the short trip to Goodison Park on Wednesday evening.

On the chalkboard

In terms of which player Benitez could select to start in his first Merseyside Derby as Everton boss after losing 1-0 away at Brentford last weekend, one individual that featured against Thomas Frank’s side that should not be in the starting XI to face Liverpool is Andros Townsend.

In the 70 minutes he was on the pitch against Brentford before being replaced by Demarai Gray, as well as giving the penalty away that Ivan Toney scored to secure the three points for the home side, Townsend failed to display much of an attacking impact for the Toffees.

He took no shots at goal, didn’t complete any dribbles and misplaced six crosses and two long balls.

The Liverpool Echo picked up on this side of his game on this occasion by saying that “his attacking output was generally below-par.”

Things weren’t great for the experienced £48k-per-week winger off the ball either with Townsend losing six of the nine duels he was involved in and getting dribbled past on two occasions.

This latest Everton performance earned Townsend an underwhelming overall match rating of 6.4/10 according to SofaScore, making him one of the lowest-rated players on the day for Benitez’s struggling side.

That was even lower than fellow Toffees attacker Alex Iwobi who proved to be one of the only Everton players to deliver a decent performance against Brentford, as the much-maligned forward registered two shots and two dribbles in the final third.

The fact Townsend has not managed to score a goal or provide an assist for Everton since he found the net against Manchester United at Old Trafford back in early October suggests he’s holding the team back somewhat.

With the arrival of Liverpool on Wednesday in mind, Everton won’t be able to have any passengers in this game when you consider the Reds have managed to score a total of 39 league strikes so far this season and have won their three previous league games across all competitions.

That’s a run that’s seen them net ten goals, keeping three clean sheets in the process, which could put Townsend’s place in the team in danger on this occasion.

Either way, whether Benitez picks Townsend to start against Liverpool or not, the Toffees need to turn their poor results around as soon as possible and a win against their bitter rivals could be exactly what they need to push on and get the season back on track.

In other news: Brands could solve Rafa’s big Everton issue by signing “intelligent” £19.8m-rated ace – opinion

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is an injury doubt for his side’s Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

The Lowdown: Crucial Premier League clash

The Reds return to action on Saturday evening, taking on an Arsenal side who are now fifth in the table and just two points behind Jurgen Klopp’s men.

A big response is needed from Liverpool after the defeat to West Ham and the home draw with Brighton, with more dropped points feeling costly in the title race.

They could face a tough examination from Arsenal, though, who have won their last three league outings and seem to finally be gaining some momentum with their young squad.

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The Latest: Partey could miss out

One player who could be absent for the Gunners is Partey, with Arteta confirming as much in his pre-Liverpool press conference on Friday [via Football Daily on Twitter].

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The Verdict: Good news for Reds

Partey has been a key figure at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield of late, averaging two tackles per game in the league this season, so him being out would be a boost for Liverpool.

Not only that, but the 28-year-old was a dominant force for Atletico Madrid in the Champions League at Anfield in March 2020, receiving a match-high 7.55 rating from WhoScored as Diego Simeone’s side progressed to the quarter-finals.

Arsenal’s midfield would suddenly look more open without Partey in it, especially with Granit Xhaka still injured, so him being fit or not could be key to the eventual outcome.

Paul Scholes has hailed the Ghanaian as ‘brilliant’, which is high praise, and Liverpool could find it easier to create chances without him around to break up their attacks on Saturday.

In other news, some Liverpool fans have reacted to a Reds injury update. Read more here.

Aston Villa have seemingly joined Leeds United in the race to sign Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Kamara profiled

Kamara is 22 years of age and is primarily a defensive midfielder who can also line out at centre-back. A France under-21 international, he has already made 145 appearances for his current employers and has even captained the club this season.

His contract is set to expire at the end of the campaign, though, and it seems as if Steven Gerrard could make a move, with Villa looking for midfield reinforcements following Marvelous Nakamba’s injury.

The Latest: Romano’s update

Romano took to Twitter on Saturday afternoon, confirming Villa’s links to Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.

However, he shared comments from Bianconeri manager Massimiliano Allegri, who claimed that the Italian giants won’t sanction any move for the Uruguayan this month.

Romano then added that Kamara is also on Johan Lange’s list when it comes to a new midfielder, tweeting: “Aston Villa are interested in Rodrigo Bentancur, confirmed as Tom Collomosse reported today. Juventus have not received any official bid yet – while Allegri today said they ‘won’t do any move in January’. Been told there’s also Boubacar Kamara in Aston Villa list.”

The Verdict: Shrewd move?

Kamara is valued at £22.5m, but due to his contract situation, you’d expect that Villa could land the versatile midfielder for a lot less than that in the final days of the January transfer window.

Should a move for Bentancur fail to materialise, Kamara could be an excellent alternative as he already has plenty of experience under his belt and is still in the early stages of his career. Also, he could improve Villa’s ball distribution, with his 90.7% passing success rate this season better than anyone to have started under Gerrard in the Premier League.

