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Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is currently blessed with a vast array of attacking options, with the 57-year-old facing the unenviable task of selecting the best attacking trio from his competitive squad.

The former Yokohama Marinos boss opted for a front three of James Forrest, Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda last time out for the thumping victory over St Johnstone, although it would be no real surprise to see the title-winning coach shuffle his pack once again.

The obvious candidate to make way would be that of Maeda, with the Japanese international having now failed to register a goal or an assist in his last three league outings, despite showing great ‘drive and desire’ against the Saints – as per Glasgow Live’s Ryan Thorn.

The 25-year-old’s return to the bench could see Portuguese gem Jota take his place in the starting lineup, although the fleet-footed starlet has endured something of a barren run of his own of late, having not registered a goal contribution in any of his last five Scottish Premiership appearances.

As such, Postecoglou could well be better served thrusting Sead Haksabanovic back into the action, with the summer signing having been “flying” for the Old Firm outfit prior to the World Cup break, as per pundit Tam McManus, after scoring three goals in just three league games leading up to that halt to proceedings.

The 23-year-old has been restricted to a substitute role in recent games after shaking off an injury scare, although it could now be an ideal time to unleash the Montenegro international from the start against the Easter Road outfit.

The “little diamond” – as lauded by former coach Jan Jonsson – notably sparkled when the two sides met earlier this season, producing what proved to be his first goal involvement in the green and white jersey with an assist, having also produced an incredible piece of skill down the left flank.

The creative ace – who has three goals and one assist to his name this season – has been gradually eased in by Postecoglou this season, although the Sweden-born starlet has shown flashes of his undoubted quality thus far, with earning a consistent run in the side seemingly the next task on the agenda.

The one-time West Ham United man may still be finding his feet somewhat in Glasgow, although he could well prove the difference-maker this evening against Lee Johnson’s men.

Leeds United may not sign a new midfielder – even if Mateusz Klich departs, according to Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Midfield not an area to improve

The January transfer window is set to be a very important one for Leeds as they look to address key areas, which they’ve already done with Maximilian Wober at left-back.

Another area of improvement is up top with the side lacking depth and goals apart from perhaps Rodrigo. However, there could still be some departures, with long-time servant Klich tipped with a move to MLS with D.C. United.

But even if Klich was to depart and leave Leeds a body lighter in the centre of midfield, there doesn’t appear to be an eagerness to replace the Poland international this month.

The Latest: Orta could avoid replacing Klich

Hay has been speaking on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show and revealed what he knows about what could be in store should Klich leave.

He said: “There hasn’t really been any indication that if Klich goes, they will definitely do a centre-mid, and I still don’t particularly feel that Klich is made for this system that Marsch is using.”

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The Verdict: Orta gambling with Leeds’ future

While Klich has been far from a regular under Jesse Marsch, having being afforded just 252 minutes of league action thus far, he’s an experienced Premier League player that could step up and do a job if someone such as Adam Forshaw – who has started the last two games – was to pick up an injury.

Leeds don’t have many options outside of their regular starters to play in the centre of midfield in the role that Klich can operate in, so to not replace him in the event he jets off to America would be incredibly risky, especially given the record of Leeds players picking up injuries over the last 12-18 months.

There doesn’t appear to be anything imminent in terms of Klich’s exit, despite D.C. United holding a strong interest in him, so perhaps if someone does get closer, Leeds may accelerate their search for someone, although they won’t want to leave it as late as they did for players such as Bamba Dieng and Cody Gakpo over the summer.

Newcastle United have held talks with the agent of the Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda over a potential move to Tyneside.

What’s the latest?

Eddie Howe’s side have noted the right-back spot as their priority position for this month’s transfer window and have identified the La Liga youngster as an option.

This is according to the reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano who has been speaking on the House of Champions YouTube channel about the Magpies’ interest in the 18-year-old.

However, the Italian journalist did caveat his comments by saying the Toon have not yet made an approach to the Spanish outfit yet and have only sounded out the player:

“At the moment, nothing is still advanced or close to being completed. But they’re working on some potential ideas.

“For example, Ivan Fresneda is a right-back from Real Valladolid, born in 2004. One of the most talented right-backs in Europe in this moment.

“They’re following him. They’re having some conversations with his agents. Let’s see if they will decide to proceed with an official bid at the moment it’s not a direct negotiation yet.”

Investing in the future

As well as claiming the Magpies have identified Fresneda as a target for this month, Romano hailed the transfer strategy of the Newcastle owners over the previous two transfer windows.

