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Unai Emery can solve a major issue in his Arsenal side if he persuades Sven Mislintat to focus his attention on signing Nathan Redmond.

What’s the word?

Emery has regularly turned to the services of Alex Iwobi to challenge the opposition’s right-back, when the Nigerian international is not fielded on the opposing flank or behind the striker.

However, despite an early season resurgence making the 22-year-old a pivotal member of the squad, the academy graduate’s performances have perhaps not been up to scratch since, leading to fewer minutes on the field and a starting role in the Spaniard’s much-changed side that faced Blackpool in the FA Cup.

A goal on the day and a hand in Joe Willock’s second came coupled with two successful dribbles was good, but the 25-cap international still largely failed to stamp his mark on the game against League One opposition.

Elsewhere in the FA Cup, Southampton took on Derby, and while the south coast side may have drawn with their Championship opposition, Redmond cut a level above the rest of the Saints starting XI with two goals, and acted as a driving force for his side.

The 24-year-old, contrastingly to Iwobi, started the season poorly under Mark Hughes, but with a more attacking-focused boss in Ralph Hasenhuttl is returning to his best football, resulting in four goals and two assists in his last six games.

Pl>ymaker FC believes Arsenal fans won’t have to wait long to see Unai Emery’s long-term ambitions for the club come to fruition. Watch the video below to find out why…

Would he actually be an improvement?

The lack of competition for the left-wing spot since Alexis Sanchez left for Manchester United a year ago has clearly had an impact on Iwobi’s performances, as there is no one from within the club snapping for his spot in the starting line-up.

Instead, when Emery has required an alternative – outside changing formation to a three-man defence with Sead Kolasinac at wing-back – the former Paris Saint-Germain head coach has been forced to play Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang outside his most productive position – the Gabonese sensation has been involved in ten goals in 13 as a striker, to three on the left.

Now, while Redmond may not be an elite-level winger like those previously linked with the club, he would at least offer competition for the role until the summer when Champions League level players are generally more accessible as clubs have longer to seek replacements.

Let us know in the poll below if you’d take Redmond at Arsenal…

Rangers’ decision to sign prolific goalscorer Jermaine Defoe has commanded plenty of interest throughout the media, but Celtic could yet trump that particular coup by signing Yaya Toure on a free transfer this month. 

The term legend is one which is passed around all too frequently, but in Yaya Toure’s case he is fully deserving of that level of esteemed recognition.

Quite simply, Manchester City would not be the powerhouse they are today without Toure and, despite his bitterly acrimonious departure, he will forever be regarded as a legend at the Etihad Stadium.

Toure joined re-signed for Olympiacos last summer after being released by City, but he struggled to enjoy success in Greece and his deal was terminated by mutual consent before the new year.

Now a free agent, Toure appeared on the Sky Sports panel which analysed City’s home fixture vs Wolves on Monday evening, and he confirmed that Brendan Rodgers is expressing an interest in bringing him to Celtic Park (as per Goal), with the opportunity to reunite with his brother Kolo clearly giving him plenty to think about as he ponders over his next career move.

Well well well, a move for Toure would be quite the coup for Celtic. Rangers’ decision to sign Defoe this month has been widely hailed as a fantastic piece of business which should enable them to go toe-to-toe with the current champions for the SPFL title, but Toure would quite simply blow that deal out the water.

The Ivory Coast international has enjoyed a remarkable playing career, with three Premier League titles, two La Liga titles, a Champions League winners medal and four African Footballer of the Year awards providing ample evidence to illuminate his prestige.

He may not possess the frightening turn of pace which used to facilitate his penetrative, lung-bursting dribbles through the heart of Premier League defences, but his world class technique and vision would provide Rodgers with a weapon to truly light up Scottish football.

And that’s without even mentioning his goal threat, which is massive. Whether it be from a dead-ball situation, long-range or within a tight space inside the penalty area with limited time to pick his spot, Toure possesses a deadly eye for the back of the net and his career return of 96 goals and 68 goals from 575 appearances speaks for itself.