It seems as if the Uruguayan is Villa’s top midfield target, though, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens over the next eight days.

In other news: ‘Crazy to sell’ – Lots of Villa fans flock to update as Newcastle swoop for Gerrard regular

Leicester City have been linked with a move for RB Salzburg striker Patson Daka as Brendan Rodgers aims to strengthen his first-team squad.

What’s the story?

The 22-year-old had an incredibly impressive 2020/21 campaign, bagging 34 goals and providing 12 assists in all competitions as Jesse Marsch’s men achieved a domestic double.

Daka’s standout displays have attracted the attention of Premier League giants Liverpool and Chelsea, but the Foxes see the pacey forward as Jamie Vardy’s natural successor, according to The Mirror.

Rodgers needs him

Despite the magnificent form of the Zambia international, a fee of just £17m is thought to be enough to prize him away from Salzburg.

And acquiring a player as talented as Daka for such a modest fee would undoubtedly go down as another transfer masterclass from director of football Jon Rudkin.

Twenty3Sport journalist Sam McGuire once dubbed the youngster a “goal machine,” and it’s hard to argue with that label given his record.

Leicester will be fighting on multiple fronts next season after qualifying for the Europa League, and Rodgers will need several options in each position if the Midlands outfit are to be competitive.

The former Liverpool boss will be desperate to achieve a top-four finish with the current FA Cup holders at the third time of asking, meaning strength in depth will be essential.

At 34, Vardy’s time at the top-level of football is drawing to a close. His run of just one goal in 13 Premier League games in the second half of last season highlighted his steady decline.

Although Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard is expected to bolster the ranks at the King Power Stadium over the coming months, the addition of Daka would take Leicester to another level.

The promise of first-team football and regular game time may be enough for Salzburg to turn down tempting offers from the Reds and Chelsea.

His signing would be a typical purchase from the Foxes, who have become renowned for picking up talented young stars for low prices before selling them on for an astronomical profit. It’s also one that could see them return to Europe’s elite cup competition.

And, in other news…Get it done: Rudkin must sanction Leicester swoop for “excellent” £50m gem 

According to Football Insider, Glasgow Rangers winger Brandon Barker has been told he can leave Ibrox before the end of the transfer window.

The Lowdown: Not long left

There are just a matter of hours left before the transfer window slams shut.

With John Lundstram (rangers.co.uk), Fashion Sakala and Juninho Bacuna all making the move to the 55-time Scottish champions, there may not be many more new arrivals, but outgoings still look likely.

The Latest: Barker told he can leave

As per this latest report, Barker has been told he can leave the club today, with sources at Ibrox informing Football Insider.

His contract is set to expire at the end of the season (Transfermarkt), so he may have played his last game for the club even if the move is only a loan.

The Verdict: Makes sense

This is a move that makes sense for all involved. Barker has made just 26 appearances for Rangers in all competitions since making the move to Ibrox, joining Oxford United on loan last season after he couldn’t nail down a spot in Steven Gerrard’s starting XI.

However, he is a player that still has potential. He was called “one of the best” by Andy Halliday in regards to his performances in training at Rangers (via This is Futbol), while three goals and four assists in 19 League One appearances at Oxford displayed his ability – he had five strikes in total, mustering up 12 goals throughout his senior career. Surely there will be a suitor for him between now and the deadline.

In other news, this former Ger could make a shock transfer.

West Ham United have submitted an application to build a new training resource at the club’s Rush Green location, which is scheduled to be completed in September 2023 [Romford Recorder].

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Irons were not able to officially move towards starting the work after initially being given the opportunity to initiate this proposal in 2018 [Romford Recorder].

Permission has since lapsed, prompting the Hammers hierarchy to re-apply for specialised status to carry out the work needed to build the facility.

The purpose of building the new area at Rush Green will be to raise the quality of the West Ham Women’s team’s facilities at the club. The final outcome of the proposal is set to be revealed on October 13th.

In light of this news, many West Ham United fans took to social media to portray their opinions on the training centre update.

West Ham fans react:

Replying to West Ham Central on Twitter, here is what some fans had to say about developments:

“I don’t mean to be that guy, but maybe that’s why we have a littler budget to expected?”

Credit: @JBtalksFootball

“New portacabin being installed next week”

Credit: @AaronHa77625127

 “B&q sheds I bet ya”

Credit: @Hasan1Turgay

“This is the same proposal put forward & approved in 2018, it’s not new news, has nothing to do with PAI & has no links to no transfers etc. The proposals are also totally inadequate for a PL club and is nothing more than a temp sticking plaster and prob a max cost of approx £5m.”

Credit: @c_woodgate93″Unfortunately… I can’t imagine how much better we would be if we didn’t have cheapskate owners…”Credit: @thebeerpops”I’ve also just submitted an application to build the batcave under my house. Waterfall exit and all”Credit: @gammer91In other news, ExWHUEmployee has dropped an exciting transfer update. Find out who it is about here.

