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A major update has emerged on Rangers defender Calvin Bassey’s availability for the Ibrox giants over the next two months…

What’s the latest?

The Gers beast could have missed a number of games after the winter break due to the African Cup of Nations, but the Glasgow Times reports that he has been left out of the Nigeria squad for the competition.

Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun are both set to jet off to play for their country and will miss, among other games, an Old Firm clash with Celtic at the start of February. Bassey, meanwhile, will now be able to feature in that derby matchup.

Fans will love it

Fans will surely love this news as it could be a major boost to the Gers heading into the Premiership schedule after the break ends. Depending on how far Nigeria go in the competition, Aribo and Balogun look set to miss a few games, but Bassey will now be available for selection barring suspension or injury.

This will delight the supporters as he has been in fine form in recent weeks since moving to centre-back from his more natural left-back role. He has played nine games times Gio van Bronckhorst took over at the club and the Gers have kept seven clean sheets in those matches.

Bassey has recorded one SofaScore rating lower than 6.9 in the last nine outings, which came against Lyon in a 1-1 draw in the Europa League. This shows that he has been consistently delivering excellent performances, as eight of his nine appearances have ended with him putting in an impressive showing.

The Dutch head coach praised the defender towards the start of his reign, saying:

“I’ve been really impressed. Calvin’s a really talented defender. Normally he plays in the left-back position but doesn’t have much experience in the centre back area. So I’m really happy with his performances so far. I think he has the physical ability to play there.

“We will help him a lot in that position, when he has to pass, when he has to dribble, the positioning he has to take when the other defender has got the ball.

“He’s a player who is very open to learning, and he gives a lot of energy to the team.”

These quotes from the retired left-back and Bassey’s statistics in recent weeks show why his availability will be a big boost for the club.

Fans will love to see him in action again after the break as he has been showing that he can be a top player for the side at centre-back and, hopefully, he can continue his form throughout the rest of the season and in the future.

AND in other news, “I’m sure”: Reporter drops exciting Rangers transfer claim that’ll leave fans buzzing…

Crystal Palace could form a dream duo at Selhurst Park this summer after being linked to both Frank Lampard and Conor Gallagher.

What’s the story?

The former Chelsea manager has been identified as a potential candidate to succeed Roy Hodgson in south London for several weeks, while Blues midfielder Gallagher is a transfer target following a successful loan spell at West Bromwich Albion last season.

According to The Sun, Palace are poised to make a £15 million bid for the highly-rated England Under-21 international.

Imagine him and Lampard

Whoever eventually replaces Hodgson at the capital club will be faced with a huge task. Over a dozen first-team players are set to become free agents at the end of the month, meaning a substantial squad rebuild will have to be carried out on a shoestring budget.

The task at hand, therefore, arguably requires a more experienced head than Lampard’s, but the 42-year-old tactician’s potential appointment does have some attractive elements.

Throughout his short time in the dugout, the retired box-to-box ace has already developed an enviable reputation of developing young talent and advancing their careers through regular game time.

The likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James and Fikayo Tomori have previously benefitted from Lampard’s faith in inexperienced stars, and Gallagher could be next to receive such treatment if the pair joined up together at Selhurst Park.

After making 30 Premier League appearances for the Baggies last season, scoring two goals and laying on a further two assists for his teammates, the 5 ft 10 gem has attracted the attention of several top-flight sides.

Once described by former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan as being a “different class” to his fellow Championship colleagues throughout the 2019/20 campaign, Gallagher has made himself a wanted man in England’s top division.

Pairing the youngster with Lampard could be a dream scenario for Palace over the coming months as they look to progress in this post-Hodgson era.

Former West Brom boss Slaven Bilic previously compared Gallagher to the Chelsea record goalscorer, claiming “you can’t help but notice” the similarities between the pair, and if anyone could maximise the midfielder’s potential, then surely it’s Lampard.

And, in other news…Romano provides CPFC update on “extraordinary” £14.4m-rated gem, fans will be buzzing 

Aston Villa, along with Crystal Palace, are thought to be leading the way in the race to sign Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

That’s according to a weekend report from TEAMtalk, which, as to be expected, has had many Villa fans talking on social media.

