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According to Calciomercato, Serie A side Napoli are set to make goalkeeper David Ospina’s loan switch from Arsenal a permanent transfer.

What’s the story?

The Colombian shot-stopper is thought to be keen on making his stay at the Italian club a permanent one, and the Gunners are apparently happy to see the 30-year-old go.

Ospina arrived at the Emirates Stadium from Nice in the summer of 2014, and made over 70 appearances for the club in all competitions over the next four seasons – winning two FA Cups in his time in England. Before the start of this current Premier League campaign he was allowed to join Napoli on a temporary agreement.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

Clearly there is no place for the 93-cap Colombia international in Unai Emery’s plans, and his future almost certainly lies away from Arsenal.

A replacement in mind

Emery must find a new goalkeeper this summer though. Not only does Ospina look set to leave, but veteran ‘keeper Petr Cech has also announced that he is going to retire at the end of this season.

That would leave Bernd Leno as the only established, experienced goalkeeper at the Emirates Stadium. The German is currently Emery’s first choice but there have been visible flaws in his game this season. 

Allowing Ospina to leave, rather than return to provide back up for Leno, suggests that Emery already has a replacement for this role in mind. That could mean that the Gunners enter the market for a new glovesman this summer, or 26-year-old Argentine Emiliano Martinez – currently on loan at Reading – could finally be given his chance to properly compete for the No. 1 spot.

Wolverhampton Wanderers let midfielder, Morgan Gibbs-White, go out on loan to Sheffield United at the beginning of the season, and the youngster has been doing a fantastic job in the Championship.

The 21-year-old recently spoke out about his loan move to Sheffield United, and spoke about his lack of game time at Molineux:

“At Wolves I wasn’t getting the game time I wanted, so the recognition wasn’t there. Since I’ve been in Sheffield, it’s going well and I’m scoring goals and getting assists.”

The young player clearly has a point to prove, with five goals and two assists for his loan club so far, and his progress has not gone unnoticed by the Wolves manager, Bruno Lage.

“I am very happy with Morgan. I don’t look at him in the same way I look at Luke [Cundle – U23 player], I look at him as a main player.” Lage said.

“He is working hard and is a very good player. We are happy with the way he works with us and also the way that he works with Sheffield United.”

According to earlier reports this month from The Athletic, Wolves are set to ‘consider’ recalling Gibbs-White to his Premier League club earlier than expected as the Midlands outfit chase a spot in the Europa League.

A review from one of his peers provides a lot of evidence as to why Lage and co are considering that option. Sheffield United team teammate, Chris Basham, once said:

“Morgan has been in and has been a breath of fresh air,” said Basham. “He glides past players, he’s big, he’s strong, he’s powerful.”

Gibbs-White would certainly add additional creativity to the current Wolves side, and it wouldn’t be the first time he has been recalled back to his parent club, as the midfielder was recalled from a temporary stint with Swansea in January 2021 after Wolves sustained injuries they were incapable of covering. Thus, it is not something that would out of the question for the manager to do in the upcoming window.

Lage will need to assess in the transfer market whether he feels he needs to strengthen that midfield or run the risk of injuries for the second half of the season, something Wolves cannot afford to do if they want to keep up with the top clubs in competition for the European spots this season.

One thing is for sure, Gibbs-White expects first-team football and if Lage cannot offer that to him, it could create a toxic relationship between the budding young player and his parent club, as he has made it clear that he’s happy where he is playing every week and won’t want to warm the bench to add depth.

However, by returning in January, rather than splashing millions over the winter, he could solve an alarming problem of a lack of depth in midfield where Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho are their traditional options.

In other news: Lage could solve defensive issues with Nikola Milenkovic

Following on from their disappointing 3-0 defeat against Hartlepool United in the Papa John’s Trophy last week, Sheffield Wednesday are back in League One action tonight with an away clash against Portsmouth, who are currently just one place and one point behind the Owls.

With Wednesday still having the likes of Sam Hutchinson, Lewis Gibson and Dominic Iorfa ruled out injured but possibly having Dennis Adeniran, Liam Palmer and Marvin Johnson fit again, here’s how we feel Darren Moore could set his team up for tonight’s clash at Fratton Park, with six changes from the side which was downed by the Pools.

In goal, we think Moore will restore Bailey Peacock-Farrell to the team after giving Joe Wildsmith a runout against Hartlepool. 

In a back three, we can see the Owls boss bringing Chey Dunkley back into the side alongside Ciaran Brennan and Callum Paterson, replacing Jaden Brown after his unfortunate own goal in their 3-0 defeat against Hartlepool.

In the wing-back positions, with Theo Corbeanu being one of Wednesday’s shining lights in last week’s defeat in regards to his overall individual performance, we think Moore will reward him with another start here However, it could be on the left-hand side this time, replacing the underperforming Olamide Shodipo and with Jack Hunt starting on the right. 

