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Flocking to Twitter, many Southampton fans have shared their takes as a major transfer claim comes to light involving former star Gareth Bale.

Serbian-born businessman Dragan Solak recently completed a £100 million takeover of the club in what kickstarts a brand new era at St Mary’s Stadium (Sky Sports).

The cable television tycoon’s purchase of a majority stake in Southampton brings an end to the club’s long search for a new owner with former chairman Gao Jisheng now relinquishing control of the Saints.

CEO Martin Semmens remains in his role managing the club as Southampton’s transfer chief and new owner Solak has reportedly set one eye on the January transfer window.

According to El Nacional, making a major claim on what Southampton could now do under their new ownership, Semmens and Solak have identified their ‘first’ transfer goal as they set their sights on Real Madrid winger Bale.

The Wales international, according to their sources, is attracting interest from the south coast side and it is a transfer that has the ‘approval’ of Galactios president Florentino Perez.

As well as this, it is believed that Solak has ‘already begun negotiations’ with Bale’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, and Real’s board of directors over re-signing him at Southampton.

Southampton fans erupt…

Taking to Twitter, given the nature of this transfer claim, it’s safe to say there has been no shortage of reaction from Saints fans.

While some are excited over the prospect of a Bale return, especially considering his pedigree at the top level and previously good years with Southampton, others believe this move could be too far out of the club’s reach.

His age (32) and possible salary demands arguably come as a stumbling block to this move so it’s not hard to see why some fans don’t dare to dream.

Find all of their best reactions to this news down below:

“Imagine the scenes”

Credit: @gdwtownsend

“Yes please!!!”

Credit: @PhilGrinch

“Get it done! Let’s see how serious these new owners are!!”

Credit: @MarcTR4

“Anyone who says no is an idiot”

Credit: @RahilMajid

“This won’t happen but I would love it to he can’t even be compared to Walcott. Bale is another level Theo would never get to imo”

Credit: @saintjoshb

“It would be incredible. But I just don’t think, even with the new owners, that we could afford the funds for his wages. He’d lift the atmosphere of the club, I just hope he would actually try.”

Credit: @SamuelR75523948

“Surely not”

Credit: @Bradders1302

After convincingly seeing off their struggling Merseyside rivals in the recent 4-1 victory over Everton at Goodison Park in midweek, Liverpool’s next Premier League challenge sees them travel to Molineux to take on Wolves on Saturday afternoon.

Ahead of the match against Bruno Lage’s side, it seems as though the Reds have been handed a welcome double injury boost which will surely have Jurgen Klopp buzzing.

What’s the news?

Liverpool duo Joe Gomez and Naby Keita were both spotted in Liverpool’s recent training session on Thursday in preparation for their clash at Wolves after being out for the past few weeks through injury.

Keita, who has three goals and one assist under his belt from 10 appearances this season, has been out of action since October after picking up a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Brighton in the Premier League.

Gomez has also been out for a similar amount of time with a calf injury.

While the duo may not necessarily be fit enough to play a significant role in the Wolves match, Klopp and everyone else at the Merseyside club will be thrilled to have them back and hopefully available for the duration of their busy winter schedule and the rest of the season.

Keita has averaged 1.1 shots and 2.3 tackles per game in the league so far this season and racked up an overall performance rating of 7.19/10, making him Liverpool’s sixth-highest rated player of the campaign according to WhoScored, so his return to training will surely be a big positive for the Reds.

Although Gomez has found Premier League minutes hard to come by this term with just 13 under his belt from two substitute appearances, it’s good to see him back in training and overcoming his latest injury so that he can add some depth and cover at the back in case any of the Reds’ other centre-backs pick up an injury during this busy upcoming period.

Looking ahead to the Wolves match, while it may well be too early for Gomez and Keita to get back into action, the starting XI which ran riot at Goodison in midweek showed that they are more than capable of potentially dispatching the Old Gold, who have only won two of their six previous league games, scoring just four goals in the process.

In other news: Klopp could unearth Liverpool’s next star in this academy gem

Lots of Glasgow Rangers fans have been left gushing as an official post from the club emerged.

As per the official website of the Ibrox faithful, the first-team squad took part in a virtual hospital visit to spread some Christmas cheer among patients of Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children.