Newcastle have spent sufficiently over the first two windows with PIF at the helm, however, they have only made one signing worth over £40m in the addition of Alexander Isak.

And although they have still made some significant signings over £30m, considering the wealth of their owners, Newcastle have approached the transfer windows with a reserved approach given the financial backing behind them.

And it seems as if this summer could be an opportunity for Howe to bring in some young players who will provide Newcastle with quality for the future.

Although Kieran Trippier has that spot at right-back nailed down, it has to be said, Newcastle could probably do with more quality from the bench to back up the England international.

Currently, Javier Manquillo is Howe’s option from the bench at right-back with Emil Krafth currently sidelined through a long-term injury picked up last year.

However, the Spaniard’s contract at Newcastle is set to run out at the end of the next campaign and Krafth has been unable to provide anywhere near the return Trippier has in front of goal during his time on Tyneside.

And although Fresneda has just eight la Liga appearances to his name, it is apparent he is one to watch for the future with Romano clearly holding hue expectations for what Fresneda could become.

Newcastle United will reportedly sell either Karl Darlow or Loris Karius during the January transfer window, with the other goalkeeper staying put.

The Lowdown: Pope firmly first choice

The Magpies are flying at the minute, with Eddie Howe having a number of hugely important players at his disposal who have taken the team up a level.

Nick Pope is one of those after arriving from Burnley last summer, starting 19 times in the Premier League this season and becoming one of the first names on the team sheet, featuring for more top-flight minutes than anyone else at St James’ Park in 2022/23.

Darlow and Karius have had to play second fiddle to the England international, and one of those two could be set to depart Tyneside in the near future.

The Latest: Darlow or Karius set to leave Newcastle

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Keith Downie claimed that one of the two ‘keepers will leave Newcastle this month after Martin Dubravka was recalled from his loan spell at Manchester United.

The Sky Sports reporter said:

“There’s been no update on Karius when we’ve asked about him. One of them will stay. Either Darlow will go out and try and find regular football somewhere and they’ll keep Karius as the number three. Or Karius will be allowed to go and Darlow will just kind of be forced to be the number three.

“They’re not going to keep all three goalkeepers, one of them is going to leave. I think it depends on Darlow and whether he wants to go and play or if he’s content with being the number three goalkeeper.”

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The Verdict: Karius to move on?

It would arguably make more sense for Karius rather than Darlow to be the goalkeeper to depart Newcastle in January, with the German yet to make a single appearance for the club.

Question marks possibly remain over just how much his nightmare performance for Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid has affected him, so it feels like a greater risk to keep hold of him rather than the 32-year-old.

By contrast, Darlow knows Newcastle inside out at this point, having racked up 100 appearances for the club across seven-and-a-half years, so he is arguably a more natural and reliable alternative to Pope, and Dubravka.

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Journalist Darren Lewis has revealed that European giants Bayern Munich are ‘really big fans’ of young Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

What’s the word?

With the January transfer market open, fans are always excited about who may be joining their club. For instance, the Whites have already managed to seal deals for Georginio Rutter and Max Wober this winter.

Of course, though, supporters always have to be wary of bigger clubs coming along to try and steal their team’s best players. At Leeds, 22-year-old Meslier certainly seems to be a player who is catching the eye – and not just reams from within the Premier League.

Indeed, when talking on the Last Word on Spurs, Lewis said the goalkeeper is a target for Tottenham Hotspur before naming some other interested parties, including Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich.

He explained “One name that I’ve heard that – to be fair, he has admirers up and down the Premier League – is Meslier at Leeds.

“He is a young ‘keeper. [Marcelo] Bielsa also obviously set a lot of store by him. Jesse Marsch is obviously playing him at the moment.

“Bayern Munich [are] really big fans of him as well. Chelsea like him too. A lot of people like him.”

A big future?

Despite still being just 22 years old, the goalkeeper has already played 107 times for Leeds United – with 91 of those appearances coming in the English top flight.

He’s certainly shown his ability to perform against the big boys too. For instance, earlier this season he delivered against Manchester City and Newcastle United with top performances in back-to-back games.

The worry for Leeds will be that they have a top talent but are still battling down at the bottom end of the Premier League and so they may not be able to hold onto their goalkeeper for much longer.

Bayern number one Manuel Neuer is 36 now and out for some time with a serious injury after fracturing his right leg in a fall while skiing. It seems likely that they will want a long-term replacement at some stage and Meslier may well be their man.

