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Arsenal have been dealt a blow in their hunt to sign James Rodriguez, after the on-loan Bayern Munich star hinted at a return to the Spanish capital when his deal with the German side ends as reported by The Mirror.

What’s the word, then?

The Independent had previously reported that the Gunners were hoping to sign the Colombian international on a loan deal in the January window, although a move failed to materialise.

Real Madrid were said to be hoping to offload the former Monaco man upon his return, potentially using him as a sweetener in a deal for Christian Eriksen, but Arsenal’s chances of landing him in the summer look to have been dented after Rodriguez’s latest comments.

The 27-year-old said: “In Madrid, I have everything such as my house and people who love me. We will have to see what happens, but at the moment I have a contract with Bayern Munich.

“I just want to finish the season and we’ll see what happens. I keep in touch with some Real Madrid players.”

Sounds like he’s pretty keen on returning, and staying, in Madrid.

Where would he fit in if he did arrive at the Emirates?

This season, Bayern’s number 11 has featured in five different positions across midfield, highlighting his versatility and effectiveness in each area.

Rodriguez has made 18 appearances across all competitions for Niko Kovac’s side, scoring three goals and recording two assists from positions such as the centre attacking midfield area, left attacking midfield, central midfield, right midfield and left midfield.

To compare with a player whose future in north London looks uncertain in Mesut Ozil, the German almost exclusively plays in the centre attacking midfield position, as well as occasional ventures out onto the right.

If Rodriguez did arrive at the Emirates, Arsenal would instantly be handed a boost in terms of their squad depth, as they would be getting a player with excellent versatility and one who can cover more positions than Ozil – Rodriguez also works a lot harder.

Of course, it must be said that the Colombian playmaker hasn’t shown the form that made Los Blancos shell out £63m for his signature after the 2014 World Cup, but there is definitely a player of real pedigree in there somewhere.

Liverpool forward Divock Origi is on the verge of joining AC Milan this summer, with a move now reportedly ‘very close’ to being completed.

The Lowdown: Origi’s departure expected

The Belgian has had to accept being nothing more than a bit-part player for the Reds this season, not starting a single Premier League game to date in 2021/22.

The arrival of Luis Diaz in January has only pushed Origi further down the attacking pecking order at Anfield, leading to strong speculation over his future. Milan looks set to be his next destination, with constant reports suggesting as much.

The Latest: Milan move ‘very close’

According to journalist Nicolo Ceccarini [via Sport Witness], Origi is now ‘very close’ to joining the Rossoneri, with ‘great confidence’ that the move will go through.

The 26-year-old’s current Liverpool deal expires at the end of this season, allowing him to move to Milan on a free transfer.

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The Verdict: Goodbye to a Liverpool hero

Milan would be a perfect move for Origi, affording him more regular playing time at a top club, with the slight drop-off in standard from the Premier League also working in his favour.

The Belgium international will leave Liverpool as an undisputed cult hero, considering the magnitude of the goals he scored against the likes of Barcelona, Tottenham and Everton, to name just a few.

Despite his iconic status, though, it makes sense for both Liverpool and Origi for him to leave in the summer, bringing an end to one of the more eventful Reds careers, with Jermaine Jenas hailing the 26-year-old as ‘very unique’ after a trademark late winner against Wolves earlier in the season.

In other news, Liverpool are reportedly keen on a move for a Premier League player. Find out who it is here.

An exciting claim has been made regarding Rangers and the chances of Giovanni van Bronckhorst landing one of the Ibrox club’s top targets…

What’s the talk?

Get French Football News journalist Adam White has claimed that PSG youngster Xavi Simons could be interested in a move to Ibrox, having been linked with a switch to the Scottish giants in recent months.

The reporter told GIVEMESPORT when asked about a potential deal:

“Would he go to Rangers? In theory, I think that I could see that happening and I could see him wanting to go.

“But I think it’s one of those things that’s perhaps still in the very early stages if it is happening at all.”

Buzzing

Van Bronckhorst will surely be buzzing with this news for several reasons. Firstly, it suggests that there is the potential for this deal to be done from the player’s perspective, which indicates that he would be interested in working for the Dutchman at Ibrox.

He will also be excited by this claim as Simons could be an excellent addition to the Rangers squad if they are able to snap him up this month. The 18-year-old has broken through into the first-team set-up at PSG with four senior outings this term – two coming in the league.

The boss of the Ligue 1 giants, Mauricio Pochettino, hailed the youngster’s versatility earlier this month, saying:

“Xavi Simons? There is a big difference between the reserve and the first team. Xavi can play in different positions; as a torchbearer, he can also play on the side. Maturity comes with time; you have to take into account the leadership of the team and complementarities.”

