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Flocking to Twitter, many Sunderland fans were left unimpressed by another lacklustre display from midfielder Lynden Gooch despite their victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday.

The Black Cats ran out 2-0 victors as they finally returned to winning ways, coming off their barren run of six consecutive matches without a victory in normal time (BBC).

Sunderland’s win keeps them well in contention for automatic promotion as they fight among one of the closest races England’s third tier has seen in recent years.

Only five points separate sixth place from the summit of League One and Lee Johnson’s side are right in the mix, helped in no small part by their victory over The Tractor Boys.

However, it was anything but routine as Sunderland left it late and secured the win in dramatic fashion with two goals in the last five minutes. Indeed, Luke O’Nien opened the scoring in the 85th minute before Aiden McGeady sealed all three points with an injury time penalty.

Sunderland fans slam Gooch

Despite this precious win, one man who failed to impress was Gooch, as numerous fans were quick to point out on social media.

This isn’t the first time he has been criticised by many Black Cats supporters this season, either, with the 25-year-old’s recent performance against Bradford also coming under fire.

It’s little wonder they felt the same way against Ipswich judging by Gooch’s SofaScore numbers, with the American ranking as Sunderland’s lowest-rated player on the day with 6.1. He also picked up another booking, his sixth of the season, whilst succeeding with none of his crosses, completing zero dribbles and winning just 33% of his duels (SofaScore).

Taking these numbers into account, you can understand why supporters felt his performance was “shocking” – check out some of their verdicts from Twitter below.

“Madness how Gooch still has the audacity to put a Sunderland kit on”

Credit: @drew1aws

“Evans, Embelton & Gooch off please, Mr Johnson.”

Credit: @JakeStappard_

“Gooch and O’Nien need hooking and never allowed to play for this club again…”

Credit: @safcftm2015

“Sub off Gooch, never play him again, recall Diamond & Hawkes.”

Credit: @Camer0nJohnson

“I thought Embleton second half especially was awful and could’ve been off 10 minutes earlier. Was typical Gooch too I thought, loads of effort and the ball but so wasteful and frustrating”

Credit: @JHerra18

“Not the best performance but the fight was there. Don’t think either team done enough to win the game so that’s a positive. Hopefully the end of Gooch, shocking footballer”

Credit: @1996SAR_

“Still don’t know how Gooch is a professional footballer”

Credit: @DomZvirblys

Celtic have been linked with a January swoop for Motherwell defender Bevis Mugabi, according to The Scotsman’s Andrew Smith.

The Lowdown: Mugabi profiled

The Uganda defender, who once claimed he had Liverpool winger Sadio Mane in his ‘pocket’ during an international clash, has been at Fir Park since 2019. The 26-year-old has made 57 appearances for the club, 19 of which have come during the current campaign.

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A 12-cap Uganda international, the 6 foot 1 beast is primarily a centre-back who can also play as a right-back and was previously on the books at Southampton.

The Latest: Parkhead links

Smith shared a story for The Scotsman on Saturday morning, assessing what the Hoops may now do in the January window following their triple Japanese swoop.

He claimed that Ange Postecoglou could look to add to his defensive options, with interest in Mugabi emerging.

The Verdict: Is he needed?

With Christopher Jullien set to make a long-awaited return following the international break, a move for Mugabi doesn’t seem to be pivotal at this moment in time.

When the Frenchman returns, Postecoglou will have six centre-backs to call upon, all of whom could be permanent players should Cameron Carter-Vickers’ loan spell turn into a full-time switch over the coming weeks.

That should be plenty for Postecoglou, so perhaps he and new CEO Michael Nicholson should look elsewhere when it comes to any further winter additions.

In other news: Dressing room source shares big update on Postecoglou’s plan for Celtic ace with ‘tremendous composure’

Rangers have had a pretty eventful season this time around after cruising to the SPFL title in their previous campaign.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side currently find themselves in the semi-finals of the Europa League and set to take on Hearts in the Scottish Cup final.

One player that has been a particularly important player for the Gers this season is midfielder Joe Aribo.

With 31 league appearances to his name in this campaign, only Connor Goldson and James Tavernier have played more minutes than Aribo.

Across all competitions, the 25-year-old has now made 50 appearances for his side.

In those appearances, the midfielder has shown with his eight goals and ten assists just how important he is for the team.

Regarding Aribo’s future at Ibrox, not only has he been linked with a range of Premier League clubs during the previous January transfer window, but he will also be entering the final year of his contract in the summer.

With that in mind, it could be worth Van Bronckhorst having a player in mind that could be a potential replacement for the Nigerian should he end up leaving Ibrox in the near future.