In the three central midfield positions, we can see Lewis Wing being the only one to keep his place in the team from the Hartlepool game. Barry Bannan and Josh Windass, who is currently earning £12k-per-week according to Salary Sport, come in for George Byers and Oluwafisayo Dele-Bashiru. 

Up top, we think Moore will drop Sylla Sow after he failed to register even one shot at goal against the Pools, with Lee Gregory coming back in to play alongside Saido Berahino to see if they can secure a win for the Owls and push further up the table. 

Whatever team the manager picks, this will be a big match for his side tonight and one from which will be hoping to take all three points, with both teams seeking to push themselves closer to a promotion place.

In other news: Moore must unleash SWFC’s “outstanding” 19 y/o who’s “got a bit of everything” tonight

West Ham have approached Aston Villa over a move for centre-back Kortney Hause, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: El Ghazi interest

The 26-year-old isn’t the first Villa player with whom the Hammers have been linked during the January transfer window. David Moyes is also thought to be keen on signing Anwar El Ghazi, with the Irons manager viewing the Dutchman as a versatile attacking option at the London Stadium.

Villa are willing to part ways with the Netherlands international and would prefer a permanent sale, and it now seems as if Hause is also a player of interest.

The Latest: Source shares Hause update

Football Insider, who were informed by a West Ham source, shared a story on Saturday morning regarding Hause.

They claimed that the Hammers have approached Villa over a possible deal, but Steven Gerrard’s side have the option to extend the defender’s stay in the Midlands by a further 12 months.

The report added that, should Villa activate the clause, it would enable them to secure a significantly higher fee for Hause, with his manager open to moving him on if the club can bring in a replacement.

The Verdict: New addition needed first

Villa recently lost Axel Tuanzebe’s services after he cut short his season-long loan spell to join Italian side Napoli. That has left Gerrard with Hause, Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa as first team options in the centre of defence, so Villa certainly need one and possibly two additions at the back if they are to part ways with the 26-year-old.

The £25,000-a-week earner, who journalist Pat Rowe called a defender who ‘dominates players’, made his first start under Gerrard in the recent 2-1 defeat to Brentford, with a number of fans criticising his performance that day.

Incomings are needed at Villa Park before possibly letting Hause leave, but it seems as if a move to the capital could have legs, making it a transfer rumour to watch.

In other news: ‘Heartbroken’ – Many Villa fans react to Gregg Evans’ big transfer development

Crystal Palace still want to sign Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah this month, according to journalist Tom Barclay, who was talking to GiveMeSport.

The Lowdown: Ramsey links

Palace are yet to bolster their squad this month but could be set for a busy final few days of the January window going off recent reports. According to Italian news outlet TuttoJuve, the Eagles are getting ‘closer and closer’ to signing Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

Patrick Vieira is attempting to ‘convince’ the Welshman over a move to Selhurst Park, with the 31-year-old set to leave Turin before the end of the month. However, it’s not only Ramsey who Vieira wants at Selhurst Park before Monday’s deadline, with Nketiah also on the radar.

The Latest: Barclay’s claim

Barclay was talking to GiveMeSport regarding Palace and the 22-year-old Gunners forward. He revealed that the Eagles are still interested in the £45,000-a-week striker and would like to bring him to the club ‘now’.

Barclay stated: “They are interested. They tried to sign him in the summer and they would like to have him and they’d like to sign him now if possible.

“He’s obviously out of contract at the end of the season. I was told it was a difficult deal to do, Arteta’s gone on record saying he wants him to stay, he’d like him to sign a new contract apparently.”

The Verdict: Unlikely?

Reports prior to the New Year suggested that Palace would cut short Jean-Philippe Mateta’s loan spell to make way for a new striker As we know, that hasn’t happened, and with just days remaining in the transfer window, it seems as if a move for Nketiah won’t materialise.

That’s because Mikel Arteta has previously ruled out a January exit for the striker, so perhaps Palace should be looking at a summer swoop, when Nketiah could be a free agent.

A cut-price move could still be a shrewd one, though, as the forward is only 22 years of age and has 75 appearances for the Gunners under his belt, scoring once every 102 minutes in the current campaign.

In other news: ‘We’re big time’ – Many Palace fans erupt as ‘class’ transfer news emerges

A number of Aston Villa supporters have criticised Ashley Young’s performance in his side’s win away to Norwich City.

Steven Gerrard’s side produced a spirited performance away to Liverpool on Saturday, losing 1-0 at Anfield after Mohamed Salah penalty settled the game.

It may have been a negative result but it was further proof of the progress being made with Gerrard at the helm since he took charge last month.

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Tuesday’s trip to struggling Norwich was a far more winnable game, as Villa looked to get back to winning ways at Carrow Road.

