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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 

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!

Glasgow Rangers have the chance to put an end to a frantic week by securing a place in the final of the Scottish Cup.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side were in action on Thursday night as they made it through to the semi-finals of the Europa League by beating Braga 3-1.

The Gers now take on Celtic in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup, having lost to the Hoops in the SPFL earlier this month.

On the chalkboard

One player that didn’t start in midweek that should now make a return to the starting XI for Rangers is midfielder Glen Kamara.

Having replaced Ryan Jack after 80 minutes on Thursday, the 26-year-old ended up playing 40 minutes in total as the game went to extra time.

In those 40 minutes, the midfielder did his best to make sure his side kept their composure and see out the match once Kemar Roofe had scored the goal that put Rangers ahead on aggregate.

With 42 touches of the ball in total, the Finnish international completed 32 of the 35 passes he attempted, including two successful long balls.

He also managed to win four of the five duels he was involved in, block one shot and draw two fouls, showing how useful he was when he came on.

In the SPFL, Kamara has also shown what a useful defensive figure he is, with Joe Aribo (32) being the only other midfielder to have won more than his 19 tackles.

Similarly, John Lundstram (28) is the only other Rangers midfielder to rack up more interceptions than the £21k-per-week talent (22).

Taking into account the fact that Celtic ended up scoring seven goals in their previous outing against St Johnstone and have had a full week of rest, having a defensively capable player like the £5.4m-rated figure in his starting XI would appear a very wise move by Van Bronckhorst.

Labelled both “aggressive” and a “class act” in the past by former Gers manager Steven Gerrard, Kamara would very much appear to be the right player to break up the Bhoys’ attacks most efficiently.

Indeed, after his solid run out in midweek, Van Bronckhorst should definitely unleash the midfield machine from the start this time around – as Kamara’s presence in the middle of the park would certainly terrify Celtic.

AND in other news: £10.1m in the bank: Rangers hit the jackpot on “brutally ruthless” £31.5k-p/w machine

According to De Telegraaf journalist Mike Verweij (via Sport Witness), Ajax are seriously interested in signing Tottenham winger Steven Bergwijn and any potential deal for the Dutchman depends on Erik ten Hag’s side rather than Antonio Conte’s.

The Lowdown: Previous interest in Bergwijn

De Telegraaf and Voetbal International have previously reported that Ajax have made contact with Tottenham over the potential signing of the winger in the January transfer window. Verweij then reported that the 24-year-old is quite keen to join the Eredivisie champions.

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Conte has recently insisted that Bergwijn is ‘totally committed to what I ask of a player’, but the Netherlands international has started just three games in the Premier League this season. As a result, he has attracted a lot of interest from various clubs across Europe, including Sevilla.

The Latest: Ajax ‘really serious’ about Bergwijn

According to reports by Verweij (via Sport Witness), Conte’s comments will have no bearing on the forward leaving the north London club. He claims that any potential deal is solely reliant on Ten Hag and Ajax rather than Conte and Spurs.

Speaking on De Telegraaf’s podcast, he said: “We do not have to attach too much value to Conte’s words. In the coming games we will see if he gets more playing time and then you can see if they really want to continue with him.

“Ajax are really serious about him. The interest has been officially announced to Spurs.

“Bergwijn has been polled by Ajax twice before. The first time when he still played for PSV, and then last summer. Twice, however, Ajax did not go through. The chance that Bergwijn will come to Ajax depends very much on Ajax. He is no longer waiting for Ajax.”

The Verdict: Potential departure for the right price

With a lack of game-time this season, it would not be a surprise if Tottenham were to let Bergwijn go if he pushes for a move in the January transfer window.

Conte has previously praised the winger, saying that ‘he has a lot of quality’ and that, as a part of the Italian’s squad, he is counting on the player.

However, with serious interest coming from Ajax and Sevilla, it does not seem unlikely that Bergwijn will leave Spurs in January, if a suitable offer is made for him.

In other news: 52-cap star already has proposal from Tottenham with Paratici in pole to sign him

Leeds United are making good progress in what would be their first major piece of business this month – contract discussions with star man Raphinha, Phil Hay reports.

