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Glasgow Rangers winger Glenn Middleton has revealed he would be open to returning to St. Johnstone next season.

Middleton discusses future

Middleton made the move to St. Johnstone on loan during the January transfer window, and he has so far managed one goal in seven matches for the club (Transfermarkt).

Now, he has revealed he would be open to returning to The Saints next term as well. He said (via Not The Old Firm):

“I can’t look too far ahead. For me just now, it’s about trying to play in every game for St Johnstone and making a positive impact.

“I am under contract at Rangers and that means they are in control of the situation moving forward. I’ve no idea what the summer holds for me in terms of going into next season. But if there is an opportunity to come back to Saints then I’d seriously look at it because I have really enjoyed my time here.

“It’s a great football club and the people in every department are top class. There is a great deal of belief in this squad. We are desperate to win every game. The squad made me feel welcome from the first moment I walked into the dressing-room.”

Big decision for Gerrard

Middleton is now reaching a crucial point in his career. He moved to Ibrox as a teenager from Norwich in 2018 and, after five goals and five assists in 28 matches during the 2018/19 campaign, it looked as though he had a big future with the 55-time Scottish champions. However, he would play just once under Steven Gerrard the following term and was involved in just one match this time around before this latest loan spell.

At 21, he now needs to find somewhere he can settle and show off his ability. He has just six career goals to his name, so there is room for improvement, but has quality that could be put to good use, even by Gerrard. Perhaps the Gers boss should give Middleton one more chance next season to display what he is capable of at Ibrox.

In other news, Rangers have been urged to consider the sale of this man.

Graham Roberts has told Football FanCast that Daniel Levy was left with no other option but to sack Jose Mourinho because of the bizarre team selections he made, and the way he upset so many players, including Steven Bergwijn.

The Netherlands international was signed from PSV Eindhoven in January of 2020 and made an instant impact, as he scored on his debut against Manchester City.

However, the 23-year-old was in and out of the team in the final weeks of Mourinho’s reign, sparking confusion from the ex-Spurs captain.

Bergwijn played in five successive games between January and February but was then suddenly dropped and has played just 24 minutes since, in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

He has been on the bench twice but other than that, the £22.5m-rated ace, per Transfermarkt, had not been included in the squad leading up to Mourinho’s departure.

Roberts thinks that decisions such as this from Mourinho alienated squad members, and ultimately left Levy with no other alternative but to pull the trigger.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: “If you look at it, starting off the season, you had Bergwijn in the team. But Bergwijn’s not even on the bench now.

“So what’s happened there?

“I think you just start to upset that many players, that I don’t think the chairman had any option but to sack him.”

Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring the progress of highly-rated midfielder Gabriel Menino, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Sky Sports claim that the north Londoners have been looking into signing talent from South America after the region was opened up to new work permit regulations following Brexit.

The young Palmeiras star is one man who Spurs, among other clubs, have scouted ahead of the summer transfer window.

Menino has emerged as one of Brazil’s brightest prospects and has impressed in both central midfield and at right-back.

Imagine him and Hojbjerg

It’s no surprise to see Jose Mourinho in the market for potentially a new midfielder ahead of next season, with rising doubts over several of his current options.

Harry Winks has been linked with an exit following a serious lack of game time this season – Sport (via Sport Witness) claim the Englishman will ‘insist’ on a departure from his boyhood club.

Moussa Sissoko at 31 isn’t getting any younger and has been out of Mourinho’s starting XI for eight straight league outings, ever since that 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.

And there will be concerns over Dele Alli’s future as he’s still not getting regular game time this season, even after Daniel Levy blocked an exit to Paris Saint-Germain in January. According to Football Insider, the Lilywhites will not do the same should they come calling again this summer.

Therefore, eyeing up a new midfield star is a wise call, and they should look no further than Menino as he could well become Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s long-term partner in the engine room.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-spurs-news-mourinho-levy-gossip” title=”Read this week’s latest Spurs news, rumours and more!”]

