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According to a report by Wales Online, out-of-favour Liverpool right-back Nathaniel Clyne is a January transfer target for Premier League strugglers Cardiff City, and Celtic should hijack any potential move for the 27-year-old.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Wales Online report that Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock is keen to sign a new right-back in the New Year, and Clyne is a player on his radar as he considers a loan approach for the former Southampton and Crystal Palace defender.

Wales Online report that both the player and Reds manager Jurgen Klopp are open to a January exit for the England international, who has fallen behind Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez in the pecking order for the right-sided full-back role.

Clyne has only played 90 minutes of first-team football – in the EFL Cup –  for the Merseyside outfit so far this season, and has only made the 18-man squad once – on the opening day against West Ham United – in 12 occasions in the Premier League.

Why should Celtic sign him?

Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed in his pre-match Hamilton press conference on Thursday that he is already monitoring potential signings ahead of the January window, and one of the positions he will surely be looking to strengthen is at right-back.

Check out the video below to see how Brazil fans reacted to being asked how Cristiano Ronaldo would peform for them in a hilarious prank by Playmaker FC…

While the Northern Irishman has Mikael Lustig and Cristian Gamboa competing for that spot, both have often flattered to deceive when they have been on the pitch and the duo also see their contracts expire at the end of the season.

Rodgers actually brought Clyne to Anfield from Southampton in the summer of 2015 and will be well aware of his qualities, and he should look to save the pacy 27-year-old from his current Liverpool nightmare with a loan swoop, before making him his first-choice right-back for the rest of the campaign given he is 10x better than current first-choice Lustig.

Rafa Benitez took a tactical risk on Monday evening by switching from a conventional four at the back system to a three man central defence with two wing-backs, and it was a risk which paid dividends for Newcastle United. 

Burnley had their chances at Turf Moor yesterday evening but, generally speaking, Newcastle’s defensive unit kept clear cut chances at a premium.

Against a typically physical Burnley attack, spearheaded by Chris Wood, Newcastle held firm and demonstrated a comfort within the new system which suggests Benitez will be seriously contemplating a long-term shift in philosophy.

Burnley’s lack of pace upfront enabled Newcastle to enjoy time in possession of the ball inside their own half, and Fabian Schar exploited this to eye-catching effect at times, particularly in the first-half.

With the freedom of Turf Moor to pick a long-range pass, Schar delivered a handful of incisive long-range passes deep into Burnley’s territory, regularly exploiting the space which Matt Ritchie enjoyed on the left touchline.

Schar was signed by Rafa Benitez for a fee of just £3.6 million in the summer transfer window and, although he was brought in to bolster the defensive unit, his performance last night proved that he can also provide Newcastle with an extra dynamic going forward.

During tightly contested fixtures, in which a killer long ball over the top could prove to be the difference, Schar’s vision for a perfectly weighted pass will prove invaluable.

And when you take his forward-thinking quality into consideration alongside his obvious defensive prowess, it’s clear to see that Benitez made a very wise decision to bring a new secret weapon to the club.

Newcastle fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

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Everton are crying out for another natural goalscorer to take some of the pressure off Richarlison, and Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez could be perfect for Marco Silva’s high-tempo system.

What’s the word?

Everton were heavily criticised for splashing out a potential £50m on Richarlison this summer, but there’s no question the Brazilian international is going to be worth every penny.

However, the 21 year-old is bound to go through some dry patches, just like he did at Watford last season, and the Toffees need another goalscorer to help him out.

Martinez has just broken the record for goals in a single MLS season, and the electric Venezuelan international is ready for the big step up to one of Europe’s top leagues.

Fans will always have reservations about signing a player from MLS, but Martinez’s record for Atlanta United is quite simply breathtaking.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”335309″ player=”12034″ title=”Rafa’s Pub Facts Boring Boring Man Utd & Kings Of London Revealed”]

A goalscoring machine

The 25 year-old has scored 50 league goals in 54 appearances for the new franchise in Atlanta, who will play in the MLS Cup final at the beginning of December.

The 46-cap Venezuelan international has 34 goals and five assists in 38 games this season, an incredible conversion rate considering he is only taking an average of 2.7 shots per game.

Martinez is just 5 ft 7 in tall, but his low centre of gravity, agility and strength actually makes him almost impossible to tackle.

His link-up play isn’t bad either, boasting an 80 per cent pass completion rate and averaging 1.1 key passes per game.

It will be a gamble buying a player who has struggled in Europe before (seven goals in 58 Serie A games for Torino), but every transfer is a gamble, and Martinez is statistically the hottest striker on the planet right now.

So, Everton fans, would you back a move for Martinez? Could he form a devastating partnership with Richarlison? Let us know your thought by voting in the poll below…

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Bournemouth are having perhaps the best season to date in the club’s history right now, with arguably the best team in their history, but a serious injury to star midfielder Lewis Cook is threatening to derail their campaign.

