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Newcastle United have held talks with the agent of Rangers teenager Alex Lowry, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Lowry profiled

Lowry is 18 years of age and is primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play as a right-winger or even in a deeper midfield role.

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The Scot has already made four senior appearances for Rangers, scoring once and providing one assist. Former Ibrox boss Graeme Murty labelled Lowry’s self-confidence as ‘remarkable’, with reports back in February suggesting the teenager has turned down a three-and-a-half-year deal at Ibrox.

His current contract expires in 2023, and it looks as if Newcastle are now leading the race for his services.

The Latest: Hotel meeting

Football Insider shared an update regarding Lowry and Newcastle on Monday morning after being informed by a recruitment source.

They claimed that head of recruitment Steve Nickson met Lowry’s agent in a hotel prior to Newcastle’s Premier League win over Wolves earlier this month.

The report stated that the Magpies are at the front of the queue for the Rangers youngster, who also has interest elsewhere.

The Verdict: Shrewd move

It looks as if Lowry could be a future star with a number of top-tier sides keen on his services, so Newcastle’s decision to meet with his agent and outline their plans could turn out to be a shrewd move.

It would be interesting to see what Newcastle would do with Lowry, should a move to St. James’ Park go through. He already has senior experience in Scotland, and with Eddie Howe having just two attacking midfielders on the books, it could present an opportunity for Lowry to flirt between the club’s Under-23 ranks and first-team squad.

A clear pathway through to first-team football should be outlined by the Magpies, so it looks as if this could be a transfer to watch closely.

In other news: Newcastle now want to sign ’emerging superstar’ for Howe; Staveley has already spoken with agent. 

Despite defeat in their midweek fixture, Mark Warburton has seen his Queens Park Rangers side get off to an impressive start in their 2021/22 Championship campaign, with the Rs picking up 12 points over their opening seven games of the season.

However, having conceded 10 goals so far this term, the most of any team in the top half of the table, there is a clear area of the pitch in which the 59-year-old must improve should he wish for his side to be considered genuine contenders for promotion: defence.

While Warburton’s main back three have highly impressed, with Robert Dickie, Jordy de Wijs and Yoann Barbet ranking as QPR’s first, third and sixth-best performers respectively so far this season – as well as loanee defender Sam McCallum appearing to have the left wing-back spot nailed down following a commanding display against Bournemouth – the right wing-back position has been something of a problem area for Warburton.

Indeed, over Osman Kakay’s four Championship appearances so far this term, the 24-year-old has averaged a disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.53. Summer signing Moses Odubajo has also done nothing to convince his manager that he should be the club’s first choice in the position, averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.42 over his five league fixtures.

Adomah could be the answer

As such, it would seem wise for Warburton to mix things up in the position in the club’s upcoming fixture against Bristol City this afternoon, with versatile winger Albert Adomah appearing to be a strong candidate for the role.

Indeed, having been brought on at left wing-back in QPR’s 3-3 draw with Reading last weekend, the 33-year-old impressed over his 18 minutes on the pitch, registering one assist, making two key passes and creating one big chance for his teammates, returns which saw the £720k-rated man earn a SofaScore match rating of 7.3.

The £18k-per-week forward put in an equally impressive display after being brought on for Kakay with 35 minutes left to play against Bournemouth on Tuesday, making three key passes, three interceptions and three tackles, seeing him earn a SofaScore match rating of 7.3.

As such, in posing a clear threat going forwards, as well as appearing solid defensively, the man who Sabri Lamouchi dubbed a “positive” player could well be the answer to Warburton’s right wing-back woes, with Adomah being released in that role potentially being a game-changing move by the 59-year-old.

In other news: QPR handed major injury boost ahead of Bristol City clash, Warburton will be buzzing

Leeds United outcast Ian Poveda is set to leave Elland Road in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update which has emerged on Tuesday morning.

The Lowdown: Poveda unwanted at Leeds

The 21-year-old has become almost surplus to requirements under Marcelo Bielsa, not making a single Premier League start last season.

While Leeds have gone up several gears, Poveda appears to have been left behind, with just one league assist coming his way in the last two years.

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The Latest: Summer exit on the cards

According to Football Insider, Poveda looks set for a ‘late-window exit’ from Leeds, having been demoted from the first-team by Bielsa at Thorp Arch.

A Thorp Arch source has told the outlet that the Whites will listen to offers for the youngster in the remaining weeks of the transfer window, with both loan and permanent moves mooted.

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The Verdict: Time to move on

Poveda is a talented young player with potential, but he has got stuck at Leeds and it is hard to see a future for him given how limited his playing time has been.

The Englishman is comfortably behind the likes of Raphinha, Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford in the attacking pecking order and there is still time for another addition to come in, too.

Poveda will benefit from earning playing time elsewhere and Leeds will no doubt be keen to sell him permanently, in order to generate more funds for transfers.

In other news, Marcelo Bielsa has explained a key selection decision against Manchester United. Read more here.

Nir Bitton is one of the most enigmatic players to grace Celtic over the last few years.