TEAMtalk claim that Loftus-Cheek, who is currently out on loan with Fulham and has over three years left on his Stamford Bridge deal, is not in the Blues’ long-term plans.

Chelsea have informed interested sides that they would be open to a permanent deal, with Villa keen on a potential summer swoop.

Loftus-Cheek has been a regular in Scott Parker’s side this season, making 29 appearances, scoring just once.

The Cottagers’ chances of signing the attacking midfielder on a full-time basis depends on their Premier League status next season.

Villa fans react

Birmingham Live relayed the story and shared the transfer news on Twitter.

This is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply, with one picking out the Englishman’s ‘powerful’ nature.

“Oh boy another waste of space , we’ve already got Barkley”

Credit: @r_ecrowley

“Please”

Credit: @etmm05

“Perfect signing personally, I’d sign him and pay whatever Utd and Lingard want as well!”

Credit: @PHolmes89

“Bench upgrade, exactly what we need going forward, for the right price.”

Credit: @jondodd53

“Very good player and powerful but injury prone”

Credit: @villa_vernon

“Decent player, with good strength. Something we can sometimes lack.”

Credit: @duncanlowen

In other news: Villa keen on versatile defender valued at £21.5m, find out more here. 

Andrew Dickson was left slamming Glen Kamara after his part in a goal conceded by Glasgow Rangers in their Scottish Premiership clash at lunchtime.

The Lowdown: Early setback

After going 1-0 up early on at Motherwell, the Ibrox faithful were dealt a setback when Leon Balogun was given a straight red card just before the half-hour mark.

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The hosts then equalised through Ross Tierney, before Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team eventually got a grip on the game in the second half.

The Latest: Kamara slammed

Taking to Twitter, Scottish football journalist Dickson slammed Kamara after Tierney’s goal, claiming that it was an ‘all-round shambles’ from him as he put unnecessary pressure on his side:

“That was an all-round shambles from Glen Kamara. Rangers have gone from being very comfortable to on the ropes in five minutes.”

The Verdict: Not his best

That moment from Kamara was certainly not his best in a Light Blues shirt, as he was guilty of dwelling on the ball when he should have really just cleared his lines.

That was one of eight occasions that he gave the ball away cheaply, while he also lost three of his duels, made no clearances and failed to block any shots on his goal (SofaScore).

Lucky for the Finland international, the Teddy Bears won the match anyway, but van Bronckhorst will surely be concerned about his midfield maestro going into their first leg against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Europa League.

In other news, find out what ‘huge blow’ has now emerged for the Gers here!

James Tavernier deserves a huge amount of credit for the role he has played in Rangers’ title win this season and considering his current contract is set to expire at the end of the next campaign, Steven Gerrard and Ross Wilson must both make it his priority to ensure that the captain signs a new deal to stay at Ibrox.

Although the 29-year-old has missed the last month of action through injury, he was enjoying an incredible season for Gerrard’s side earlier in the campaign and has been a huge factor in their title win.

In 29 Premiership appearances, the defender has contributed a remarkable 11 goals and nine assists, averaging a superb 7.76 rating for his performances.

This comfortably ranks him as Rangers’ best performer in the league so far this season, with Joe Aribo’s 7.44 average rating the closest to the captain, which again highlights just how important he has been in the title success.

It is not a surprise that Tavernier has been attracting interest from the Premier League, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Newcastle United all reportedly interested in signing him.

Whilst the Gers were able to keep hold of their captain in the winter transfer window, they may struggle if some of the top Premier League clubs come knocking in the summer, especially because they are not in a strong position with Tavernier’s contract.

As it stands, the right-back’s contract with Rangers will expire at the end of next season, meaning he could potentially leave on a free transfer, whilst foreign clubs could potentially negotiate with him in January 2022, with the view to signing him on a Bosman transfer deal.

Considering Tavernier is valued at £7.2 million by Transfermarkt, which is only second to Alfredo Morelos in the Rangers squad, the club will be desperate not to lose him on a free transfer or for a reduced fee.

