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Former Premier League star Carlton Palmer believes that Callum Hudson-Odoi could move to Liverpool in either January or next summer.

The Chelsea winger has been linked with a potential move to the Reds, per reports in Italy, amid his struggles for minutes at Stamford Bridge.

Hudson-Odoi made just 10 starts in the league last season and has played a mere three times this term.

The 20-year-old, who can play on the right wing and the left wing, and has been capped three times by England, has previously been linked with a move to Bayern Munich but they were unable to strike an agreement.

The £100,000-a-week winger has made a total of 101 appearances for the Blues and has scored 13 goals, while registering 16 assists.

He has a contract until 2024 and is valued at £28.8m by Transfermarkt, and Palmer thinks that he will be attracted by the prospect of playing at Anfield under manager Jurgen Klopp.

He exclusively told FFC: “Of course I can see him making that move. At the end of the day, if he’s not going to play regular football at Chelsea, then he’s going to want to leave to go and play. He’s got to, for his own development, for his own career, he’s got to play. It doesn’t seem so much now that the top clubs are too fussed about selling players to other top clubs.

“You’ve seen Giroud go from Arsenal to Chelsea; some might say he was at the back-end of his career so they were happy for him to go there.

“You’ve seen Willian go from Chelsea to Arsenal, probably Chelsea didn’t see Arsenal as a threat when he went there. If a move like that came up for him, to go to Liverpool and he could play regular football then, of course, it makes sense for the player.”

Leeds are thought to be watching Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson, however, he had an afternoon to forget against Luton Town on Friday.

This forms part of our Transfer Watch series, where we react to a performance from a current transfer target.

The Lowdown: Leeds watching

Victor Orta confirmed last month that he tried to sign the Forest star for Leeds when he was just 16 years of age.

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Johnson is now catching the eye in the Championship in what has been a breakthrough campaign at the City Ground, contributing to 22 goals in all competitions.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke revealed in the week that the Whites are watching the 20-year-old closely, however, Johnson struggled at Kenilworth Road in his latest performance.

The Latest: 100% duels lost

Forest fell to a rare defeat on Friday but still occupy a play-off place with six games to go.

As per SofaScore, Johnson played in an attacking midfield role behind two strikers but struggled to make an impact, failing to complete a successful dribble and having just 26 touches all afternoon. Johnson also lost 100% of his duels, gave possession away 10 times and committed two fouls.

The Verdict: Sign if Forest remain in the Championship?

Even though Johnson failed to impress on Friday, he appears to be a shrewd target for the Whites, should Forest fail to earn promotion to the Premier League.

O’Rourke believes he could be a smart replacement for Raphinha, who is heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, and Johnson’s latest display appears to show he isn’t suited to an attacking midfield role.

The Wales international has had success on both wings and as a centre-forward in 2021/22 but has contributed to just one goal in five games as an attacking midfielder.

Therefore, although Orta may not have been impressed with Johnson on Friday, it could give him extra knowledge of where Johnson’s strengths lie and a move should still be pursued if the Reds remain in the second tier.

In other news: Leeds and Orta want ‘extraordinary’ ace in Bosman move; same agent as Bamford. 

A number of Southampton supporters have slammed Mohammed Salisu’s performance in his side’s Premier League clash with Tottenham on Tuesday.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men returned to action against Spurs at St Mary’s, following their excellent 3-2 win away to West Ham on Boxing Day.

It was a tough assignment for Saints, however, with Antonio Conte coming in and making an immediate impression in north London, remaining unbeaten in the league as Lilywhites boss.

After James Ward-Prowse gave the hosts the lead with a brilliant strike, the game turned on its head when Salisu received a second yellow card, fouling Son Heung-min clumsily to concede a penalty.

It was a hugely disappointing moment for the defender, who had few complaints, as he failed to even make it to half-time at St. Mary’s.

Southampton fans slam Salisu’s display

These Southampton fans took to Twitter to criticise Salisu’s performance, having had such a negative impact on proceedings.

“Well that’s marvellous, isn’t? Give away a penalty and the ref won’t dish out a red. However, they can hand out a yellow which is a second, so equivalent to giving a red anyway. Although, Salisu was a walking red card today”

Credit: @scottie_clark

“Rejects a call up for AFCON to focus on his club career. He can focus on his club career elsewhere. He shouldn’t play for Southampton again”

Credit: @ByrneDick

“What was Salisu thinking?”