Mike Ashley has long wanted to get out of Newcastle United and with every potential buyer coming from outside of the region, Barry Fry is surprised nobody from the North East has tried to buy the club.

The closes that people linked to the region have come to buying out Ashley was with the latest takeover backed by PIF as the Reuben Brothers were set to have a 10% stake in the club and despite residing out of the area, they own several properties as well as the racecourse in Newcastle.

After The Times revealed that their wealth had increased by £5 billion in the last 12 months despite there being a global pandemic, people questioned why they won’t buy Newcastle United by themselves.

It would be a great day for Newcastle fans if the Reuben Brothers or anyone bought out Ashley and Fry admits he is surprised nobody closer to the club has tried to take it off the current owner’s hands as he exclusively told The Transfer Tavern:

“It’s been up for sale two or three years now and nobody has touched it. So what I can’t understand, because the Geordies are so passionate and committed about their club, I just can’t understand if they’ve got wealth in their city, so to speak, why somebody doesn’t buy the club.

“The fanbase is amazing and if you’re a businessman, then the fans will buy shirts, even when they’re skint, they will buy everything because they just live for Newcastle. So I am very surprised that the wealthy people in and around the North East haven’t come in and tried to buy it off Mike.”

Steve Bruce and the fans will be hoping a takeover goes through sooner rather than later because the club will not be able to keep out of the relegation zone if they only have £10 million to spend every season, something Bruce will have to deal with this year.

Having just £10 million to spend may have put a stop to Bruce’s plans to sign Joe Willock from Arsenal on a permanent basis with the Gunners looking for a bid minimum of £20 million.

Some Tottenham Hotspur players are reportedly unhappy about the behaviour of two senior staff in the dugout after only three games of the season.

The Lowdown: Paratici’s influence in the transfer window

In June, Fabio Paratici left Juventus after 11 years to join Tottenham Hotspur as Managing Director of Football.

His arrival, alongside the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo as manager, has seen a different flow in how Spurs work in the transfer market, with Emerson Royal the oldest permanent signing made at just 22.

Bryan Gil (20) and Pape Matar Sar (18) also joined in the summer window also as Spurs brought players in for the future in the mind as they go in search of their first trophy in 14 years.

The Latest: Players unhappy with Paratici and Hitchen

However, despite the positive feeling around the club given their presence at the Premier League summit, it has been reported that some players are unhappy about Paratici and technical performance director Steve Hitchen being present in the dugout during games.

The report in The Sun states that a few Spurs players are ‘uncomfortable with the presence and behaviour’ of the pair. Paratici was shown on camera jumping and shouting in the 1-0 victory over Manchester City at the start of the season.

A Tottenham source claimed: “It just doesn’t sit right with the players. The substitutes on the bench don’t feel they are able to speak freely among themselves with those guys sitting next to them,

“The players as a whole don’t like it when the two of them are on their feet shouting at the match officials or the team.”

The Premier League’s pandemic protocols requires all players and staff in the ‘red zone’ testing pool to be together in designated areas, so the players will have to continue with the current setup for at least the rest of this month.

The Verdict: Not ideal, but at least Spurs remain unbeaten

The apparent discontent from some Tottenham players over the presence of Paratici and Hitchen so close to them on matchdays is understandable.

Players use the dugout to have private chats and not having the opportunity to do so because there are two senior club stuff in such close proximity may not go down well with the squad the longer it goes on.

It hasn’t unduly affected the Lilywhites on the field, though, as they sit at the top of the Premier League table with three wins in three.

In other news, one Spurs player ended up impacting the club’s decision on a reported transfer target. Find out more here.

Lee Ryder has dropped some potential timeframes on both Newcastle United takeover cases against the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Ashley vs Premier League

Mike Ashley has launched two separate claims against the English top flight over the failed deal between him and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium.

One is the arbitration case, which is set to take place over the coming months, and there is also the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) claim over the Premier League’s decision-making process regarding the failed takeover bid.

The Latest: Potential timeframes

Writing in a Q&A session for The Chronicle, football journalist and takeover follower Ryder has shared that the arbitration hearing, which is set to take place in July, could take three weeks to yield a result.

He also outlined that the separate anti-competition claim could take up to nine months for an outcome.

The Verdict: Arbitration key

Newcastle will certainly not want to come out of the arbitration proceedings with a negative result, as it means that they may have to rely upon the CAT claim, which would take much longer to find an outcome.

The timing of arbitration is not ideal either, given that the summer transfer window has already begun and the new 2021/22 season is set to start in August.

Nonetheless, a positive result could speed up the takeover process, which would be the best outcome for the Tyneside club as they look to go into the new campaign as best prepared as possible.

In other news, find out what FFP claim has been dropped on the potential takeover