If he is deemed good enough to compete in the forward areas with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Angel Di Maria, then he could have what it takes to be a key player for the Gers. The aforementioned PSG stars are all regulars in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, with Messi recently being named in the FIFPro World XI.

This shows the level of quality he is playing alongside and why he could be an immediate asset to Rangers as he is already mixing it with them at the age of 18. His record of five goals and six assists in 12 games for PSG’s U19 team also highlights the talent he has and suggests that he could add an extra attacking edge to van Bronckhorst’s side.

The ex-Feyenoord boss could also be buzzing with this prospective deal as Simons is someone he’d be able to coach over a number of years. He could oversee the player’s development and help him to fulfil his potential, which would be thoroughly enjoyable for the head coach if he is successful.

AND in other news, Forget Kent: Rangers dud who lost 11 duels let GVB down badly, he’s “not happy”…

An update has emerged on Rangers and their pursuit of a striker from the English Championship…

What’s the talk?

According to TEAMtalk, the Gers are among a number of clubs keen on a deal to sign QPR centre-forward Lyndon Dykes this month.

The report claims that Norwich, Newcastle and Crystal Palace are among the other clubs interested in signing the attacker, although it remains to be seen how much the west London outfit will demand for his services.

Get it done

Giovanni van Bronckhorst must ensure that he is able to get a deal over the line for Dykes, as he could be a “brilliant find” for Rangers, to use the words of Alex McLeish.

The £8k-per-week bulldozer could provide a different option for the Gers boss at the top end of the pitch, as he is not built in the same way as Kemar Roofe and Alfredo Morelos. Whilst the current Ibrox duo are technically adept and like to make runs, Dykes is a forward who can be the focal point of the attack and hold up the ball for his teammates.

In the Championship this season, he has won an impressive 4.3 aerial battles per game, after averaging 4.8 last season. This shows that he can hold his own in the air and is capable of winning flick-ons by beating opposition defenders to long balls, whilst it also suggests that he could aid Rangers in their defending from set pieces as he could use his talents to defend his team’s penalty box.

Darren Jackson hailed him as “mobile” despite his big frame after he scored a winner against the Faroe Islands for Scotland three months ago. This suggests that the 26-year-old could also offer running off and on the ball to go along with the physical presence that he provides.

In terms of goals, Dykes has also shown that he knows how to find the net regularly. He has scored 18 Championship goals for QPR since the start of last season and has netted four times in six starts for Scotland in World Cup qualifiers.

Therefore, he could be a brilliant find for Rangers, as he is a striker who can score goals, bully defenders with his physique and work hard at the top end of the pitch with his mobile running. This is why Van Bronckhorst must work with Ross Wilson to secure his services before the end of the month.

AND in other news, Time’s up: Van Bronckhorst must ruthlessly axe £900k-rated Rangers dud, he’s a “weak link”…

Wolves midfielder Bruno Jordao is expected to seal a loan move to Grasshopper Club Zurich on deadline day, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Jordao struggling at Wolves

The 23-year-old joined Wanderers from Braga B back in 2019 but he is yet to make any kind of impression at the club.

Jordao has only made five appearances for Wolves to date, having been loaned out to Famalicao in 2020/21, and he played his first Wanderers game of this season in the FA Cup third round clash with Sheffield United earlier this month.

It now looks as though another loan move is on the cards for Jordao, with the deadline day clock ticking down.

The Latest: Loan move expected

According to The Daily Mail, the 5 foot 11 midfielder will join Grasshoppers on a temporary basis prior to the deadline on Monday.

Jordao’s current Wolves deal expires in the summer of 2024, but with each passing month, the more you wonder if he will see out his time at the club.

The Verdict: Possible summer exit?

The signing of Jordao has unquestionably been a failure, with the Portuguese ace never managing to settle and being badly hampered by injury problems, in fairness.

At 23, he can no longer be seen as a young prospect though and he needs to be playing regular football at a key point in his career, making his Grasshoppers move feel logical.

It could be that Lage has seen enough regarding Jordao, potentially selling him for good in the summer transfer window and hoping this temporary stint will do enough to put him in the shop window.

In other news, another late Wolves transfer claim has emerged. Read more here.

Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa, met on Monday and decided against a circuit breaker over the festive period.

Villa shared the Premier League’s statement on their official Twitter channel, with a number of supporters reacting to the update.

Villa have been hit with a rapid rise of virus cases and had to cancel their match against Burnley on Saturday. The club had requested for the game to be called off at 10:30am on Saturday morning, but the fixture wasn’t officially postponed until 12:40pm, with little more than two hours to the scheduled kick-off time.