Dubbed the ‘Brazilian Yaya Toure,’ the 20-year-old prodigy has studied the former City sensation profusely by watching videos of him, and some fruits of that labour were seen when he fired home a stunning strike from range against Bolivar in the Copa Libertadores last year.

In 2013/14, the Ivorian was simply unplayable and perhaps recorded one of the greatest individual seasons of all time. He scored 20 goals and provided nine assists from midfield, created 40 chances and still managed a 90% passing accuracy from 35 appearances, as per GiveMeSport.

Toure was an astonishingly good box-to-box enforcer, and that’s exactly what is required in north London. Hojbjerg, who averages 2.7 tackles and 1.8 fouls per league game, is certainly a more defensively-minded option whilst Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso have had some of their best games in the no.10 role.

Menino can fulfil that role, even with Oliver Skipp set to return from a successful loan spell in the summer. As per WhoScored, the Brazillian wonderkid provided six assists from only 24 starts, and displayed his ability in either box, averaging 1.2 tackles, 1.2 dribbles, 1.3 shots and 1.5 key passes per game.

Evidently, he can read the game in his team’s own third, just as much as he can deliver in an attacking sense too.

The £12.6m-rated gem’s form, both in central midfield and at right-back, caught the eye of Brazil boss Tite and whilst he’s yet to pick up a senior cap, that day will surely come soon having featured seven times at U20 level.

His versatility would be a welcome benefit too, especially given the uncertainty and suspicions over the future of the struggling Matt Doherty, who according to ESPN, could be made available for transfer come the summer.

Furthermore, Mourinho handed Casemiro his Real Madrid debut in 2013, and that is another player Menino has modelled his game on, so that should please the Spurs boss immensely, too.

It remains to be seen how much Palmeiras would command for their undoubted a star of the future, but it’s a move that chairman Daniel Levy must consider irrespective of price. If he has half the impact of Toure, then Spurs are onto a winner.

Just imagine him alongside Hojbjerg.

AND in other news, Spurs handed Sergio Reguilon boost

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Dean Windass revealed that the vacant Celtic manager’s position could appeal to Roberto Martinez.

The Spaniard is currently managing the number one ranked international side in the World; Belgium, so it would be a surprising move if he did come to Glasgow.

That being said, talkSPORT presenter Jim White believes that Martinez is one of the names on Celtic’s shortlist to replace Neil Lennon.

The Northern Irishman finally resigned from his post earlier this week after the club lost 1-0 to Ross County.

It has been a torrid campaign for the Bhoys with their fiercest rivals, Rangers, now requiring just seven points to win the SPFL.

John Kennedy has been placed in temporary charge of the squad while they search for a new boss, and Windass believes Martinez could fit the bill.

He exclusively told Football FanCast:

“I think that would appeal to him, yes. I’ve worked with him and he’s a gentleman.

“He had Graeme Jones as his coach who has obviously gone to Newcastle with Brucey. Yes, it would be a good appointment. Would he take Jones with him again? Would he leave Newcastle? They sort of follow each other right from their careers.

“They actually played in the same team at Wigan when I played against Wigan in the 90s. So that was the affinity will be between two lads really, so they’re probably best mates and he went with him Belgium as well.

“Shaun Maloney’s there too. So that would be a good fit, that would be a very good fit. That’s a great shout.”

Martinez is known for a possession-based style of football, taking Swansea City to the English Championship and then winning the FA Cup with Wigan.

He managed Everton in the Premier League before taking on the Belgium job, a post he’s had mixed success in.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-on-celtics-managerial-vacancy” title=”Check out the latest on Celtic’s managerial vacancy!”]

The 47-year-old has taken Belgium to the top of FIFA’s rankings despite finishing third at the last World Cup. That achievement saw him nominated for FIFA’s Manager of the Year in 2018; an award ultimately won by Didier Deschamps.

With the European Championships to come this summer, Martinez would surely only jump ship once the tournament’s done – that’s providing Celtic do appeal to the Spaniard.