Some supporters may take issue with the hints of controversy Toure and his infamous agent, Dimitri Celuk, seem to carry with them wherever they go but, if Rodgers is serious about giving him first-team opportunities and an agreement on wages can be reached, there is no question Celtic would ultimately benefit from his presence at the club.

Celtic fans – thoughts on Yaya Toure? Let us know below!

According to The Daily Mail’s live transfer blog (January 16, 11:34am), Southampton are weighing up a January move for RB Leipzig captain Willi Orban, and he is exactly the player Ralph Hasenhuttl needs following his side’s FA Cup third round replay defeat to Derby County at St Mary’s on Wednesday night.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Daily Mail reported that Saints were interested in Brentford centre-back Chris Mepham but faced competition from Premier League rivals Bournemouth for his signature, but his £15m-plus transfer fee has seen them switch their attentions elsewhere.

The Daily Mail says that the south coast outfit are now weighing up a move for the Hungary international, who Hasenhuttl managed and made captain during his spell with Leipzig.

The report adds that the Austrian boss is an admirer of the 26-year-old’s organisational and leadership skills, and he continues to be the Bundesliga outfit’s skipper despite his former coach’s exit at the end of the 2017/18 campaign.

Why do they need him?

While Jan Bednarek appears to be a guaranteed starter for Saints right now, there are still some big question marks over Jan Vestergaard and Jack Stephens in the absence of Maya Yoshida at the Asia Cup.

The former watched on as an unused substitute as Southampton surrendered a two-goal lead for the second time in the tie against the Rams, before eventually being knocked out on penalties by the Championship club.

While Stephens and Vestergaard are decent on the ball and in the air at times, they showed a real lack of concentration at key moments – such as Derby’s equalising goal – and Tom Lawrence was given two further free headers that he should have done better with after the scores were levelled.

Orban is a dominant centre-back and – more importantly – a leader, and he would be a big talker at the heart of a defence that continues to turn to mush when they have a lead to protect.

Check out Neymar’s controversial new haircut for 2019 and Xherdan Shaqiri as you’ve never seen him before in the video below…

It’s been a busy week for Leeds United and their manager Marcelo Bielsa and although it is off the pitch where they have been in a bit of trouble lately, they certainly have continued their focus of succeeding on it.

The addition of Kiko Casilla from Real Madrid earlier this week has the potential to be the type of backup signing to help steer them to Premier League promotion, while it could also be a sign from Bielsa that he is already keeping an eye on playing in the top-flight next season.

Casilla has had to watch from the stands at Madrid this season where Kaylor Navas and Thibaut Courtois have been at battle for the number one spot at the club.

But, a move to the Championship could be the deciding factor to the Whites securing promotion.

Leeds have long been searching for a backup option for goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell and the 22-year-old has been superb for the Yorkshire club this season.

Bielsa’s success has largely been down to the rock-solid performances Peacock-Farrell has delivered on a consistent basis.

The manager has made it no secret of it that he places a lot of emphasis on his defenders, while Peacock-Farrell has been a major part of their successful defence this campaign.

Having Casilla as an option will allow Bielsa to rest Peacock-Farrell when he wants to, while at the same time the Spaniard could make a challenge for the number one spot in the club.

It will be the perfect competition for Peacock-Farrell and it will lead to improvement from both players.

Despite being 32-years-old already, Casilla will be a great figure for the Northern Ireland international to learn from and play a type of mentor role for him, while on the pitch he would feel he has something to prove after a major lack of game-time during his tenure at Madrid.

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Aston Villa are desperate to sign Newcastle United’s Isaac Hayden before the transfer deadline, according to the Birmingham Mail.

The club are reportedly hoping to sign three players before the end of the transfer window and have made Hayden their top priority.

What’s the word?

Hayden is keen to leave Newcastle this month, according to the Birmingham Mail.

They quote him as saying, at the weekend: “The clubs that are interested in me are waiting, and the clubs that I want to go to are waiting.