With the Champions League to come next season, Gerrard will also be desperate to keep his captain around, having described him as “unstoppable” earlier in the season.

Therefore, both Wilson and Gerrard must work hard to try and convince Tavernier to sign a new deal with Rangers, otherwise, you worry that his head could be turned by the prospect of playing in the Premier League on what would presumably be a much higher salary.

And, in other news… Rangers could be set to receive a huge boost on £11k-p/w beast Gerrard dubbed “world-class”

West Ham are monitoring former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who looks set to leave Juventus.

That’s according to a report from Italian outlet Calciomercato.

The lowdown

Ramsey is said to be ‘destined’ to leave Turin after what the report calls ‘two seasons full of physical problems and misunderstandings’.

The Welshman joined Juventus on the expiry of his Arsenal contract ahead of the 2019/20 season.

He signed a four-year deal worth as much as £400,000 per week with the Old Lady.

The 30-year-old made 13 Serie A starts last season, scoring twice and providing four assists.

£12.6million-rated midfielder Ramsey is currently on Euro 2020 duty, so the uncertainty surrounding his future may be prolonged.

The latest

The Premier League apparently offers ‘the greatest outlets’ to Ramsey, with West Ham not the only English club considering a move.

Crystal Palace and Everton are also named, though the latter will have to wait until a successor for Carlo Ancelotti is appointed before they can proceed with their business.

Ramsey’s entourage is said to be in ‘constant’ contact with potential buyers.

The verdict

A fit and firing Ramsey is an outstanding player of course, but this wouldn’t be a sensible move for West Ham.

Just since joining Juventus, he has missed games with nine different injury concerns – it’s simply too much of a gamble when considering the wages he would likely demand.

Though you’d think Ramsey will be forced to agree to a substantial pay-cut if he does depart Turin, even a 50% reduction would make him the Hammers’ highest-paid player by some distance.

The club should continue boxing clever in the market instead of making reckless moves for big names.

In other news, many Hammers fans reacted to this footage.  

Crystal Palace and Leeds United have both been credited with an interest in Celta Vigo midfielder Okay Yokuslu this week.

And a number of Eagles fans have been giving their thoughts on the rumours on social media.

According to El Desmarque, cited by Sports Witness, both Palace and Leeds are in the picture to sign the 27-year-old.

The holding midfielder also has interest from his native Turkey, however, his agent admitted there is no desire to move to the Super Lig this summer.

Yokuslu made 16 Premier League appearances on loan with West Brom last season after joining for the second half of the campaign, one of which came in a 1-0 defeat to Palace in March.

It seems as if the Eagles hierarchy like what they see in the Turkey international, despite not having a first-team manager in place.

Palace fans react

@CPFCtransfersHQ shared the links to Yokuslu on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon.

This is what these Palace supporters had to say in reply, with many excited at the links and one describing it as ‘positive news’.

“Our team has been crying out for a proper dm since Jedi left so this would be perfect”Credit: @Connormzz”Yokuslu, Gallagher & AMN midfield is legitimately world-class.”Credit: @SWPalace”Some positive news”Credit: @CPFCMax9″Streets need a Yokuslu x Jairo pivot”Credit: @Sumo08112″Yes please”Credit: @Phillyconcarne”I’ll get his shirt if he joins”Credit: @Reid_Jenden15

In other news: Eagles keen on Premier League striker, find out more here. 

Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham looks set to return to the club this summer following his loan spell with Marseille.

That’s according to La Provence, cited by the Daily Record, who claimed that the Ligue 1 side will not take up their option of making Ntcham’s deal permanent at the end of the season.

Marseille could have forked out around £4.5m to sign the Frenchman on a full-time basis, but it seems as if that won’t be the case.

Ntcham’s woeful form

Ntcham hasn’t exactly had the most memorable of loan spells in his native country.

He sealed a move back to France on deadline day, but he has made just three starts for the club, being replaced at half-time in every one of those matches.