The first game they played without the England international, in which Andrew Surman replaced him in the starting line-up, the Cherries lost 4-0 to Liverpool and were overrun in midfield, a position that Cook and £25m man Jefferson Lerma have bossed so far this season.

As a result of Surman’s inability to replicate the 21-year-old’s impact, and with only Dan Gosling to come in other than him, Eddie Howe must look to the transfer window for answers.

One man that is definitely Premier League quality but has been playing in the Championship for almost six months now is Stoke midfielder Joe Allen. The Welshman is used to the high intensity football that Bournemouth play thanks to his time at Swansea and Liverpool, so he should fit right in.

We asked fans of the South Coast club if they’d like to see Allen at the Vitality Stadium, and a convincing 67% of voters said they’d like to see the 28-year-old sign as shown by the results below…

Southampton take on Arsenal on Sunday in a game that not many will expect the Saints to take anything from. 

The Gunners are currently on a 22-game unbeaten run and are looking to pick up another win in order to keep up their hunt for the top four. Southampton, however, have only picked up two points over their last six games.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has a lot of work to do if he wants to change the fortunes of Southampton but in fairness, there’s the basis of a good squad. Contrary to BBC pundit, Mark Lawrenson’s comments, Southampton might not need to spend £50-60 million next month.

The Breakdown

Southampton have a terrible fixture list up ahead as they face West Ham, Man City and Chelsea over the next few weeks. Moreover, after losing to Cardiff City, there’s even more pressure on the club to pick up the win against Huddersfield.

Against Cardiff, we got an insight into how Hasenhuttl will play going forward and on paper, it looks like a side that could definitely stay up. Stuart Armstrong has been a superb signing, Oriol Romeu is a very solid midfielder while Yan Valery looks like he could turn out to be a potential star. Furthermore, with Danny Ings back fit, they have a striker that can score them the goals they need to stay up if they can keep him healthy.

Saints may need to dip into the transfer window next month but they certainly don’t need to spend big money.

Thoughts Southampton fans? 

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West Ham should be looking to replace Pablo Zabaleta as the Argentine nears the end of his career, and should target a move for Strasbourg’s impressively versatile Kenny Lala to be the heir to his throne at right-back.

What’s the word, then?

The 27-year-old can play anywhere along the right flank, and to great effect. In Ligue 1 this season, Lala has played at right-back six times, on the right-wing five times, and as a wing-back six times, impressing massively and even notching goals against the likes of PSG and Monaco.

In those 17 appearances, Lala has hit three goals and recorded six assists, and appears to be a phenomenally well rounded player who can almost do it all.

Lala’s main attributes are his crossing ability, defensive contribution and ability to play key, defence splitting passes, whilst he is also a surprisingly good shooter from distance. The Frenchman is in the form of his life and deserves a big move as a result of his fine performances.

Why would West Ham want him?

Zabaleta has been a good servant to the Hammers since arriving at the club in the summer of 2017, but at 33 years of age, is perhaps nearing the end of his time as a Premier League player. Manuel Pellegrini did look to sign an heir back in the summer in Ryan Fredericks, but the 26-year-old has suffered a few injuries and has struggled for game time.

The east London side had great success buying from Ligue 1 in the summer when they bought Issa Diop to the London Stadium, and they should definitely return to France again in January or in the summer to bring Lala to the club.

He is still a relatively unknown name in football, which means that West Ham could have a free run at his signature whilst he may not cost an earth-shattering amount either.

According to The Mirror, PSG, Juventus and Bayern Munich are all in the hunt to sign Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.

With the Welshman certain to leave, Unai Emery must now focus on identifying his replacement.

What’s the word?

Ramsey has been a vital player for the Gunners in his decade with the club, and has often had an impact in big games, including scoring the winning goal in two FA Cup finals. His departure will certainly leave a significant hole in the Arsenal squad.

Playmaker FC believes Arsenal fans won’t have to wait long to see Unai Emery’s long-term ambitions for the club come to fruition. Watch the video below to find out why…

However, bringing in a new player who replicates Ramsey’s own attributes may not be the wisest course of action. Whilst the Gunners may miss his stamina, skill and goal threat, bringing in a more creative, physical, tenacious figure would be the smarter move. 

For that reason, Emery should seek to reunite with Ever Banega at the Emirates Stadium.

Emery’s next step

Emery worked with the 30-year-old during his time in charge at Sevilla, and the 65-cap Argentina international is well-suited and experienced with the Spaniard’s preferred style of play.

The midfielder is a battling presence, who would add some much-needed steel to the midfield contingent at the Emirates Stadium. As Emery seeks to continue rebuilding the Arsenal squad in his image, the signing of Banega would represent a big step forward in that process.