AND in other news, Dembele could be convinced to stay if Celtic appoint “special” 42 y/o Lennon successor…

A specialist in sports law has dropped an arbitration claim on the potential takeover of Newcastle United by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

Speaking to The Chronicle, Peter Nunn has claimed:

“The arbitration can still go ahead, even if Newcastle are relegated.

“What matters is whether Newcastle were a member of the Premier League at the time of the “cause of action” – the point at which Newcastle are alleging the Premier League were in the wrong.

“It becomes an issue for the EFL to decide if the Saudis still want to buy a Championship club. But if they get promoted, they’ve still got the same issue where they have to meet the Premier League’s test.

“It’s in their interest to resolve it whether they go down or not, and get the Premier League’s okay for this takeover to go through.”

Newcastle should prioritise staying up

Even though the pending arbitration case between the St. James’ Park faithful and the Premier League can still go ahead even if the North East club were to find themselves relegated from the top flight down to the EFL Championship come the end of the 2020/21 term, Steve Bruce’s team should still be prioritising staying up in the division.

A bigger concern should also be if the KSA’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) were willing to come back onto the table if the Tyneside club were stuck in the Championship, as it would be a far less attractive proposition for them to take over than if they were still in the top flight.

Mike Ashley may also be a lot more reluctant to sell the Magpies given that he would not be able demand anywhere close to his asking price if they found themselves in a lower division.

Nonetheless, the Toon should be prioritising staying up in the league for now and then come to terms with the arbitration hearing once the season comes to an end.

In other news, find out which ‘very strong’ six-foot-two talent NUFC are in talks to sign here!

Plenty of Aston Villa supporters have been reacting to footage shared on social media regarding Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins.

The pair both featured for the Three Lions on Thursday evening, with Watkins grabbing the final goal in a 5-0 win at Wembley.

Watkins, who had never featured for England at any level prior to his debut, received the ball on the edge of the area before firing through a defender’s legs and into the far corner.

Numerous Villa supporters took to social media to praise the 25-year-old following his interview after the game, and many more have done so towards the forward and centre-back Mings.

Villa shared slow-motion footage from England on their official Twitter page of Watkins’ goal and subsequent celebrations.

One of the first players to celebrate with Watkins was Mings, along with Manchester City’s Phil Foden.

Villa fans react

Villa heaped praise on Mings in the caption and these Villa fans followed suit in showing their love for the towering defender, with one describing the footage as ‘magic’.

“Magic – he’s a major reason behind the dressing room improving at Villa Park”

Credit: @Shy_Rhy

“Wonderful scenes did us proud”

Credit: @UTViIIa

“Love this”

Credit: @danfereday

“Class this is! Gives me Goosebumps man… UTV”

Credit: @AstonVilla_info

“Brilliant!!”

Credit: @clukk74

“Love it two of the best signings we’ve made”

Credit: @GV18271

In other news: Many AVFC fans react to Vila-linked star’s social media activity, find out more here.  

Steve Bruce has confirmed that Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson will face six to eight weeks on the sidelines with a “devastating” hamstring injury.

That’s according to the Mirror, who quote the Toon boss as revealing that his £20m summer signing from AFC Bournemouth will miss the best part of the next two months.

Wilson could miss up to seven Premier League fixtures as a result of the issue, starting with Monday night’s trip to Chelsea and subsequent meetings with Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and potential relegation rivals Wolves, West Brom and Brighton.

Wilson sustained a deep hamstring tear during last weekend’s 3-2 win over Southampton, that also saw United lose Javier Manquillo for multiple weeks and Fabian Schar for several months.

Manquillo is now expected to miss around six weeks with a muscular injury, while Bruce has confirmed that Schar underwent surgery on Tuesday after sustaining knee ligament damage that the defender will hope does not rule him out of this summer’s Euros.

As for Wilson, the striker underwent scans to assess his hamstring injury earlier this week after being forced to limp off the field during the first-half of last week’s win over the Saints, which returned sombre news for Bruce.