It was the sixth and final top-flight match to be postponed over the weekend (and the 10th in the space of a week) due to the pandemic, but the Premier League confirmed that it is ‘collective intention to continue the current fixture schedule where safely possible’.

That means Villa’s Boxing Day meeting with Chelsea is still on at this moment in time despite the outbreak at Bodymoor Heath.

Villa fans react

Here is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with many not happy regarding the statement, which one supporter described as a “joke” in the increasingly worrying circumstances.

“Looks like I’ll be ready to go and then end up in the pub again lol, feel sorry for people that travel a far distance for them to call it off last minute, the Premier league are a joke”

Credit: @SamBrogan3

“’The health and wellbeing of all concerned remains our priority…’ Complete lies”

Credit: @Sayers8

“Gonna spread like wildfire. But money must come first”

Credit: @ajsfounded71

“So half a squad for Boxing Day’s game… Isolation is 10 days”

Credit: @VillaCannock

“If that’s case we probs have to field half the team with youth players, guarantee if it was other way around with Chelsea the game would’ve already been postponed”

Credit: @Hellyer7

“Looking after the so called big six again!”

Credit: @austinw1957

In other news: ‘On my knees’ – Many Aston Villa fans erupt as Lange makes ‘bold’ January transfer bid

Coming off the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Norwich City last weekend, Southampton have a big task of taking on Liverpool at Anfield this weekend for their latest Premier League fixture.

On the chalkboard

In terms of which players Ralph Hasenhuttl could select for his starting XI to take on the Reds, one player who featured in the defeat at Carrow Road but should not be in the team on this occasion is Kyle Walker-Peters.

With 90 minutes under his belt against Norwich in the left-back position, the 24-year-old failed to make the most out of this latest opportunity to impress Hasenhuttl and show that he is capable of playing there regularly, with Valentino Livramento having snatched the right-back role off him this season.

In the defeat to the Canaries, Walker-Peters lost possession 17 times, won just 50% of his duels and committed four fouls, one of which led to him being given a yellow card. He ultimately earned a rather underwhelming overall match rating of 6.7/10 from SofaScore, making him one of Southampton’s lowest-rated starting outfield players on the day.

With this in mind, and the daunting prospect of facing Mohamed Salah, who has 17 goals in as many games under his belt so far this season, perhaps it would be best if the Austrian took Walker-Peters out of the team on this occasion, or else Liverpool’s attacking players could tear him apart.

In terms of who Hasenhuttl could pick at left-back instead of Walker-Peters, who has been described as “honest” by fellow Saints star Theo Walcott, this could be a good opportunity for Romain Perraud to come back into the team after spending the three previous league games on the substitutes’ bench.

Given how Perraud is a natural left-back, he could be more suited to taking on Salah this weekend than Walker-Peters, especially since the Frenchman has a higher tackles per game (1.8) and clearances per game average (1.5) than the 24-year-old, who is currently valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt.

Whoever Hasenhuttl decides to play at left-back against Liverpool, they will need to be at the top of their game to keep Salah quiet given his blistering form this season.

In other news: Ralph can unearth Southampton’s new Van Dijk in £9m-rated tank, he’s a “big talent”

Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba could return to the first-team squad for the first time in nearly four months today as the Villans host Tottenham Hotspur.

What’s the story

According to Villa manager Steven Gerrard, the Zimbabwe international is nearing a return to action.

Ahead of the meeting with Spurs, the 41-year-old said of Nakamba: “He has played for the under-23s. So you couldn’t rule out the possibility of him making the matchday squad soon. If not for the Tottenham game, then he’s certainly going to be available for that Leicester fixture.

“But he has an outside chance of being involved in the matchday squad this weekend, although it wouldn’t be a start.

“It might be a bit too soon for him now because he hasn’t had any serious game time. Hopefully, he comes through that, recovers well and then he can be back with the group. He’s been back training fully for ten, 12 days, and he’s smiling, getting closer and closer.”

The Zambian has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury away to Liverpool in December but he featured for Villa’s under-23s last Friday, the 28-year-old’s first match since that pre-Christmas setback.

Gerrard will be buzzing

Although inconsistent form has ultimately denied the West Midlands side any late shot at qualifying for Europe, a top-half finish is still very achievable for the Villans.

With eight matches to go, it is vital that Gerrard’s men finish the season as strongly as possible, with the manager certain to be making judgements over the coming weeks as to which players will have a future at Villa Park .

Therefore, Nakamba’s imminent return comes as excellent timing, both for him and for the team as a whole.