Credit: @spmooney68

“As much as I rate Salisu he is always prone to a ill timed tackle away from a second yellow which could now cost us in a game we were well on top of “

Credit: @BIDDS83

“Standard of refereeing is so bad atm. That said, Salisu was a red card waiting to happen today”

Credit: @jdavies913

“Game over, Salisu has looked awful today”

Credit: @FPLDisasterClas

In other news, Saints have been linked with a January move for one player. Find out who it is here.

Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool fans have gone wild as their club drop a teasing message involving midfielder Curtis Jones.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has overseen a fine 2021/2022 campaign so far as Liverpool keep pace with their fierce title rivals at the top of the Premier League table whilst breaking Champions League records.

Indeed, the Anfield outfit are well in contention for the English top flight title after they failed to defend their 2019/2020 triumph last season – a campaign largely marred due to consistent availability issues.

Liverpool fans will be hoping to avoid a similar scenario this time round, especially since key men Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are set to be missing in January due to their involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.

As such, Klopp must be eager for the majority of his squad to be fit and ready when called upon as the club now drop a teasing message involving young midfielder Jones.

The 20-year-old has been out of action for Liverpool since picking up an eye injury before the November international break but the club’s official Twitter account have now posted a teasing message containing an image of Jones back in training ahead of their clash with Newcastle on Thursday.

Fans buzzing…

As the Englishman edges closer and closer to a first team return with his step back on to the training pitch, it’s little wonder many Reds are buzzing as their club share a positive update.

Jones may be able to bolster Klopp’s options in midfield sooner rather than later and add a degree of real quality, as evident by the fact he has averaged a higher pass accuracy this season (94.1%) than any Liverpool player with more than one start in the Premier League (WhoScored).

Taking this into account amid a fierce title race, you can understand why plenty of supporters are overjoyed with his return to the grass.

Find all of their best reactions to Liverpool’s post down below:

“It’s time, the fun run is over.”

Credit: @HHSN_8

“Finally!”

Credit: @manuelkimu

“Yesssssss more depth in the midfield yummmmmm”

Credit: @GreenwaldJoe

“LET’S GOOOOO”

Credit: @MK98___

“The face I’ve wanted to see”

Credit: @Ericjr70961719

“Don’t joke with me is he back”

Credit: @gerald_ynwa

“Nice to see you back @curtisjr_10!! We’ve missed you”

Credit: @lfcleahx

“Greatest English midfielder of all time!!”

Credit: @Y1_fella

Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has been dealt a major injury blow this week…

What’s the latest?

According to Sky Sports, Spurs forward Heung-min Son is expected to miss the remainder of the month with a muscular injury sustained during their Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg defeat at Chelsea in midweek.

It means he will miss this afternoon’s encounter with League One minnows Morecambe in the FA Cup third round, the return leg against the Blues at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night and the north London derby against Arsenal in the Premier League next weekend.

Major blow

This will come as a gutting setback to the Italian head coach, especially as it will now make it harder to rest leading striker Harry Kane this weekend.

Conte only has one senior option up front, with Son being able to provide cover there if need be, so to have him unavailable against a side of the Shrimpers’ calibre is certainly disappointing and will serve as a big blow heading into some crucial fixtures – ones in which Kane may now not be rested for.

The competition also hands the 52-year-old with another opportunity to end the club’s barren spell without silverware, with their last triumph coming in the League Cup some 14 years ago.

Son has been a standout performer for the Lilywhites this season, having provided nine goals and five assists across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

The £72m-rated South Korean international also rates out as their best-performing player, registering an average WhoScored rating of 7.24, which is clear of the likes of Kane, Lucas Moura and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Not only does he lead the way for goals and assists but an average of 1.9 key passes (first in the squad) and 1.6 dribbles (second) per game reflects his importance to Conte and the team.

Back in October, former Newcastle United talisman Alan Shearer waxed lyrical about Son’s influence to Match of the Day 2.

“When he plays like that, there’s not many defenders that can live with him, he’s got everything you need. Pace, energy,” he said. “Drive to get in there, goals, assists. I’m such a huge fan of his, they couldn’t cope with him – he was the difference, you can’t stop him. Fantastic player.”