“Unfortunately for Callum, it is a tear to the hamstring and that could be six to eight weeks,” the Toon boss said. “The aftermath of a fantastic victory has blighted us. Losing the centre-froward for weeks is a bitter pill to swallow.

“We hoped it was a grade on two to three weeks, but it is worse than that. We have to be without him for six-eight weeks, but we won’t put a time scale on it. It is devastating news for us. It takes time, when you are pace and power as Callum is. His rehab will have to be spot on. We need him back as quick as we can.

“His performance at Everton [last month] was terrific. We are all struggling with muscle injuries, the sheer number of games and no rest between. Without Callum, it will be hard core. He has been terrific. It will be difficult to replace him.”

The scale of the task now facing Bruce is colossus, with Newcastle left with a mammoth obstacle in their way toward securing Premier League survival for another season.

No Magpies player has been as involved in United’s attacks this term than Wilson, who has offered 2.0 shots a game over his 21 top-flight appearances, in a side that has only offered on average 9.7 each league fixture played to date, per WhoScored.

His efforts have also returned the most goals (10), while Miguel Almiron’s brace against Southampton was enough to move the Paraguayan second on the scoring chart at St. James’ Park with four – only Jeff Hendrick, who’ll be suspended against Chelsea, has also scored twice or more.

Jonjo Shelvey, who boasts one goal to his name, has taken the second-most shots per game with 1.6 but only 0.5 of those have come inside the box, where Wilson is the only player to have offered over 1.0 among those who have featured more than once for Bruce thus far.

Joelinton, who has also only scored once, has taken 1.2 shots a game over his 17 outings, while fellow strikers Andy Carroll (1.1) and Dwight Gayle (0.7) will hope to improve their output in Wilson’s absence.

AND in other news, Newcastle have an ace up their sleeves in efforts to sign a striker valued at £30m earlier this season…

Glasgow Rangers will want to avenge their loss to St. Mirren in the Betfred Cup when they travel to Paisley to take on the Saints in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday afternoon.

Steven Gerrard will be well aware that it won’t be a walk in the park for the 54-time Scottish champions, having borne witness to a humiliating last-gasp defeat at the hands of Jim Goodwin’s side earlier this month.

Besides that humbling defeat, Rangers have been in scintillating form since the start of the season, with 18 wins, two draws and no defeats in the top flight. But with games coming thick and fast this month and next – they play Celtic three days after facing the Saints – Gerrard will want to rotate his squad in the midst of a busy schedule.

With that in mind, Gerrard may decide to bring Calvin Bassey back into the fold to face the Saints at St. Mirren Park.

The 20-year-old has featured seven times in the Premiership this season, but has only started on three occasions so far, with his last appearance coming by way of the fateful quarter-final against St. Mirren in the Scottish League Cup.

He has been left as an unused substitute on the bench for the past three games in the top flight, with 28-year-old defender Borna Barisic preferred in his place instead.

Gerrard’s undisputed first-choice left-back put in an immense shift against Hibernian, but if the Ibrox boss does decide to give Barisic a break, then Bassey surely must be his first port of call to replace the Croatian on the left side.

Equally capable of playing at centre-back or full-back, the Englishman, who turns 21 in a matter of days, could cause Goodwin’s side all sorts of problems bombing up and down the flanks with his bursts of pace and pinging crosses into the box.

Gerrard has been effusive in his praise for the Leicester City academy product, telling reporters after the Europa League game against Standard Liege:

“I thought Calvin was outstanding. For someone who has very little experience, to come into a game as big as that and at that level and perform the way he did made us very proud.

“He’s a fantastic kid, a kid who wants to learn, who wants grow and evolve and with team we’re really confident we can help polish him up and get him to become even better than he is.

“He’s got real interesting attributes right now and he showed them on Thursday night, which was fantastic to see.”

In seven appearances in the Premiership this season, Bassey is averaging 1.7 tackles and one interception per game, via WhoScored.