The likes of Alfredo Morelos and Ianis Hagi were pictured wearing Gers-themed Christmas jumpers and interacting with some of the children at the hospital, while the Rangers Charity Foundation also donated £10,000 to the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

Nonetheless, it was a great cause for the squad to celebrate, and would no doubt have taken a little bit of pressure off of them as they play St. Johnstone at home in the Scottish Premiership tonight.

Rangers fans on hospital visit

These Light Blues supporters were left gushing over the news of the hospital visit as it was shared by the club on their official Twitter page, with one Teddy Bear even going as far as to claim that it was ‘fantastic’:

“Beautiful stuff”

Credit: @4ladshadadream

“Outstanding as always from our club at this time of year to those, who are not so fortunate! WATP”

Credit: @ElShinto

“Class as always.”

Credit: @StravenRab

“Fantastic”

Credit: @gers_chezza

“My Club”

Credit: @UnionOfRangers

“Love this”

Credit: @rockchick151176

In other news, find out what early team news has RFC supporters fuming here!

Taking to Twitter, reporter Rafael Lamelas of IDEAL has made a managerial claim involving Leeds United amid a big update on Diego Martinez.

The Lowdown: Martinez impresses…

Bringing Granada from the second division to the Europa League quarter-finals, La Liga’s once youngest manager has been quite the success story.

Indeed, as emphasised by ESPN, the 40-year-old’s Granada side was Spanish football’s ‘great revelation’ as his team defied the odds and turned many heads on a shoe string budget.

Martinez, however, left the Nuevo Estadio de Los Cármenes after three successful years back in May with many now wondering where his next post could lie.

In a big update, reporter Lamelas has shared news on Twitter.

The Latest: Martinez could be eyeing Leeds job…

As per Lamelas, the Spaniard may now be eyeing a Leeds move to potentially replace Marcelo Bielsa if he decides to leave.

This comes as he rejects an offer to stay in La Liga to manage Elche.

He explained:

“Diego says no to another team again. Wait for England (maybe Leeds if Bielsa left at the end of the season) or a ‘main course’.”

The Verdict: Perfect heir?

If the Whites’ current boss decides to leave Yorkshire after guiding Leeds back to the big time and Premier League promotion, you could argue that Victor Orta and co could do no better than Martinez as his replacement.

Possessing a similar passion and hard work to Bielsa judging by his candid interview with ESPN, Granada’s fans and critics could not speak highly enough of Martinez during his reign.

Once called an ‘idol of the fans’ by Spanish reporter Jose Manuel Garcia, La Liga Showdown contributor Heath Chesters spoke last year of how Granada supporters were ‘calling for a statue’ – perfectly summing up his fine job at the club.

A free agent with plenty of credentials, we believe he could be a great candidate for Leeds.

Everton have received a potential injury boost ahead of their Premier League clash with Brentford over the weekend after it was revealed the club are hopeful that Yerry Mina will be able to make his return to action.

What’s the word?

The 27-year-old last featured in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United on 2nd October before picking up a hamstring injury while on international duty.

However, according to the Liverpool ECHO, Mina could be in line to make his comeback for the trip to west London after making a full recovery.

Phil Kirkbride’s report states that: “Everton are hoping Yerry Mina is passed fit to play in London at the weekend.

“The Colombian centre-half has missed the last four league matches because of a hamstring issue but it is believed he was left out as a precaution.”

Rafa Benitez will be buzzing

News that Mina could play some part against the Bees on Sunday will have Everton manager Rafa Benitez buzzing with excitement, given his importance to the first-team squad.

Prior to his fitness woes, the South American had made six Premier League appearances this season, losing on just one occasion.

In his absence, the Toffees have lost four of their five encounters, keeping just one clean sheet in the 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. And his underlying numbers indicate why.

As per WhoScored, Mina has averaged 1.5 interceptions per top-flight fixture, four clearances and 0.7 blocks, placing him in the top four amongst his teammates for each metric.

With Everton currently in desperate need of a positive result against Brentford, Benitez will be delighted to have Mina back at his disposal, providing a huge boost to their chances of securing all three points.

And, in other news…Forget Iwobi: Rafa must unleash rarely-seen 18 y/o “top-player” amid huge EFC setback

As per Football League World, a significant update has emerged on the future of Tottenham Hotspur winger Jack Clarke.