What’s more, according to The Mirror, Banega’s agents are in London, keen to secure their client a move to Arsenal that would only set the Gunners back the price of the Sevilla man’s £18 million release clause.

Rafa Benitez should look to have a slight shuffle of the squad in January.

Benitez has been working with limited funds for quite some time now and as the January transfer window approaches, that could change.

The Magpies have been reportedly been linked with four names according to The Mirror, most notably Miguel Almiron, Atlanta United’s creative midfielder and regardless of a potential takeover, that should not seem to affect his spending.

As well as incomings, there could be a couple of outgoings too that Benitez could offload to raise more transfer funds for the club.

Therefore, Benitez has no choice but to send this Newcastle DUO packing in January…

Karl Darlow

Having been brought to Newcastle ahead of the 2015/16 season, not much was mentioned of Karl Darlow. After a handful of Premier League appearances at the back-end of that season and relegation to the Championship, he cemented his place the following campaign.

Upon a return to the Premier League with Newcastle in 2017/18, Darlow was not nailed on as number one and Martin Dubravka’s performances soon took that throne, which has been retained by the Slovakian ever since.

With just one game this season, Darlow should move on to continue playing at a good standard and as Newcastle have four goalkeepers. That would allow the young, hungry Freddie Woodman to keep Dubravka on his toes.

Isaac Hayden

Alike Darlow, Isaac Hayden was key in Newcastle’s Championship triumph, however, since handing in a transfer request last summer citing “family reasons” and getting sent off in his first outing of this season, it seems he has since lost Benitez’s faith.

Since the sending off, Hayden has only played four times since, amounting to 123 minutes. If he is granted the wish to move away from the North East, Newcastle would be able to raise funds for their transfer budget to bring in fresh faces in January.

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According to the print version of The Daily Mail (January 8, page 72), Nottingham Forest are reportedly keen to sign Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton on loan, but they should forget about him and try and sign his teammate Joe Hart instead.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Daily Mail reported on Tuesday that Reds boss Aitor Karanka wants to bring the experienced 32-year-old to The City Ground for the second-half of the Championship campaign as they eye promotion.

An exit that looked to be on the cards just a few weeks ago could now be in doubt however, with the England international replacing Hart between the sticks for the Clarets’ previous two Premier League fixtures – keeping two clean sheets in two wins in the process.

The Daily Mail adds that Heaton will only stay if he is guaranteed to be a starter at Turf Moor, but that could be in doubt as firstly he needs to keep his place ahead of Hart, and also because former number one Nick Pope is set to return from injury imminently.

Why should Forest move for Hart?

The Sun reported on Tuesday that fellow Championship outfit have enquired about bringing the former Manchester City man in on loan, and he could well be a stopper in demand if he slips down the pecking order at Burnley.

Pl>ymaker FC’s Matchday With Max was at the East Midlands Derby in December. Check out Forest and Derby fans thoughts on their respective managers in the video below…

The 31-year-old would surely prefer to be playing than sitting on the substitutes’ bench or perhaps even worse at this stage of his career, and a temporary move down a division to play regularly could tempt him.

Costel Pantilimon has certainly flattered to deceive at points this season for the play-off chasing Reds, and while Hart has been dropped by Sean Dyche he also showed plenty of glimpses of the quality he has in his locker prior to that in the top-flight this term.

Signing him would be a huge coup and with a big personality to boot, he could help Forest over the line come what May.

Liverpool remain primed to win the Premier League despite a poor week which has seen them lose to Man City and drop out of the FA Cup at the first attempt.

The Reds are still in the clear at the top of the table, but the pressure is growing, and it will be a massive period of the season for Jurgen Klopp and his team during the next few months as to if they really are top contenders for the big prize.

The squad at Anfield is probably better than it has ever been, but there is, like with most squads, players within the squad who simply might not be up to the standard needed to ensure the Reds continue to challenge.

It’s for that reason that we here at the Tavern think Klopp should act now to clear some space in his squad, and while he might not move to bring replacements in, sometimes just clearing out some of the players not involved can refresh things and ensure the club are not carrying dead weight.

With that in mind, we’ve looked at TWO Liverpool players who Klopp should be looking to move on in the coming weeks…

Divock Origi

Liverpool might be short of central striking options, and the sale of Dominic Solanke makes them even lighter, but Origi has never looked like doing it.

Despite his goal which sealed the Merseyside derby earlier in the season, Origi has not ever looked like being a legitimate centre forward of note for Liverpool.

Klopp should cash in while he is still young and commanding a big fee, and there would no doubt be interest from Europe for the Belgian.

Alberto Moreno

The Spaniard has been out of the picture for some time now, and the addition of Andrew Robertson only highlighted how below par Moreno’s showings had been.

He’s not looking like getting into the team any time soon, and he will no doubt know himself that his time is up at Anfield.

Klopp should get rid, frankly. There is little point in keeping the left back around the place.