Chelsea are reportedly one of the clubs who are keen on a move for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, with the Spaniard facing something of an uncertain future at his current side.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Jacob Steinberg, via Twitter, the Blues are said to be “interested” in signing the 27-year-old during the summer, with the experienced asset currently having just 18 months remaining on his existing deal with the Bees.

In the attached piece for the Guardian, the report suggests that both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are also keeping tabs on the former Blackburn Rovers man at present.

The report notes that Graham Potter’s side could well be looking to bolster their goalkeeping department with Edouard Mendy having yet to extend his contract and with Kepa Arrizabalaga’s place in the side still said to be ‘uncertain’ in the long-term.

If the west Londoners are to prise the Barcelona-born sensation from his current surroundings, they could well be able to strike a deal for a rather measly fee of just £15m-£20m, as per the Telegraph.

‘Next level’ signing

A new recruit in the sticks has become something of a necessity of late due to Kepa’s current woes, with the former Athletic Bilbao man having been somewhat culpable in the Premier League defeat to Manchester City after failing to cut out Jack Grealish’s pullback, before then going walkabout for Fulham’s second goal in the 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage last week.

Those struggles have seen pundit Ian Wright describe the £150k-per-week dud as “nervy” and a player who simply makes “too many mistakes”, hence the need to find a suitable, long-term replacement in the coming months.

Turning to the aforementioned Raya could well prove a dream scenario for the Stamford Bridge outfit, with the 6 foot ace having been described as “next level” with the ball at his feet by journalist Dan Bardell.

That strength in possession is evidenced by the fact that the two-cap machine ranks in the top 6% for touches made among those in his position in Europe, having also been praised by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp last season for his distribution, with the German stating:

“Their goalie should have number 10 on his shirt with the balls that he played.”

That quality on the ball does not appear to come at a cost with regard to his brilliance at keeping the ball out of the back of the net, with the one-time Southport loanee having made 81 saves in 19 games in the top-flight this season – the most in the division.

Kepa, by contrast, has made only 38 saves in the top tier so far this term from his 11 outings, while also ranking in just the top 47% for touches made to illustrate that he is arguably not as comfortable in possession.

While the Brentford man may not be a potential glamour name for Potter and co to pursue, his ability to both prevent goals and help to offer an added threat creatively should well ensure that he can help take Chelsea to that ‘next level’.

Leicester City have held ‘negotiations’ to sign Shakhtar Donetsk winger Tete this month, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Second time lucky?

The Brazilian reportedly terminated his spell with Igor Jovicevic’s side as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and he is now out on loan with French side Lyon having joined in March 2022.

The Foxes explored a deal for the 22-year-old last summer but ended up missing out on his signature to the Ligue 1 outfit, though are said to have reignited their interest in bringing him to the Premier League.

The Daily Mail claim that Brendan Rodgers’ outfit are ready to take another bite of the cherry this month and have been handed a boost after learning that the player is keen on a move to the top flight.

The Latest: Leicester make contact

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones confirmed that Leicester have now held initial talks with Shakhtar and Tete to discover what he’d like his next move to be.

“There have been negotiations through intermediaries on this one, to try and work on a strategy and figure out where Tete might go – also for how much, exactly. We saw with Mudryk that Shakhtar know the value of a player and are pretty set on things being on their terms. Obviously this transfer isn’t quite at that level.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Journalist Josh Bunting has labelled Tete a ‘dangerous’ player in the final third, and his attacking threat is exactly what Leicester need to bolster their ranks with.

The Adidas-sponsored gem has made 11 goal contributions in 19 appearances across all competitions this season and is currently averaging 1.8 shots per league game, which would rank him third within the Leicester squad’s league averages.

The Alvorada native also has the versatility to operate in the midfield as well as out wide, which is another attribute that Rodgers will no doubt be attracted to, making him the perfect signing for the Foxes.

Wolverhampton Wanderers may finally be able to ditch one of their most underperforming players in the coming months…

What’s the news?

According to CNN Portugal (via Record) Benfica are reportedly looking at re-signing defender Nelson Semedo in the summer.

Although his contract expires at the end of the current campaign, Wolves have the option to extend it for a further two years.

The 29-year-old joined the Old Gold in 2020 from Barcelona having previously been a member of the Benfica first-team squad between 2015-2017.