The Lowdown: Clarke struggles continue…

Since his move to N17 from Leeds United in 2019 for an initial £10 million fee, it’s safe to say the youngster’s Tottenham career has been a complete non-starter so far.

The 20-year-old has since endured several Football League stints out on loan in an effort to nurture his development, most recently Stoke City for the second half of last campaign as Spurs sanctioned his 2021 January loan move.

Now, as per FLW, Nuno Espirito Santo has personally sent a message to the player.

The Latest: Spurs set to sanction another move away…

According to their sources, the Spurs head coach has now told Clarke he is free to leave as a plethora of lower league clubs take interest in signing him on loan.

As well as this, Tottenham are now ‘ready to sanction’ another move away for the attacker after his most recent temporary move to the bet365 stadium in January last year.

AFC Bournemouth are apparently the most keen to snap him up mid-season with Spurs’ stance made crystal clear.

The Verdict: Last chance saloon?

With his contract expiring at the end of next season in 2023, we believe it could be last chance for Clarke to resurrect his career and prove to Spurs he still possesses the quality to come good.

Signed after an impressive start to his original career at Leeds, the forward simply must rediscover that form and send Nuno his own message that he may have a part to play in future.

In other news: Not just Winks & Alli: Paratici told to sell vulnerable senior man who’s stuck in a rut at Spurs, find out more here.

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece has delivered the latest on Aston Villa manager Dean Smith’s future at the club.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks had claimed that the Villa boss is currently fighting for his job amid a tough run of results, and the pressure rose even further at the weekend following their dismal defeat at home to West Ham.

Now, Preece has indicated that despite the recent downturn in form, the owners, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, are firmly behind Smith for now.

He said: “Dean Smith is down to even-money favourite to be the next PL manager to leave,” he began. “I have been told that the board remain right behind the manager. Southampton’s a big one this week. Villa must improve before heading into the international break which will give staff and players the chance to regroup and reset ahead of two pivotal matches against Brighton (h) and Palace (a).”

Villa fans may be worried

With a clash against Southampton on Friday night on the horizon, the pressure has really amped up on Smith and his time at Villa Park.

The Villa boss oversaw a summer rebuild that saw a number of marquee arrivals, including the likes of Emi Buendia and Danny Ings, while Jack Grealish made his long-anticipated departure to Manchester City.

Despite picking up a couple of notable wins in the past couple of months – not least away at Old Trafford against Manchester United – the four defeats in four games has really seen Villa hit a roadblock and it’s no surprise Smith’s future is in question.

Preece’s claim that NSWE remain fully committed to Smith might worry Villa fans on the basis that taking no action and letting this linger could prove to be a massive detriment to how this season pans out.

The club’s form is unsurprisingly the worst of any team in the Premier League, and they remain only just three points above the drop zone, while one of their fellow strugglers Newcastle, look set to appoint a new manager in the near future.

It’s nearing make-or-break time for Smith, and the game against Southampton could prove to be season-defining.

Meanwhile, Villa must finally unleash this academy starlet in the Premier League…

Manchester United had to rely on a last-minute Cristiano Ronaldo strike to seal a victory against a well-organised Villarreal side in an entertaining Champions League encounter.

The Red Devils were searching for their first points in Group F on Wednesday night after an opening day defeat away at Young Boys, but it was another underwhelming performance from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s charges.

Alex Telles’ magnificent volley and Ronaldo’s dramatic first-time finish earned a comeback win for the Old Trafford outfit, although it could have been a different story if it wasn’t for their in-form goalkeeper.

A bright start from the visitors forced David de Gea into an early save after Arnaut Danjuma drove his effort towards goal, and the Spanish shot-stopper would be called into action on several occasions in the remainder of the half.

Danjuma again stung the palms of De Gea just 10 minutes later, this time firing across the keeper’s body, but he was able to force the former Bournemouth winger’s strike wide when at full stretch.

Just moments later, United’s No.1 was called into action once more, this time tipping a glancing header from Villarreal striker Paco Alcacer over his crossbar.

The remainder of the first half carried on in a similar fashion, with De Gea repelling the La Liga’s outfit’s advances via some outstanding saves, yet the deadlock was finally broken just eight minutes after the interval.

This time, Alcacer’s effort squeezed between his compatriot’s legs after latching onto another Danjuma cross, although it didn’t take the shine off of what was a classic performance from the 30-year-old gem.