It’s fair to say that the youngster has turned out to be an absolute gem ever since he arrived at Ibrox in the summer. He bagged his first goal for the club against Falkirk in the Betfred Cup and his endurance and durability could be key for the Gers keeping another clean sheet if he is selected.

AND in other news, Steven Gerrard dealt huge blow as Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack remains sidelined due to injury…

Celtic’s worrying dip in form continues after they were unable to hold onto their lead over Livingston last night. To make matters worse, Scott Brown is now looking at a suspension following his second half sending off.

The Hoops are in desperate need of recruiting once the January transfer window opens. Not only are they heavily leaking goals but they are lacking creativity in their attack and are failing to register wins as of late.

Nick Hammond and co need to strengthen their ranks if they want to chase down Premiership winners-elect Rangers next season. But one target who Celtic have been linked with who wouldn’t fit the bill is James McCarthy, who is attracting interest according to Football Insider.

Celtic must avoid moving for McCarthy

According to them, the Glaswegians have registered their interest in the 30-year-old midfielder. However, should they want to pursue a move, they may have to wait until the summer to bring him to Celtic Park.

The Ireland international is out of contract with the Eagles this summer so adding him to the team wouldn’t cost Peter Lawwell a penny. All he would have to meet is his handsome £50,000 per week wages. But despite the attraction of signing McCarthy on a free contract, his performances this season have left a lot to be desired.

Compared to Brown, the former Everton man’s stats are very disappointing. According to WhoScored, McCarthy averages just 68% accurate passes per match compared to the Celtic captain’s 88.8%. The skipper also has a much higher number of key passes, shots per game and interceptions.

So despite the fact that Brown is having a tough time right now, McCarthy is worse off than the struggling veteran. Signing a player of lesser calibre than Brown would prove fruitless for Celtic, who are in dire need of more creative, influential players in the middle of the park.

The Palace ace has only been utilised on seven occasions in the Premier League this season, with just five of those appearances coming as starts, via Transfermarkt. He is clearly not a trusted member of Roy Hodgson’s squad and it’s likely he won’t be offered a new contract before the summer.

Celtic must use their lure as Premiership giants to catch bigger fish than McCarthy, who seems to be more of a convenient option rather than a smart one.

In other news, Scott Brown’s Livi performance may have just numbered his Celtic days…

Celtic were unable to keep their unbeaten winning streak going yesterday as they lost in a rather weak manner.

The Hoops fell at the hands of a plucky Ross County having arrived at Victoria Park off the back of a strong five games prior, scoring 13 goals in that time and conceding just two. However, they wouldn’t be celebrating their sixth victory.

Just the one goal was scored last night, coming in the 71st minute as Jordan White managed to find the back of the net and snatch the points away from a wounded Celtic.

The reigning league champions will be disappointed with an overall lacklustre performance. Jonjoe Kenny, in particular, was off his game, but there was one man who managed to shine, despite the poor result.

Callum McGregor vs Ross County

Callum McGregor has been an integral part of Neil Lennon’s squad this season. Talks have emerged about the idea of him taking the captain’s armband from Scott Brown, who is out of contract in the summer.

With big boots to potentially fill down the line, the midfielder has been solid in the engine room this campaign and he was one of the few positive takeaways against Ross County.

According to Sofascore, he took a mammoth 124 touches of the ball, which was more than any other player on the pitch. This just goes to show how much of a feeder player he operates as in midfield – he is always giving and receiving the ball to try and make some magic happen.

McGregor also made an impressive 101 accurate passes, completing 90% of those attempted, as well as putting in 11 accurate long balls and making one key pass.

Neil Lennon is also a huge fan of McGregor’s and recently waxed lyrical about his influence. The boss described him as a “metronome” in the middle of the park, which is a huge compliment for someone awaiting to take charge of his club as future captain.

Celtic did lose the game, but captain-in-waiting McGregor can still be proud of his performance.

In other news, Celtic must keep starting Ryan Christie this season…