The Lowdown: Bayern rumours

Raphinha, described by Paul Merson as a player ‘full of energy’, has been a revelation at Elland Road following his move in 2020.

The 25-year-old has contributed to 25 goals in 50 appearances, scoring eight times so far this season, with Hay describing the display at West Ham last weekend as a ‘masterclass’.

His impressive displays have led to rumours of a move to German giants Bayern Munich over the festive period. However, the Whites are looking to reward the Brazilian with an improved deal.

The Latest: Hay’s claim

Hay took to Twitter on Wednesday morning, revealing Leeds are ‘are increasingly confident of finalising a new contract with Raphinha.’

He shared a link to an analysis piece of Raphinha’s display against the Hammers on The Athletic, where he added that the Whites are making good progress regarding a new deal.

The Verdict: Brilliant news

Hay previously claimed that the winger’s wage is a ‘fairly modest’ one by Premier League standards, with Salary Sport having him down as the club’s third-highest earner on £63,000-a-week.

Therefore, handing him improved terms is a shrewd and easy call and one that should keep all parties happy.

Raphinha has comfortably been the club’s best-performing player this season, as per WhoScored, so this update is just as important as a new signing, especially with the forward proving key under Marcelo Bielsa over the last 18 months.

Even if he does eventually leave, a new deal ensures Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani can get the best deal possible when that time comes.

In other news: ‘Leeds have also tabled a bid…’ – More transfer news emerges after Aaronson move.

Tottenham seem to be at a crossroads at the moment. They don’t have their new stadium yet, they crashed out of two competitions in a week, and some of their players are being linked away from the club. 

What’s worse is that manager Mauricio Pochettino could well be leaving the club soon, not only due to the interest from rival clubs, but because he may be growing bored of the lack of trophies and progress Tottenham seem to be making.

One man that could bring a completely radical new approach to Tottenham is former Man United boss José Mourinho. Now we are not saying that the Portuguese is going to join Tottenham, or even linked with a move to north London, but it is a possibility that Daniel Levy may need to think about should his current manager leave.

This would be a controversial call, as Mourinho is a very divisive figure, but here are the pros and cons of Mourinho joining Tottenham:

Pros Status

Whether he is popular or not, there is no denying that Mourinho is one of, if not the most well-known manager in the world.

If Tottenham were able to attract the Portuguese to their club, it would send a huge message to the rest of the world. Some fans would even argue that they would suddenly be put in the same conversation as Chelsea, Man United, Real Madrid and Inter Milan- all European Giants that Mourinho has managed.

This would be a very good move for Tottenham’s global appeal.

Track record

Pochettino has made Tottenham into one of the most attractive teams to watch in England, and indeed Europe. He has overseen some very successful performances and seasons as a whole but there is one glaring blemish on his career so far and that is his lack of a trophy. He has made it to semi finals and indeed a League Cup final, but still has nothing.

Mourinho is almost stylistically the opposite of the Argentinian, creating boring and defensive teams to some, but he has undeniably had a lot of success. He could bring a winning mentality that Spurs have perhaps lacked in recent years. 

At every club he has been with, he has got silverware which to many Tottenham fans is all they may want. He could be the missing piece in their puzzle and toughen up a traditionally fragile team.

Cons Man management

For a long time there was no questioning the methods and style of Mourinho as it was hard to criticise a manager that had been successful in every club and country he had managed in.

But he started to turn a few heads with Man United, particularly regarding his man management.

He fell out with a number of players and oversaw a drastic drop in form by many of them. This was surely one of the leading factors in his sacking and he now has a job to prove that he is not a negative effect on others.

On the other hand, Pochettino has a great rapport with all his players and any senior figure at Tottenham will be wary of the Portuguese’s arrival.

Outdated

There were also questions during Mourinho’s spell at Man United whether he was becoming outdated as a manager. As teams like Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham play progressive football, Mourinho’s Man United look like they were from a different era.

Perhaps he is past his sell by date and Tottenham would not want to risk devastating a team that play so positively under Pochettino.

Verdict

Given the way that Mourinho tarnished his reputation at Man United, this is a risk that Levy should avoid. Whether fans agree with Mourinho or Paul Pogba after their ongoing feud, it is an environment that Tottenham just cannot afford to create.