As per SofaScore, De Gea received a match rating of 7.7 out of 10, the highest total awarded to any player on the pitch. And when looking at his underlying numbers, it’s easy to understand why.

The ex-Atletico Madrid ace made a huge six saves on the night, all from within his own penalty box. He also achieved a passing accuracy of 100%, illustrating his ability with the ball at his feet and picked out a teammate with both of his attempted long balls.

It’s been a fabulous return to form for De Gea after several years struggling for consistency between the sticks, and he’ll now be hoping to continue in a similar vein for the remainder of the campaign.

And, in other news…Imagine him and Pogba: Man Utd must complete swoop for £60m beast, he’s a big upgrade 

Everton suffered their first home defeat of the season after Angelo Ogbonna’s headed effort proved enough to seal all three points for West Ham United at Goodison Park over the weekend.

It was a tough afternoon for the hosts, who were missing several key players through injury once again, and Rafa Benitez’s charges only managed two shots on target all afternoon.

The Hammers dominated the first half but couldn’t find a way through an organised defence and called Jordan Pickford into action just once.

Things improved for Everton after the break, although it remained a game of few chances, and Ogbonna rose highest to meet a Jarrod Bowen corner in the 74th minute, heading home the ball to secure a hard-fought victory.

However, things could have been very different for the Toffees. After missing the Manchester United game through injury, Alex Iwobi returned to the starting lineup and had a game to forget.

Following good work from Demarai Gray down the left-wing, the Nigeria international missed a glorious opportunity when he failed to make any contact with the ball from just six yards out.

Then, in the second half, Iwobi’s spin and strike was blocked, condemning the Blues to just a second league loss of the campaign.

The 25-year-old’s underwhelming display saw him awarded a match rating of just 6 out of 10, by far the lowest total awarded to anyone on the pitch, as per SofaScore.

And when taking a closer look at his underlying numbers, it’s easy to understand why. Iwobi had just 29 touches during his time on the pitch, 14 fewer than goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, highlighting his inability to influence proceedings.

He also failed to win any of his three duels, couldn’t pick out a teammate with either of his attempted crosses and had a passing accuracy of 71%. What made things worse was a tally of 0 dribbles or key passes.

It was a hugely disappointing showing from Iwobi as he let Benitez down against West Ham, and the Spanish tactician will be hoping the winger puts in a better performance against Watford next time out.

And, in other news…”It hasn’t worked”: Journo makes damning Everton claim, fans surely fuming with Brands 

Speaking to Football Insider, BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Alan Hutton has lavished praise on Tottenham Hotspur chief Daniel Levy following an exciting development.

The Lowdown: Levy news dropped…

Coming out in the last two days, some big news has emerged in regards to the Spurs chief.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Indeed, as officially announced, he has now been voted on to the European Club Association board to represent Premier League football – reportedly beating Manchester City executive Ferran Soriano to the post (The Athletic).

The 59-year-old is set to replace Manchester United’s Ed Woodward in the role.

The Latest: Hutton hails Levy…

Speaking to FI, former Lilywhites defender Hutton has had his say and believes the appointment is ‘something that could work’.

The ex-Scotland international also branded Levy a ‘shrewd’ and ‘fantastic’ businessman.

“I think everybody knows Daniel Levy, how shrewd a businessman he is,” explained Hutton.

“Sometimes it can be his way or the highway and he sticks to his guns. That’s always been the way that he is.

“He doesn’t back down for anybody and obviously, they like what they see. I totally understand it. He’s a fantastic businessman and he probably ticks all the boxes.

“Sometimes it’s good for a change, a fresh face in there with new ideas and different opinions.

“So I think that’s something that could work and I’m sure he will relish the task.”

The Verdict: Big moment for Levy?

While he is controversial and a split figure among Spurs supporters, this comes as a big moment for Levy personally just five months after the European Super League scandal.

Now gifted a major new role at the pinnacle of European football, the Tottenham supremo has dealt with club protests, real financial concerns and a rocky few months on the pitch with one of their longest ever searches for a new manager.

Levy must now make the most of his new position of power as he also aims to help Spurs steadily grow into a football powerhouse.

In other news: ‘So excited’, ‘Start him against Palace’…Many Tottenham fans raving over ‘generational’ talent, find out more here.