Standing at a height of 6 foot 4, the centre-back has all of the tools to be a standout and dominant figure at Parkhead.

However, for one reason or another, the Israeli has often found himself coming off second best and ridiculed as a result.

He was shoddy at times last season but he didn’t start life under Ange Postecoglou very promisingly either.

Bitton was sent off against Midtjylland in the Champions League and was then at fault as Hearts beat Celtic on the opening weekend too.

The centre-back was beaten to the ball by John Souttar who found the back of the net with a late header.

Postecoglou quickly lost faith in the 29-year-old and after he was described as a “walking joke” by Bhoys Analytics, you can hardly blame him.

Carl Starfelt who was signed from Rubin Kazan has taken his place but they also landed Cameron Carter-Vickers on loan just minutes before the deadline last week.

The American is a composed defender who should add a great deal to the side, especially as he buys into Postecoglou’s passing methods. For instance, he completed 84% of his passes on loan at Bournemouth last term.

Yet, with Carter-Vickers walking through the door, it appears to have been a wake-up call for Bitton.

When he and fellow countryman Liel Abada headed off on their travels a week ago, few would have expected the former to stand out more.

However, in consecutive games for Israel, the centre-back has been imperious. During their 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands, Bitton registered 99 passes at a success rate of 90%, proving he’d suit Celtic’s current style of play.

On top of that, he had 116 touches, more than anybody else on the field of play.

Israel would concede two against Austria in their last game on Saturday but his country prevailed 5-2.

Bitton stood out again and this time it was his defensive attributes that stole the show. He won 100% of his duels, succeeding in three ground battles and two aerial battles.

Furthermore, he didn’t commit a single foul and came away with pass accuracy of 88%. On this evidence, the Israeli looked like a changed man. Long may it continue.

AND in other news, Celtic could find another Van Hooijdonk by signing colossal 10-goal monster…

Celtic will receive a £2m windfall for the transfer of Ryan Christie if Bournemouth win promotion to the Premier League, according to The Sun, cited by 67 Hail Hail.  

The Lowdown: Deadline Day business

The Hoops had a busy final day of the summer window, with three incomings and three outgoings.

Christie was one of those to leave, with the Cherries paying an initial £2.5m for the attacking midfielder.

Striker Giorgos Giakoumakis was the last permanent addition to Ange Postecoglou’s squad, costing just over £2m, and it appears as if that could be paid for thanks to Christie by next summer.

The Latest: Add-on details emerge

The Sun on Sunday, cited by 67 Hail Hail, claim that Celtic will receive a further £2m if Bournemouth win promotion.

They could then land even more if they stay up in a potential 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

The Verdict: Shrewd move

Christie was out of contract at Celtic Park in January, so bringing in an initial £2.5m in the summer was good business.

It seems as if it could get even better over the next seven months, which could, in theory, mean the Hoops’ move for Giakoumakis is all but paid for due to add-ons in Christie’s transfer.

All in all, it looks like a shrewd move by the Hoops hierarchy, who will more than likely be hoping Bournemouth can stay top of the Championship until May.

In other news: Celtic are considering boss with similar style to Ange; he played golf with Desmond last week. 

Joining Everton would be a good step for Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard, according to former Toffees striker Marcus Bent.

With just under one year left on his current Old Trafford deal, there has been much speculation surrounding Lingard’s future this summer, with a host of clubs reportedly interested in his signature.

One of those clubs was West Ham, but Sky Sports have recently reported that the Hammers now only believe they have a 10 percent chance of signing the England international.

Lingard was on loan at the London Stadium for the second half of last season, scoring nine goals and providing five assists.

With West Ham only giving themselves a small chance of re-signing Lingard, Marcus Bent thinks Everton should look to swoop in for his signature, exclusively telling Football FanCast: “If you look at it, he’s been on loan at West Ham and he’s done really well.

“I think at the moment, I don’t think he’s going to be number one, number two at Man United, so for a big club like Everton I think that would be a good basis where he can go and make his career.”

Reliable Aston Villa reporter Ashley Preece revealed on Thursday that winger Bertrand Traore is back training at Bodymoor Heath.

And, as to be expected, his update had a number of Villa fans talking on social media.

The 26-year-old is yet to feature under new boss Steven Gerrard after missing the last three months due to a thigh problem. It hasn’t been the best of years for Traore, who also had to have surgery on a groin issue over the summer.

However, he’s now back in training and has since been named in Burkina Faso’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, which is scheduled to get underway next month.

Although his wait for an appearance under Gerrard may go on, plenty of Villa fans were buzzing at the news of the winger’s return days before the Boxing Day fixture with Chelsea.

Before his injury troubles the former Blues man was in fine form, registering seven league goals and six assists last season, so it’s no surprise to see supporters delighted by this news.

Villa fans react

This is what these fans had to say in reply after The AVFC Faithful shared Preece’s update on Twitter, with one labelling Traore as a ‘huge miss’.