One figure already at Rangers that could fit that particular bill is 18-year-old Alex Lowry.

As a product of the club’s youth system, the midfielder has made 13 appearances across their senior and reserve sides.

Having found the back of the net three times and delivered two assists, the teenager has shown what an attacking and creative danger he can be, just like Aribo.

Described as a player that is “unlike anyone else at Rangers” by his former academy coach Graeme Murty, Lowry has also scored two goals in five games for the Scotland U19 side.

Murty also praised the starlet’s “technical ability, the range of passing that he sees and executes” and his “individual ability to go past people.”

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that the Gers have a very exciting young prospect in their ranks that could well go on to become a big player for them in the first team.

Moving forward, while Van Bronckhorst would presumably prefer to keep hold of Aribo for as long as possible, it should be a relief for him and the Rangers fans to know they have a player like Lowry that can be relied upon to make the step up if needed.

In other news: Wilson could land a new £13m talent as Rangers plot bid for £180k-rated sensation

Leeds United could soon have another teenage goal machine on their hands…

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Star, the Yorkshire side are among a number of Premier League teams taking a keen interest in Rangers prodigy Rory Wilson, who is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Europe.

Both Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Newcastle United are also thought to be monitoring his progress with scouts from City and United watching him in action for Scotland U17s this week, where he bagged two goals against the Czech Republic.

He has featured for the Gers’ youth team in both the Lowland League and in the UEFA Youth League.

Any club that signs him will have to pay compensation, likely to be in the region of £300k, as per the report.

Forget Gelhardt

The Whites have a track record in signing young, promising starlets, especially those of an attacking persuasion and Wilson could be the next to follow in the footsteps of Sam Greenwood and Joe Gelhardt.

Much like the latter, there seems to be plenty of hype surrounding the Rangers gem, who has bagged an astounding 40 goals for the Scottish club this campaign.

Scotland has recently become a hotbed for young talent for some of Europe’s biggest clubs – Celtic youngster Ben Doak is the latest name to head south after clinching a move to Liverpool, whilst the likes of Calvin Ramsey and Kerr Smith have attracted interest in recent windows.

What bolsters Leeds’ chances of adding this goalscoring talent to their youth squad is the fact that Wilson has reportedly rejected Rangers’ offers of his first professional contract – in a bid to follow Billy Gilmour into the Premier League.

You’d imagine that his arrival would put competition at Gelhardt’s door, especially as he has struggled to start matches despite the injuries to Patrick Bamford.

Even though he’s bagged two goals from the bench in 13 appearances this season, the former Wigan prospect has been restricted to two starts, neither of which have come under new manager Jesse Marsch, who didn’t even introduce him during their 3-2 win over Wolves before the international break.

Wilson is clearly a very talented youngster with bags of potential and the Yorkshire giants must ensure they win the race to sign him, rather than letting one of their rivals get a boost towards their future.

For six figures, it’s a low-risk bargain with the potential of high rewards.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano reveals fresh Raphinha development…

A promising update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Lille centre-back Sven Botman in the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Whilst linking to an article from his colleague Simon Jones, Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has provided an update on the situation, tweeting: “Newcastle remain in contact with Lille over defender Sven Botman.”

This comes after The Athletic reported earlier this week that the deal is all but dead and the defender is poised to remain in France until the end of the season.

Excitement for Eddie Howe

This news will surely leave Eddie Howe feeling excited, as it leaves the door open for Newcastle to sign Botman before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month. It shows that the Magpies have not given up on a move for the 22-year-old just yet and are continuing to attempt to change Lille’s stance in order to bring in the centre-back.

Howe will be delighted with this, as the Dutchman could be an excellent addition to his squad in an area where the Magpies are in desperate need of strengthening. Only Norwich (44), who have played an extra game, have conceded more goals than Newcastle (42) in the Premier League this season, so they could need to resolve their defensive issues before they start to think about avoiding relegation.

Federico Fernandez’s SofaScore rating of 6.77 leads the Newcastle squad in terms of centre-backs this season, whereas Botman has averaged a score of 7.02 for Lille in Ligue 1. The former Ajax man also helped his side to win the league title whilst keeping 20 clean sheets in the French top division last term, showing that he can be a part of a successful defence.

This shows that the youngster could come in and improve the team in the short-term by putting in consistently high-quality performances, if he is able to translate his form from France over to England. He could also have a significant impact in the long-term, as he has plenty of potential left in him at the age of just 22.

Howe could get excited about this possible deal as he could have the opportunity to work with Botman on the training pitch in order to help him develop his game. The former Bournemouth boss could enjoy watching the Dutchman improve as a player over time, whilst also enjoying his displays on the pitch in the shorter-term.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops exciting Newcastle United transfer update, fans will be buzzing…

An update has emerged on Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, regarding Newcastle’s interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, the Magpies are lining up a January swoop to sign the midfielder as they look to strengthen their options in the middle of the park.