They did just that, with Jacob Ramsey opening the scoring with a phenomenal solo goal, setting Gerrard’s men on their way to a well-fought victory which was wrapped up by Ollie Watkins.

One player who struggled for the visitors was Young, who was one of their worst rated players on Sofascore, completing just 19 passes and winning only two ground duels in his 60 minutes on the pitch, while he also made an error leading to a shot for the hosts.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-14/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Villa fans criticise Young’s display

These Villa fans took to Twitter to lay into Young’s performance.

“Ashley Young has to go”

Credit: @Luiz_SZN

“We are massively over using Young. Good squad member to use sparingly but increasingly exposed as a regular starter”

Credit: @GeoffKnox67

“In the nicest way possible, we need to get Ashley Young off the pitch”

Credit: @DomH97

“Beg we get Ings on I don’t think I can take another half of Ashley Young’s first touch”

Credit: @euanavfc

“Ashley Young has been terrible today unfortunately”

Credit: @AvfcU

“Ashley Young has been woeful so far tonight”

Credit: @Valentine06

In other news, one Villa player has been urged to leave the club on loan. Find out who it is here.

Aston Villa are interested in a deal to bring Connor Goldson to Villa Park in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Birmingham Live, who claim that Rangers have already identified their number one target to replace the centre-back this winter, amid the 28-year-old’s links with a move to Steven Gerrard’s side.

Furthermore, in a recent interview with Football Insider, Paddy Kenny suggested that the Scottish Premiership side could be happy to let the defender leave Ibrox in the January transfer window, as the fact the league champions have not yet renewed Goldson’s contract is rather strange.

Speaking about the centre-back’s contract situation, Kenny said: “I find it strange that Rangers haven’t sorted this. The fact that they have let it run down this far is a concern. They must know he can agree a pre-contract in January.

“Maybe Rangers are happy for him to move on, otherwise it makes no sense why they haven’t offered him a deal. As a player, if he has the option to follow Gerrard that might be something he considers.

“There is still time for them to sort a new deal out but it worries me that they haven’t got anything signed considering how big of a player he is for them.”

Lange must move

Considering just how important a player Goldson was for Gerrard during his time in Scotland, should a move for the 28-year-old be realistic in the January transfer window, it would appear highly advisable for Johan Lange to do all he can to lure the 6 foot 3 defender to Villa Park this winter.

Indeed, over his 38 Scottish Premiership appearances during Gers’ title-winning campaign last season, the £6.75m-rated man helped his side keep a mammoth 26 clean sheets, as well as making an average of 0.9 interceptions, 1.3 tackles, three clearances and winning 6.8 duels per game.

The player who Gerrard himself dubbed a “next level” centre-back also impressed going forwards, scoring four goals, registering two assists and creating two big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.1 shots and making 0.5 key passes per fixture.

These returns saw the £27k-per-week defender earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.39, ranking him as the club’s third-best performer in the top flight of Scottish football.

As such, it is clear to see that Goldson would make a fantastic addition to an Aston Villa defence that has already shipped 20 league goals so far this season, and, considering he is reported to be available for a bargain fee of just £2m, is also a player who Lange and Villa could easily afford.

In other news: Alan Nixon drops promising AVFC transfer claim that’ll surely leave fans buzzing

Some Everton fans have been left raging over some transfer news that has emerged on Dele Alli.

Speaking on The Athletic’s The View from The Lane Podcast (via Everton Blue Army), journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke has revealed that the Goodison Park faithful could now consider signing the Tottenham Hotspur midfield player on loan towards the end of the January transfer window, but there has not been any progress on that as of yet.

Alli has fallen away from the player he once was at Spurs, where he scored 50 goals and made 36 assists in the Premier League from midfield between the 2015/16 and 2019/20 seasons (regular England international.

However, just one goal and one assist has followed in the top flight over the last two terms (2019.

Nonetheless, it seems strange that the Merseyside club would look to loan him in on this kind of form, and so it is not surprising to see so many Toffees against the idea.

Everton fans on Alli transfer news

These Blues supporters raged as the transfer news was shared on Twitter:

“If this happens I give up”

Credit: @sammykingston7

“If this has a leg, please NO!”

Credit: @objective_KEL

“This club is finished”

Credit: @samwinch98

“Omg when will this hell end?”

Credit: @joeyslittertray

“When will this stuff ever end….it will end…. in the Championship.”

Credit: @Abelsouthall

“Please no. This would do me in”

Credit: @hado72

In other news, find out what transfer update has Evertonians fuming here!

If you are looking for a break from the stresses of football……………..!

Poker is a trendy game, and rightly so. Unlike other games of luck like slots, roulette, and blackjack, you can play with other people. This makes poker a perfect game to play with friends, family, or even total strangers.

You can play poker online today, like many other casino games. And for those who love bonuses, you can check out casino bonus sites in the UK.