“It’s just a case of whether Newcastle say: ‘Yeah, you can go’. If they say that, I can go. That’s where it is really.”

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

Villa are keen to bring in a number of players, as per the Birmingham Mail, before Thursday’s deadline, but Hayden is their top target and contact has been made between the two parties.

Newcastle have so far refused to sell the defensive-minded midfielder but he could be allowed to leave if the Magpies are able to sign a replacement; they are closing in on signing Andreas Samaris, according to Sky Sports.

West Bromwich Albion are also said to be interested, but the Birmingham Mail claim that the Villans are at the front of the queue to secure his signature.

Shore up leaky defence

Villa have struggled to keep clean sheets this season.

They are currently four points adrift of sixth-placed Derby County in the play-offs.

However, they have conceded 46 goals thus far this season, with only Rotherham (48) and rock-bottom Ipswich Town (50) letting in more.

Hayden, though, would go a long way to remedying the issue.

He is a defensive-minded midfielder and he has the ability to get stuck in without picking up too many cards.

Bringing him in is a logical move and will help Villa fix one of their biggest problems: conceding goals.

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Leeds were left puzzled as the January transfer window slammed shut and a deal for Swansea’s Daniel James had collapsed, despite the two clubs having brokered an agreement and the player having had his medical, agreed personal terms and been interviewed by the Elland Road outfit’s media.

The Swans, though, had apparently changed their minds, leaving James in the dark – the South Wales club reportedly wanted the £1.5m loan fee paid immediately rather than at the end of the season, despite having already offloaded highest-earner Wilfried Bony earlier in the month as they look to hold onto some cash.

Former Manchester City striker Bony was reportedly earning upwards of £100,00-a-week – an obscene figure – and so it is no wonder that the Liberty Stadium outfit are so short of funds at this time. Unfortunately, James was the victim of their cash crisis and is surely disgruntled that he is not in Leeds white now.

Thogden has ranked his top 5 sets of Championship away fans for Pl>ymaker FC. Did your club make the list? Find out in the video below…

Instead, the winger is soldiering on with the Swans and spoke out for the first time since his switch fell through. The 21-year-old declined to comment on his future at the Liberty Stadium beyond this season though, leaving the door ajar for Leeds fans to speculate on Twitter.

You can check out the best of the reaction below…

Mohamed Salah has been voted the first PFA Bristol Street Motors Fans’ Player of the Month of 2019 by football fans across the country.

In a vote run by fan engagement experts Snack Media, the Egyptian winger won by a huge landslide, polling ahead of Manchester United trio Paul Pogba, David De Gea and Marcus Rashford, as well as Manchester City’s Leroy Sane and Watford’s Troy Deeney.

In the first of four divisional votes carried out over seven days via Snack’s digital and social networks, which was supported by top flight football clubs and the press, it was clear that Salah’s performances last month – which saw him bag three goals in four January appearances – caught the attention of Premier League fans the most.

That is despite some very strong displays from some of the other candidates nominated for January’s award, including Rashford and Pogba who either scored or assisted six Premier League goals between them last month, while Sane grabbed two goals and one assist.

The Championship vote opens at 11 am on Monday 7th January. To vote go to:

www.footballfancast.com/pfa-awards

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Newcastle reportedly tried to sign Phil Foden on loan in the January transfer market, so what would that mean for the Magpies?

What’s the story?

According to The Sun, both Newcastle and Southampton wanted to take Foden on loan for the remainder of the season, with Bournemouth also showing some interest.

The 18 year-old is yet to really solidify himself in Manchester City’s first team, but the report claims Pep Guardiola wants to give him more first team chances.

He has started just six games in all competitions this season, but the champions do still have four trophies left to fight for, so it is perhaps no surprise that Guardiola wants to keep his squad in tact.

That said, the very fact that Newcastle were interested in the teenager reveals a worrying truth about one summer flop.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

What does it tell us?

Due to Premier League rules regarding loan signings, Newcastle could not sign Foden on loan in January without a significant change to the status of either Salomon Rondon or Kenedy, as clubs cannot loan more than two players at once.