The regular midfield trio of Douglas Luiz, John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey have impressed during the 28-year-old’s absence, although having another option in the middle of the park will undoubtedly improve the Villa squad and give the manager some pleasant food for thought.

Indeed, Gerrard will be buzzing to have Nakamba back available, as the player had proven his worth for Villa earlier in the campaign. His match average of two tackles is the fourth-highest in the squad, while his 86.6% passing accuracy makes him the joint-leader in this regard of any current Villa player to have started a Premier League match this term, as per WhoScored.

Having as many players available as possible will be a high priority for Gerrard as his side look to finish the season strongly ahead of what could be a busy summer in the West Midlands.

In other news: Sources claim Aston Villa’s “crazy” £22.5m-rated talent could now leave, fans will surely be fuming

This week, Everton signed Anwar El Ghazi from Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season, with Toffees manager Rafael Benitez surely delighted that he has signed up another attacking threat for his side to create more chances after a poor first half of the season.

Fabrizio Romano has now added a further detail on the move which will be of interest to Everton fans.

What’s the word?

The journalist has taken to Twitter to add details of a €10 (£8.35m) purchase option on the loan signing of El Ghazi.

The transfer insider tweeted: “Official and confirmed. Anwar El Ghazi joins Everton on loan from Aston Villa, deal sealed and now announced. #EFC

“Buy option will be regularly included as reported yesterday – not mandatory, around €10m.”

The Netherlands international joined the squad at Goodison Park from Aston Villa on Thursday, the same day that Lucas Digne left the Merseyside club to join Steven Gerrard’s side in a £25m move.

Benitez will be delighted

Benitez’s first season at the Everton helm has been a tough one thus far, and the Spaniard is hoping to improve matters by making signings in January to cover key positions and adding new players to resolve clear issues in the side. One of those is scoring and creating goals, with only five wins in the league and 1.28 goals scored per game compared to the 1.78 per game they are conceding.

El Ghazi joins a number of attacking players in the squad, such as the likes of Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend, with the first two missing large chunks of the season through injury. That has duly hindered the goal threat that Everton has posed so far this season, with the duo netting 34 times between them last term.

The 26-year-old Dutch winger has not had too many opportunities this season to make an impact at Villa Park, with just 12 appearances in all competitions. However, during his time at the club over the last three-and-a-half years, El Ghazi has either scored or set up a goal every 180 minutes (once every two games, effectively), with 26 goals and 16 assists in just 119 appearances for the club, proving that he can be a consistent threat in front of goal.

Benitez will be delighted to add a player with such consistency, something the Toffees have been completely lacking all season, winning just one of their last 12 games in the Premier League. For the bargain price of £8.35m, El Ghazi fits the club’s tight budget, and the loan move gives the Goodison Park hierarchy the chance to weigh up whether or not he would be worth the financial commitment of a permanent deal.

In other news: Benitez must make a move for this defender

Celtic transfer target Reo Hatate wants to make the move to Parkhead and will meet with Kawasaki Frontale chiefs this week to discuss his future, Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph reports.

The Lowdown: Hatate rumours

Links to Hatate emerged at the beginning of November, with the Hoops reportedly viewing the 24-year-old as a midfielder.

His contract with Kawasaki Frontale expires at the end of January, with talk recently suggesting that he could be a Hoops player before the club’s 2022 winter break training camp.

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Hatate, who can also play as a left-back, has scored 12 goals during his career and recently helped his team to a second consecutive J1 League title, but it now seems as if he wants to join Kyogo Furuhashi in Scotland and will talk to Kawasaki Frontale over the coming days.

The Latest: Joseph’s tweet

Sky Sports reporter Joseph took to Twitter on Tuesday to provide numerous Celtic-related updates.

One of those was on Hatate, to which he said: “Kawasaki Frontale left-back Reo Hatate is due to meet club chiefs this week to express his desire to join Celtic next month. He is out of contract in February but is hoping to engineer a move to Scotland in January, which would require a fee to be agreed by both clubs.”

The Verdict: First through the door?

Celtic have also been linked with moves for Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi, but it appears as if Hatate could be the first through the door in the New Year judging by this latest update.

For a winter window move to be possible, though, the Hoops will need to get the chequebook out and pay a fee, but you’d expect that it could be a minimal one due to his contract situation and the player wanting to leave his current employers.

Hopefully, interim CEO Michael Nicholson can strike a deal with the J1 League club, as Hatate could prove to be a shrewd addition in multiple areas under Ange Postecoglou, with Japan Times journalist Dan Orlowitz saying that a deal for under £2.5m-£3m would be ‘highway robbery’.

In other news: ‘Outstanding’ star may miss four games as Celtic issues worsen ahead of Betis clash