Poker is a sport that requires a high level of skill and mental alertness. Poker tournaments can last several hours, and stamina is required. A saying says poker takes a day to learn but a lifetime to master. In other words, don’t feel frustrated if you seem not to be learning fast enough. Mastering poker indeed takes time, effort, and patience.

This article will provide ways to improve your poker skills.

 5 Ways to Improve your poker skills

Here are some ways to improve your poker skills:

Learn about the game

When starting poker as a beginner, the first step you need to take is to learn everything you can about the game. If you don’t understand the fundamentals of the game, there’s no way you can learn quickly.

You can start by watching tutorial videos. There are tons of videos for poker beginners on YouTube and Twitch. You can also visit poker blogs to learn about the latest poker strategies.

If you have a couple of bucks to spare, you can pick up poker strategy books. Strategy books are available for both online and live poker. A poker strategy book costs around $20 to $30. This budget is perfect for small stake players.

A significant edge that poker strategy books have over watching videos or scouring blogs is the extensive information they contain. You can learn more from a single poker book than you would ever learn from videos or blog posts.

Join online communities

Online forums are another way to accelerate your growth as a poker player. You’ll always find more experienced players who are more than happy to offer advice to new players. And you know the best part? It’s free.

You can even post your hands for review on poker forums to receive valuable feedback. However, not all the feedback you’ll get will be beneficial. Some pieces of advice may not be from winning pros. And it’s of no use when a blind person tries to lead another blind person.

When using online forums, another thing to keep in mind is to be polite and respectful. Other members will be more willing to help and share tips with you.

Hire a poker coach

Free tips and advice will help you as a beginner but won’t take you far. Hiring a personal poker coach is sure to speed up your growth. The sky will be your limit when you have a seasoned professional dedicated to helping you improve.

However, the big drawback with hiring a coach is that it’ll cost you. Well, there’s no fixed price. Expect to spend at least $200 per hour if you want a decent coach.

Hiring a poker coach is only advisable if you’re a mid-stake or high-stake player.

Study your hand’s history

If you play online poker, a good poker tracker is an indispensable ally if you want to up your game. It tracks your hands and results and your opponent’s statistics. The statistics the software gathers from your opponent help you devise strategies to beat them.

You can review each poker session later to find out your mistakes. Once you’ve discovered your errors, the next thing is to work on them. You’ll undoubtedly notice a significant improvement in your game over time. 

Play more poker

Practice makes perfect. If you want to get good at poker, you need to devote more time to improve your skills. That’s just how it works. A coach and books can’t do your work for you.

You also have to find a perfect balance between theory and practice. Too much theory without much practice is useless. And practice without theory or strategy is like running without direction. Your progress will be slow— if you make any at all.

Practice what you learn consistently. You might not notice the daily improvements instantly. However, one day when you look back, you’ll be surprised at how far you’ve come and your progress. 

Conclusion

Getting good at poker can appear a daunting challenge at first. However, you can become that professional you’ve always dreamed of with patience and consistency.

Focus on one thing at a time. An overload of information does more harm than good. You’ll progress faster when you take things a step at a time than when you’re trying to learn everything at once.

Photo by Unsplash

Newcastle United are reportedly now plotting a £75m double raid in the summer transfer window to try and sign both Darwin Nunez and Sven Botman.

The Lowdown: January business done

The January window is now shut, and the St. James’ Park faithful have done a lot of business as expected in the hopes of Eddie Howe keeping them up.

Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Matt Targett and Dan Burn were all brought through the doors in the North East, and the Toon Army can expect even more big business to be done in the summer, so long as they can avoid relegation from the Premier League down to the Championship.

The Latest: Nunez and Botman raid

As per The Daily Mirror, the Tyneside outfit are already plotting a £75m double raid in the summer for Nunez and Botman, with the former rated at £40m and the latter valued at £35m.

Botman has already confirmed that he will be leaving Lille in the summer, but West Ham United are also targeting Nunez, and so he may not be as easy to sign.

The Verdict: Sign both!

Described as an ‘amazing‘ centre-back by AC Milan director Frederic Massara, and dubbed a ‘machine’ who ‘doesn’t make mistakes’ by Lille teammate Jose Fonte, Botman is the perfect man to take the Magpies’ defence to the next level.

Meanwhile, Nunez would be an exciting new addition to the frontline, with his 20 goals and two assists in just 26 games in total over all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt).

He has previously been described as a ‘special’ player with ‘no ceiling’ by Almeria sporting director Joao Goncalves (BBC), while sports journalist Maxi Angelo thinks that he is an ‘incredible talent’.

Nonetheless, providing that they stay up, getting both in would really kickstart NUFC’s revolution.

In other news, find out which title-winner Newcastle ‘asked’ about hours before the deadline here!