“Early Xmas present”

Credit: @BillyWhiz

“I’m in tears. The Burkina Faso king returns”

Credit: @Jtavfc2000

“Thank god, huge miss”

Credit: @Davidomahony18

“Return of the king”

Credit: @PhilipKeenan12

“Suiiiiiii”

Credit: @AttwoodOlly

“GET IN BERT!!!!!”

Credit: @AvfcRegan

In other news: Lange makes Aston Villa enquiry to sign ‘top’ midfielder in January; club have already responded. 

Aston Villa have seen many players walk through the door at Villa Park over the years, either on loan or permanent deals.

However, as tends to be the case with most clubs, not all transfer deals that take place end up being particularly successful or worthwhile.

One questionable transfer that took place at the Midlands club was their 2015 move for striker Rudy Gestede.

During the 2015 summer transfer window, under the management of Tim Sherwood, the Villans secured a deal to bring the striker to Villa Park from Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £6m.

Having been described as a “menacing” figure on the pitch by Sherwood, the Benin international was anything but that for his side, finding the back of the net only five times in 32 Premier League appearances throughout the 2015/16 campaign.

Also, despite appearing in the majority of their league games, the attacker could only rack up 18 shots on target in total, which is fewer than the number of fouls (24) he committed, meaning he was more of a liability for his side than a capable attacking threat.

With fewer goals scored (27) than any other side in the top flight that season, Villa eventually found themselves at the bottom of the league table and destined for the second division.

After Villa’s relegation at the end of Gestede’s debut campaign with the Villans, things didn’t get much better for him in the Championship either.

In 18 appearances, the centre-forward only scored four goals before joining Middlesbrough in the 2017 January transfer window, bringing an end to his uninspiring time as a Villa player after just 523 days.

Even with his lack of regular goals at the Midlands club, it seemed as though they were right to let him go when they did, as the striker only managed to bag eight times in 71 appearances for Boro following his exit from Villa Park.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that Sherwood had a shocker by bringing Gestede to Villa, who ultimately wasted a total fee of £8.1m from his transfer fee and £28k-per-week wages by having him on their books for as long as they did.

In other news: Gerrard can now axe awful flop as AVFC eye bid for £50m gem with “bundles of ability”

Flocking to Twitter, many Wolverhampton Wanderers fans have erupted in delight over what their club has now done.

Bruno Lage’s side, slowly turning things around after a lacklustre start to the new season, currently sit 10th in the Premier League table and are enjoying a steady climb.

Having just beat Midlands rivals Aston Villa in epic fashion, they’ve made that victory their third on the trot and fourth in their last five English top flight matches (wolves.co.uk).

If Wolves continue in this vain, it’s safe to say things could be looking up, but supporters have actually grown more excited by something the club and players have now done off the field.

Dropping an official club post, Wolves have revealed they held a basic life support Compton training session at the request of players – an initiative which has attracted much applause on social media.

Overjoyed with the awareness their club has now spread over an extremely important issue, Wolves supporters held no shortage of praise for their side.

Find all of their best reactions down below.

Wolves fans erupt over official message

“Another reason to love this club. The players actually care.”

Credit: @EireMac76

“That’s my club”

Credit: @bo88om

“Top class”

Credit: @adwwfc

“Amazing!”

Credit: @Wrightgal80

“This is fantastic”

Credit: @PooraSingh

“God I love this team so much”

Credit: @Miss_Griff89

“Incredible work by all involved.”

Credit: @Lem_WWFC

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered a major blow in their pursuit of RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.

The Lowdown: Spurs linked with Gvardiol

According to The Athletic, Spurs will prioritise a left-sided centre-back in the summer window. As a result, they have named Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni and Gvardiol as the options currently topping their shopping list.

The Athletic claim that Tottenham would likely have to pay, at a minimum, as much as the £42m they spent on signing Cristian Romero last summer, due to the 20-year-old being one of the most in-demand young defenders across Europe.

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The Latest: Spurs suffer Gvardiol blow

According to RB Live (via SportWitness), it is ‘extremely unlikely’ that Fabio Paratici will have a ‘good chance’ of signing the Croatia international, given that he has ‘no reason’ to leave Leipzig.

In a previous interview with Bild (via Sport Witness) earlier this year, Gvardiol claimed that he was ‘not really making any plans’ regarding a summer transfer.

RB Live also stated that the Bundesliga side would ‘hardly let’ their ‘defensive jewel’ leave in the summer, despite reports suggesting a €50m (£42m) price tag.

The Verdict: Look at other options

Whilst the 20-year-old Croatian may be one of the hottest prospects in Europe, it appears that a transfer away from Leipzig seems highly unlikely in the near future. Therefore, Spurs should look elsewhere for a more imminent defensive addition.

Linked with the likes of Bastoni, it is imperative that Paratici secures a left-sided defender in the summer. This would free up left-back Ben Davies, who has been utilised as a makeshift central defender, who would then provide Antonio Conte with further depth at wing-back.

It would ultimately solve two transfer needs in one for Tottenham.

In other news: Paul Robinson makes Harry Winks exit claim