This means the Magpies would have to either send one of Rondon or Kenedy back to their respective clubs or buy them permanently.

Given that Mike Ashley is still in charge, the “buy them permanently” option seems pretty unlikely, so chances are it would have been Kenedy who left, with Rondon currently absolutely indispensible to Rafael Benitez.

Kenedy was brilliant in his first loan spell on Tyneside, but has never really got going since re-joining the club last summer, registering just one Premier League goal all season and only 32 minutes of league action since the turn of the year.

If the report is true, Kenedy’s time at Newcastle is well and truly over, as Rafa clearly has no future plans for the feisty winger.

According to Football Insider, Tottenham’s senior stars urged Jose Mourinho to sign Wolves winger Adama Traore after his goal-scoring display against them at the weekend.

What’s the word?

The Spain international has been in fine form for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side this season, scoring four times and providing six assists across all competitions.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

And on Sunday afternoon against Spurs, the 23-year-old was rampant, scoring once and wreaking all kinds of havoc. As per Sofascore, his 8.0 match rating was the best of any player on the pitch, and when looking at his underlying numbers it is easy to see why.

Watch Spurs vs Brighton Live and Free with Amazon Prime on Boxing Day

He won 11 of his 20 total duels, completed all five of his attempted dribbles, provided one key pass and was fouled four times as Mourinho’s men tried to take him down by any means necessary. And now according to Football Insider, Spurs’ players were left “hugely impressed” by Traore’s barn-storming performance, and “made that clear to the manager in the dressing room afterwards”.

Seal of approval

Whilst Wolves are by no means a one-man team, on Sunday afternoon, it really did feel like Traore versus the entire Spurs eleven. The Spaniard was given the ball at every opportunity by Nuno’s side, and he duly rewarded their faith by constantly giving the visitors the run-around, not least Jan Vertonghen – the Belgium international was dribbled past three times, and lost possession 20 times.

Spurs die-hards are getting 70% on this Ultimate Tottenham Quiz. Can you beat them?

And so whilst Mourinho is no doubt a man of his own intentions, he would do well to listen to his players’ advice and make a move for a man that terrorised them no-end. As signings go, it is the ultimate seal of approval. The Portuguese man’s own team were left so “hugely impressed” that they want him in their own team.

Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho hailed this man after his commanding display against Wolves.

Frank Lampard is excited to take on Jose Mourinho when Chelsea meet Tottenham Hotspur this weekend, per BBC Sport’s Football Focus via Metro.

What’s the word?

Spurs’ new boss will welcome his former midfielder to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend as the two sides square off for the first time this season.

It is a massive game with huge implications; if the north London team win, they will climb into the top four at Chelsea’s expense.

And Lampard is excited to take on his former manager, with whom he won two Premier League titles.

He said: “I think it will be special. I think it will make a difference to me, I think it will make a difference to him.

Watch Spurs vs Brighton Live and Free with Amazon Prime on Boxing Day

“We’re both professionals, we’re driven, and sometimes when you come across someone you worked with or a club that you worked with, it pushes you on that little bit more in the best possible way.

“And it’s Tottenham-Chelsea, that game has enough anyway. And then you have Jose Mourinho there. And he’s going to be desperate to beat us, let’s make no bones.”

Stamp his authority

Mourinho hasn’t really overseen a statement win at Spurs yet.

They have beaten West Ham United, Olympiacos, Bournemouth, Burnley and Wolves since his appointment but have also lost to Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

As the season progresses, then, one feels that Mourinho needs to stick his flag in the ground by overseeing a big win over a major rival.

This weekend is such an opportunity and Lampard is right; the Portuguese will surely be “desperate” to win.

Mourinho’s produced some incredible footballing stars – how much do you know about them?

It would mark the definitive start of his reign and his era as manager and it would also be the master getting one over the apprentice.

Lampard, after all, has only been managing since 2018. A lesson can be taught this weekend.

Meanwhile, Spurs’ ideal scenario for Christian Eriksen’s exit from the club has been revealed.