The report claims that he could cost a fee in the region of £15m, with Newcastle believing that he can add energy to their team.

Fans would love him

PIF must ensure that they are able to secure a deal for Nakamba in the January transfer window. They must splash out the £15m required to sign him in order to strengthen the squad, with the defensive midfielder a potentially excellent addition to the side.

Nakamba is a hard-working player who the Newcastle fans would love to watch in action in their midfield. He puts himself about and chips in with important defensive interventions, averaging an impressive 4.5 tackles and interceptions combined per match throughout his career.

Along with his fine defensive statistics, he has also completed 90% of his passes in the Premier League this season after averaging a success rate of 84.2% across his first two campaigns in the division. This shows that he is able to retain the ball after winning it back off the opposition.

Dean Smith’s comments on Nakamba upon his arrival at Villa Park highlight this. The manager hailed him being impressive with the ball at his feet, saying:

“Marvelous fits the criteria of the type of player we were looking for.

“He’s very mobile, he’s very good in possession and he will fit in with our style of play.”

Therefore, supporters would love the £34k-per-week beast as he has shown that he can play to a decent level in the top-flight and be a reliable operator. At £15m, he could be a bargain addition to the team and add some steel to the midfield, improving Newcastle’s defence whilst still having a player in the engine room who is capable of passing the ball efficiently.

This is why PIF must secure a swoop for the midfielder in January. The fans could be buzzing with this shrewd piece of business, with this deal potentially getting the ball rolling as the new owners attempt to bolster the entire squad in the next window.

AND in other news,  PIF must avoid first NUFC blunder over £20m “mentality monster”, fans would be fuming…

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West Ham United midfielder Edimilson Fernandes is currently on loan at Fiorentina, having seemed surplus to requirements by Manuel Pellegrini ahead of this season.

The 22-year-old has made 48 appearances for West Ham, whilst he has been a regular for Fiorentina this term, scoring twice in 21 Serie A games.

Fernandes was on the scoresheet in Fiorentina’s 4-1 win over SPAL on Sunday night, which led to a number of West Ham fans discussing the midfielder.

One particular Twitter account claimed that the Hammers should recall Fernandes, which led to an interesting debate.

It would be fair to say that the majority were struggling to agree, however, when it comes to the Switzerland international.

Pl>ymaker FC’s Matchday with Max caught up with Jamaica’s women’s team. See what happened when he met the history makers in the video below…

Indeed, there were those calling for the midfielder to return, but others feel that he has already proved that he is not good enough to turn out for the Hammers on a regular basis.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the West Ham supporters can be seen below:

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst is just weeks away from his first transfer window in charge of the Ibrox giants.

He may want to dip into the market to bring in one or two players of his own to bolster his squad and ensure that they are fully prepared to see out the second half of the season and clinch as many trophies as possible.

One player who has recently been linked with a move to Glasgow is Heerenveen gem Joey Veerman, who is reportedly of interest to the Gers heading into next month.

Brutally axe

He only joined the club in the summer from Sheffield United, but midfielder John Lundstram could find himself on the chopping block if a deal for Veerman is completed.

Van Bronckhorst already has a plethora of options in the middle of the park and the addition of another one in January could result in someone losing their place in the squad. That does not mean that they will need to be sold or that their future at Ibrox is completely over, but simple maths dictates that Veerman taking up a position in the XI or bench will force a player to watch on from the stands.

Lundstram has not had the best of times since moving from Brammall Lane earlier this year and his form this season has not been good enough to warrant a regular spot in the starting team.

Earlier this season, Kris Boyd blasted him after an error against Dundee United in a Premiership match, telling Sky Sports:

“John Lundstram switches off for the goal and I know it’s early days, but he’s got a lot to improve on.

“We’ve seen big names come here and struggle in the past and he’s going to have to up his game.”

The dud has only started seven games in the league and has averaged an unimpressive 1.6 tackles and interceptions per game, winning only 2.3 duels per match. This shows that he is not a guaranteed starter getting minutes week-in-week-out, potentially putting his place under threat.

Therefore, signing the £6.3m-rated Dutchman, Veerman, could lead to van Bronckhorst brutally axing Lundstram from his matchday squads unless he is able to show, consistently, that he is good enough to make a big impact for the side.

The likes of Juninho Bacuna, Steven Davis, Joe Aribo, Glen Kamara and Scott Arfield are also vying for the starting XI and competition could be fierce if another body is added to the mix.