“Useless”

Julen Lopetegui has overseen a remarkable turnaround since taking over from Bruno Lage in November. The 56-year-old has only tasted defeat on three occasions, against Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United, while improving their form in front of goal, scoring nine times in nine matches having scored just 11 goals until the hiatus for the World Cup.

The Spaniard is certainly asserting his own stamp on the team, luring talents such as Matheus Cunha, Pablo Sarabia, and Mario Lemina to Molineux and the next step is to ditch those who have underperformed or simply don’t feature in his plans for next season, and Semedo should be one of those players.

The £80k-per-week right-back was dubbed “useless” by pundit Gabby Agbonlahor earlier this season and his performances haven’t exactly lit up Molineux.

Across 18 Premier League appearances this season, Semedo has registered an average rating of 6.67/10 via Sofascore which ranks him a lowly 17th in the whole Wolves squad and underlines just how poor he has been so far this term.

The defender also ranks fourth for tackles, seventh for interceptions, and fifth for blocks made per match, while he also ranks second in the squad for total cards (four yellow and one red) and it’s evident that Lopetegui needs to move him on either in the next couple of days or in the summer.

A new era is beginning to take shape at Wolves and there is no place for passengers who simply want to coast through matches. The former Real Madrid manager has high hopes for his side and ditching underperforming liabilities such as Semedo will only help his cause.

Newcastle United will need to put together a loan agreement with an obligation to pay at least £45m if they want to sign Conor Gallagher, according to journalist Craig Hope.

The Lowdown: Gallagher leaving?

Chelsea have strengthened their squad considerably in the January transfer window, bringing in the likes of Mykhaylo Mudryk for £88.5m and Benoit Badiashile for £35m, but they are still targeting new additions in the centre of midfield.

The Guardian report that the Blues are closing in on a £115m deal for Enzo Fernandez, while adding that they could also make a late push for Moises Caicedo, which means that there could be no room for Gallagher in Graham Potter’s squad.

The Latest: Newcastle told what they must pay

According to Hope via Twitter, Newcastle must match the £45m offer for the midfielder which is currently on the table from Everton if they want to secure a deal before the deadline.

The agreement would be on loan with an obligation to buy, and the journalist also claims that Eddie Howe is a ‘big admirer’ of the player.

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The Verdict: Worth it?

The 22-year-old has recently been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Chelsea manager Potter, so the possibility of him leaving the west London club isn’t due to a lack of ability, but because of the sheer amount of talent that the Blues could have in his position by the close of play tonight.

What is particularly impressive about the Englishman is that he has a lot to offer in an attacking and defensive sense, with the latter being indicated best by the fact that he has averaged 1.74 blocks per 90 in the past year, placing in the 91st percentile compared to other midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.

While on loan at Crystal Palace last season, the maestro reached double figures for goal contributions in the Premier League, finishing the campaign with a very respectable total of eight goals and three assists.

£45m is a lot for Gallagher but he is still very young, and a move to Newcastle, where he would be able to feature more regularly in the first team, could be exactly what he needs in order to flourish.

Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita is on the ‘verge’ of leaving the Premier League side this summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Falling out of favour

The Guinea international’s deal at Anfield is set to expire at the end of the season, and having not been offered fresh terms, his future has been up in the air.

Jurgen Klopp has handed the 27-year-old just two league starts since the start of the term, highlighting how far down the boss’ pecking order he is compared to his fellow teammates.

The Reds star had reportedly been in talks to join Galatasaray, and whilst that move now looks to be off the cards, it’s still likely that he will secure a permanent exit in the months ahead.

The Latest: Plettenberg’s update

Taking to Twitter, Sky Germany’s Plettenberg revealed that Keita is set to depart Liverpool upon the conclusion of the 2022/23 season:

“News #Keita: The 27 y/o is on verge to leave LFC as a free agent in summer! Contract extension unlikely at this stage. Many clubs are interested to sign him. But he won’t join Galatasaray. His return to [Germany] is not excluded. Regular starter in the last 4 matches.”

The Verdict: Time to get rid

Keita has certainly shown moments of quality during his spell on Merseyside, but Liverpool are probably aware that now would be the right time to say goodbye.

The Nike-sponsored athlete has played just 441 minutes of football across all competitions this campaign and is averaging a top-flight match rating of just 6.15 when he is given game time (WhoScored).

Klopp is set for a midfield overhaul this summer having been linked to the likes of Jude Bellingham and Matheus Nunes, and Keita is surely one of those facing the chopping block, having spent approximately 470 days unavailable through injury or illness since joining the Reds.