With important games ahead, Conte will surely be fuming with this devastating blow to Son, especially as it hands him a massive dilemma surrounding the selection of Kane today.

AND in other news, Paratici “opens talks” to sign £20m “monster” at Spurs, he’d be unstoppable under Conte…

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Marco Silva must make a drastic change to his starting XI for the trip to Huddersfield by dropping Lucas Digne and recalling Leighton Baines.

On the chalkboard

Digne has been one of Silva’s most consistent and impressive performers since moving to Merseyside in the summer, but the French ace’s severe struggles against Millwall should force the Portuguese manager into a drastic change.

His display at The New Den was a far cry from the standards we’ve come to expect from Digne. The Frenchman cost his side goals as he failed to deal with Lee Gregory’s aerial presence for Millwall’s equaliser, before needless fouls led to the hosts drawing level again in the second half and then Murray Wallace netting a late winner.

The former Barca defender was hardly that impressive in his last Premier League game, either, when Southampton beat Everton 2-1 thanks to the 25-year-old prodding the ball beyond a hapless Jordan Pickford.

Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin may be out for the season but it’s given him a chance to show off his new accessory. Check out the video below to see for yourself…

Digne needs to be dropped

It would have been harsh to drop Digne after his own goal, but playing a hand in all three of Millwall’s goals should be a big wake-up call for Silva. Huddersfield could look to exploit the 5 foot 10 defender’s rash decision making, as Jan Siewert aims to get off on the right foot as David Wagner’s successor.

While Baines is no spring chicken, he would likely have drawn on his years of experience to know there was no need to commit unnecessary fouls on Saturday, especially considering Millwall had already demonstrated their dominance over Everton at set pieces throughout the match.

With Everton suffering a drastic slump in form and this time of the season an endurance test for even the strongest squads in the Premier League, the Huddersfield clash on Tuesday is the ideal time to bring Baines back into the fold – providing both fresh legs and a calming influence.

Cameron Archer is ‘on England’s radar’ after impressing for Aston Villa, according to Matt Maher. 

The lowdown

Archer netted a hat-trick on his first start for Villa’s senior team against League Two Barrow in the Carabao Cup in August.

Villa faced a far sterner test against the reigning European champions Chelsea in the next round, but Archer was on target again.

The 19-year-old has been part of Villa’s last five matchday squads and was handed brief run-outs from the bench away to Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur (via Transfermarkt).

Archer has unsurprisingly earned some rave reviews, with Birmingham Live journalist Ashley Preece dubbing him ‘absolutely sensational’.

The latest

Maher, the chief sports writer at The Express & Star, wrote in a tweet that Archer is ‘being monitored’ by England youth team coaches after an ‘excellent’ start to campaign.

There’s also interest from ‘several Championship clubs’ in a potential January loan.

The verdict

Archer’s progress of late has been seriously impressive. You could now argue that he deserves to be the leading back-up to Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins, ahead of the soon-to-return Keinan Davis.

It’s absolutely no surprise that England are paying close attention, particularly when there may be a battle for his services.

Villa, for their part, will be under no illusions as to the importance of tying Archer down, with his contract up at the end of the season.

In other news, fans react to this pre-Wolves news. 

Celtic simply must seal the permanent signing of centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer, according to journalist Stephen McGowan.

The Lowdown: Carter-Vickers superb on Sunday

The Hoops picked up arguably their biggest win of the season so far on Sunday afternoon, clinching a 2-1 victory away to their bitter Glasgow arch-rivals.

It was Carter-Vickers who scored the winning goal at Ibrox and his all-round performance was sensational as he ensured that Celtic held on for victory during a tense second half.

As per Sofascore, the 24-year-old made a hugely impressive eight clearances during the game, also winning eight out of 10 duels and making three interceptions as he posted a man-of-the-match rating of 7.7.

The Latest: McGowan urges Celtic to stump up for Carter-Vickers

Taking to Twitter after the match, McGowan urged Celtic to make Carter-Vickers’ loan move permanent in the summer following the American’s tremendous display against Rangers.

The Scottish Daily Mail’s Chief Football Writer gushed: “Irrespective of whether Celtic get that Champions League money they should pay whatever it takes for Cameron Carter-Vickers.”

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The Verdict: No-brainer for Hoops

It makes complete sense for Ange Postecoglou to bring in Carter-Vickers permanently, with the 24-year-old’s performances for Celtic catching the eye throughout the season.