Transfer Tavern take

The news may come as a blow to the Hoops, who could also receive cash due to former striker Moussa Dembele this summer. They may have been hoping to receive £4.5m for Ntcham as well ahead of a Parkhead rebuild.

Ntcham is valued at £3.15m by Transfermarkt and will have just 12 months remaining on his Parkhead deal in the summer.

Celtic may then have a big decision on their hands ahead of the 2021/22 campaign – do they look to offload Ntcham in a cut-price deal, or include him in their plans for the new season?

In other news: Celtic defender unlikely to be at Parkhead next season, find out more here. 

Newcastle must look to bring back Adam Armstrong this summer amid Steve Howey’s transfer claim.

What’s the story?

The 24-year-old was on the books at St James’ Park as a youngster, but after failing to make the grade on Tyneside, made the permanent switch to Blackburn Rovers.

And now, Howey has suggested that the striker would “relish” the prospect of making the move back to Newcastle, and it’s on Steve Bruce whether the Magpies make an attempt to sign him or not – reports earlier this year indicated that the club are actually leading the queue to do so.

Speaking exclusively to FFC’s sister site, TT, he said: “I think he’d relish the chance of coming back and he’d be desperate to score goals because he is a goalscorer and we’ve seen him score some excellent goals from Blackburn.

“I think he’d be desperate for the chance to come back but it’s just whether the club are prepared to make that move.”

Newcastle must strike

At Ewood Park, Armstrong has turned into a real goal-scoring sensation, and is realising the kind of potential that marked him out as a potential start back at Newcastle.

This season has seen him score a remarkable 28 goals in just 40 Championship games, despite Rovers finishing mid-table in the league and well off the play-off places.

It’s no surprise then that his manager at the club, Tony Mowbray, has waxed lyrical about the £14.4m-rated centre-forward, lauding the kind of explosiveness that really marks him out as a player.

Mowbray said: “He’s a goalscorer. He always has been. I took him to Coventry because I saw him score some amazing goals for England Under-19s. He scores off both feet, he’s electrically fast off the mark, he’s got all the attributes.

“As long as you’ve got players who can slide him in, put passes over the top, put the ball in space for him he’ll score goals. His explosive pace at the top end of the pitch allows you to play both ways. it’s a devastating effect for the team.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/newcastle-steve-bruce-premier-league-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-st-james-park-joelinton-shelvey-max-aarons” title=”Read the latest Newcastle transfer rumours and news!”]

If the Magpies are looking for a proven “goal-scorer” this summer to help support Callum Wilson, then they should look no further than a man who they are wholly familiar with.

Meanwhile, Bruce must avoid an unforgivable Newcastle howler this summer…

Shamrock Rovers defender Liam Scales will undergo a Celtic medical on Friday ahead of a move to Parkhead, The Irish Examiner report.

The Lowdown: Scales’ versatility

Scales, 23, is primarily a centre-back but can also play as a left-back or as a left midfielder.

He’s made 51 appearances for his current employers and has been described as ‘brilliant’ by manager Stephen Bradley.

Celtic see the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international’s versatility as crucial, and it appears as if he will become the club’s ninth summer signing over the coming days.

The Latest: Deal confirmed

The Irish Examiner shared a story on Thursday afternoon, hours before Celtic’s Europa League clash with AZ Alkmaar.

They claimed that Scales will undergo a medical on Friday, with all other aspects of the deal completed.

Personal terms have been agreed and Celtic will pay Shamrock Rovers an initial fee of €600,000.

Celtic have since confirmed that an agreement has been reached for Scales on Friday morning, subject to usual conditions and international clearance. Whether those “conditions” are indeed a medical or simply dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s is not clear.

The Verdict: Shrewd signing

Scales was described as the hottest property in the League of Ireland earlier this summer, so it seems as if the Hoops are getting themselves a promising player for a reasonable price.

He’ll be able to provide cover at left-back and further forward if required while also challenging Ange Postecoglou’s centre-backs.

Dominic McKay looks to have got this transfer wrapped up, so he may now turn his focus to other signings late in the window.

In other news: Cheaper than Juranovic: Details of another Celtic agreement emerge on Thursday.