AND in other news, Gvb could solve big Rangers issue at Ibrox by unleashing “clinical” 21-goal teen…

Newcastle United are still in with a chance of landing Diego Carlos in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Kaveh Solhekol, with the Sky Sports journalist revealing on a recent episode of The Transfer Show that, despite Monchi recently suggesting that the Magpies’ move for the centre-back was all but over, there is actually the slim possibility of PIF managing to strike a deal for the 28-year-old this month.

Speaking about Newcastle’s interest in Diego Carlos, Solhekol said: “Sevilla [are] playing hardball. They don’t want to sell him to Newcastle for less than €45m, we’ve been told. It looked like that deal was not going to happen.

“The Sevilla sporting director, Monchi, came out yesterday and said: ‘It’s not happening. We saw their offer, it’s not enough. The player is going to stay with us. There isn’t enough time for us to sign a replacement.’

“But, I was told earlier this morning that there is still a small, small chance that this could happen. Somebody involved in the deal said: “Don’t say it’s impossible, don’t say it’s finished. The window is still open, so there is a possibility.’

“I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up because I still think it’s unlikely that it will happen, but, behind the scenes, people are still working to try and make it happen.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how talented a defender Diego Carlos quite clearly is, should Solhekol’s latest update regarding Newcastle’s interest in the Brazil international prove to be correct, the St. James’ Park faithful will be buzzing.

Indeed, over his 21 LaLiga appearances so far this season, the £40.5m-rated centre-back has been in remarkable form for Sevilla, helping his side keep 10 clean sheets and scoring two goals, in addition to making an average of 0.8 interceptions, one tackle, 3.6 clearances, 60.3 passes and winning 63% of his duels per game.

These returns have seen the £40k-per-week defender average a SofaScore match rating of 7.13, ranking him as Julen Lopetegui’s third-best performer in the top flight of Spanish football – a highly impressive feat considering the 28-year-old is part of a side currently sitting just four points off first place in the league table.

As such, it is clear for all to see that, should a deal remain on the table for Carlos prior to the closure of the transfer window on Monday evening, PIF must do all they can to bring the centre-back into the club – as his signing would undoubtedly provide the Magpies’ survival chances this season with a substantial boost.

In other news: Luke Edwards drops major update on late Newcastle transfers, PIF finally mean business

As per an update from The Express & Star, West Ham United are still among the pack believed to be ‘interested in signing’ colossal West Bromwich Albion keeper Sam Johnstone.

The Lowdown: West Ham eye move…

Over the summer, reliable sources claimed that the Hammers made an attempt to sign the England international for manager David Moyes – with Football Insider even saying that Johnstone himself was ‘very keen’ to join.

According to The Athletic, West Ham lodged a bid for the 28-year-old but it fell ‘considerably low’ of the Baggies’ valuation of  a fee ‘well in excess’ of £10 million.

Their interest has remained since then even despite the signing Paris-Saint Germain keeper Alphonse Areola on a season-long loan with the option to buy.

Recent reports from journalist Ekrem Konur and The Sun state that West Ham, and by extension new head of recruitment Rob Newman, are very much keeping tabs on Johnstone with the latter source even claiming they already have an offer ‘pencilled in’ if he decides to leave on a free next summer.

The Latest: West Ham still interested…

Amid West Brom boss Valerian Ismael’s contract update, with Johnstone’s deal set to expire in 2022, reliable Express & Star reporter Joseph Masi backs that the Irons and Southampton are ‘believed to be interested’ in signing the keeper next summer.

The Baggies manager, meanwhile, wants to keep one of his prized assets and confirms that talks over a new deal will intensify in January.

“There’s nothing new. It’s a patient game now, like a chess game. He wants to see,” Ismael admitted.

“For sure, we want to extend. At the minute, I’m not worried, it’s a normal process.

“From January we will start to go more intensively in the discussion but at the moment we’re all focused on the pitch, on the performances.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Depending on the future of current West Ham number one Lukasz Fabianski amid his ‘preliminary talks’ over a possible extension, signing Johnstone as his heir would be a wise bit of business from the club.

The Englishman enjoyed a fine Premier League season last year and attracted Gareth Southgate’s attention at international level, reinforcing the fact he is proven at the top level and may well be a bargain on a free deal next summer.

Lauded as an ‘unreal’ player by pundit and former top flight shot-stopper Paddy Kenny, it remains to be seen whether West Ham do win the race or if Johnstone puts pen to paper on a Hawthorns extension, but he certainly seems like the best option to target between the sticks.

In other news: ‘Huge’, ‘Don’t gas me’, ‘Announce league title’…ExWHUemployee’s ‘exciting’ striker claim has many West Ham fans buzzing, find out more here.