He has made 27 Premiership starts and won 4.3 aerial duels per game, and there are real signs that he is forging a dominant partnership with Carl Starfelt at the back. As per WhoScored, they both rank in the top five players this season currently in Postecoglou’s squad.

Also, at 24, he is at an ideal age in terms of his peak years most likely still being ahead of him.

The eight-cap USA international’s current deal at Tottenham expires in 2023 and they may be keen to receive a fee for him while they still can this summer. That could play into Celtic’s hands if there is both a willing seller and an enthusiastic buyer.

In other news, three Celtic players shone most in the win over Rangers. Find out who they are here.

Newcastle United are ‘seriously interested’ in a deal for Lille centre-back Sven Botman, according to Fabrizio Romano. 

The lowdown

The Magpies shipped another four goals in their defeat to Leicester City on Sunday, taking them to 34 conceded in 16 games – the worst record in the Premier League.

It’s therefore no surprise to see the relegation-threatened Tynesiders linked with possible defensive reinforcements ahead of January – Burnley’s James Tarkowski is also among the names mentioned.

Botman may not come cheap, especially given that he still has three-and-a-half years to run on his contract with the reigning French champions. The 21-year-old is valued at £25.2m by Transfermarkt.

The latest

Romano tweeted in the early hours of Monday morning: “Newcastle are seriously interested in signing Sven Botman in January. He’s top of the list – but still waiting to know Lille position/price tag. AC Milan are keeping tabs on Botman situation too”.

The journalist also noted that Sevilla, Atalanta and Wolverhampton Wanderers had all held ‘talks’ over a potential move for the Dutchman last summer.

The verdict

This would be some coup for Newcastle. Botman could be regarded as one of the next generation of elite centre-backs, hence the links with Liverpool and an array of top clubs.

As well as being solid defensively – the Dutchman has won 72% of his ground duels and 63% of his aerial battles this season – he can help Newcastle to build attacks from the back. He ranks in the 80th percentile among positional peers in the top five European leagues for progressive passes.

According to FBRef, he boasts a similar statistical profile to Manchester United’s four-time Champions League-winner Raphael Varane, while his ‘superb’ defending has also helped Lille progress to the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition.

If Newcastle’s PIF ownership can persuade him to swap the north of France for the northeast of England, it would represent a real coup given the defender’s evident ability and the intensity of competition for his signature.

In other news, Romano also reveals Newcastle talks over this Premier League midfielder

After maintaining their 100% record in the Champions League this season with the 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid in midweek, Liverpool are back in Premier League action on Sunday with a tough fixture against West Ham United, who are currently fourth in the table, just two points behind the Reds.

Thiago must start

Looking ahead to the match against David Moyes’ side, one Liverpool player who we think should be in the running for a place in the starting XI on Sunday is Thiago Alcantara.

After missing a significant number of games in recent weeks with a calf injury, the midfielder made his return to action in midweek after replacing Fabinho in the second half against Atletico.

During his time on the pitch in midweek, the 30-year-old – who has been described as “unbelievable” in terms of his technical abilities in the past by fellow Liverpool teammate Nat Phillips – had 57 touches of the ball. He also completed 46 of his 53 passes – with one key pass, one accurate cross and four accurate long balls – as well as completing one accurate dribble, showing how intricate a midfield asset he can be for the Reds and illustrating why Phillips praised his technical capabilities.

This could make him a key component of Liverpool’s team at the weekend considering that West Ham have conceded more goals (11) than any other team in the current top four and could be susceptible to Thiago’s creative talents, with the 30-year-old frightening them to some extent.

Furthermore, the Spaniard won two out of his three duels and made one interception on Wednesday night. With West Ham scoring 20 goals in 10 league games, this highlights how important it will be for Liverpool to keep possession and remain defensively tight throughout the game.

Overall, if Thiago is fit enough to start at the weekend, we think he would give Liverpool a great chance of beating the Hammers and keeping up with Chelsea at the top of the table.

Also, with Liverpool having Naby Keita and James Milner ruled out with hamstring injuries, it seems as though now would be the best time for Thiago to cement his place in the team for the foreseeable future.

In other news: Klopp could save LFC millions with “super talented” 19 y/o prodigy, he’s Robertson’s heir