That being said, Tottenham do need to look to a manager like the Portuguese in terms of their winning mentality if the situation does arise when they need a new manager. But this is a potential disaster they should avoid.

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.

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

Newcastle are expected to sign a number of players in the summer according to Sky correspondent Keith Downie.

What’s the story?

He said when speaking to This Is Futbol that he expects the Toon to be extremely busy when it comes to adding new faces to the squad ahead of next season.

He said: “I still expect four or five players to arrive, and that’s without me talking about anyone leaving. If players leave then it could lead to even more arriving.”

Despite still not having secured their Premier League status, the Magpies seem confident of their survival and seem to be planning ahead of next season already.

Who’s on their list?

It will be interesting to see who Newcastle are able to attract but it’s likely they will want to target some of Europe’s best players.

They have recently been linked with a move for West Ham United star Jarrod Bowen who has been their top scorer this season and is highly rated at only 25-years old.

A move for him would also see them weaken potential rivals next season when they’ll be looking to finish as high as possible.

Reports in the Daily Mirror also say that the club have already set their list of targets which includes Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Kalvin Phillips.

With Everton and Leeds both struggling this season, if either of them were to be relegated it would make it far easier for Newcastle to make these signings.

Targeting an English contingent of players may be a strategic move. They may be more willing to move to the North East due to recognising Newcastle’s stature and history perhaps more than players on the continent.

However, if they do go down this route then they will have to be willing to pay more for English talent. History has shown players from home tend to fetch higher transfer fees.

Ever since the takeover, it’s been expected that Newcastle would spend big to try and compete with the best in the league. Time will tell just how much they will spend but if you’re a fan of the Magpies then it should be an exciting summer ahead. This is certainly great news for the Toon Army.

IN other news: NUFC plot bid to sign £31.5m-rated star who’s on “fire”, he could be their own “Salah” – opinion

Aston Villa will be looking to finish the 2021/22 season as strongly as possible ahead of a summer which promises plenty of excitement.

As Steven Gerrard enters his first summer transfer window as Villa manager, it’s no secret that the Midlands club will be looking to invest heavily in order to upgrade their squad.

One area which could certainly be improved is centre-forward, especially with last summer’s £25m addition Danny Ings failing to make a big impact at Villa Park, with the 29-year-old scoring just five goals in claret and blue thus far.

Moreover, Ollie Watkins hasn’t had his best season either, with the 26-year-old scoring only seven goals this campaign, having netted 16 last time around.

However, Gerrard and the Villa hierarchy may not have to invest too heavily to sign a striker, with exciting 20-year-old prospect Cameron Archer potentially ready for a regular run in the first team.

In the pipeline

The youngster has made a serious impression at the Midlands club this season, scoring four goals for the first team in two Carabao Cup appearances, plus nine in eight appearances for the under-23s.

In order to help continue his development, Villa sent the striker on loan to Championship side Preston North End in January, with Archer continuing to thrive at Deepdale. The 20-year-old has netted on five occasions in 12 appearances for Ryan Lowe’s side and will be looking to finish the season strongly in order to make a serious impression on the Villa manager.

Aston Villa journalist Ashley Preece has had plenty of positive things to say about the young striker, especially earlier this season after Villa’s under-23s defeated League One Burton Albion 4-2 in the EFL Trophy.

Preece said on that occasion: “Absolutely sensational as he picks up his second match ball of the season with yet another classy hat-trick. It was finishing of the highest order with Archer being applauded off by Smith, Shakespeare, Danks and Lange in the stands.

“Archer was levels above here, whacking home his trio past Balcombe in the Burton net. Villa need to get his contract sorted now. His development since the summer has been staggering. The boy’s some finisher.”

Since then, the deal has been sorted and the 20-year-old is contracted at Villa Park until 2025. The striker will now have to be assured that he has a future in Gerrard’s first-team plans, as his goal record this term suggests that he could be an upgrade on the out-of-sorts Ings.

In other news: Aston Villa open transfer talks over 105-goal machine, Gerrard will be buzzing