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Celtic will "try to the end" for one highly-rated player in particular this summer, as journalist Rudy Galetti provides a key update.

Is Dominik Livakovic joining Celtic?

While The Bhoys transfer window may have gotten underway in perhaps the worst way possible with the departure of the incredibly dynamic and engaging Jota leaving Celtic Park for the Saudi Pro League's riches, things have started to look up for Brendan Rodgers' side.

The contract extensions given to Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda, along with the signings of several new and exciting players, have given the club a real boost as the season gets underway in Scotland. However, there are still areas of the team that could be improved upon, including the goalkeeper.

The number one the Hoops have been chasing for much of this window is Dinamo Zagreb stopper Livakovic. However, with transfers expert Fabrizio Romano reporting that Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbache were days away from securing the Croat's signature last month, it looked like any hope of a deal was off.

However, in the month since the sides reportedly agreed on a deal, the Croatian international has remained in Zagreb, making five appearances for the club he was supposed to be leaving.

This stalemate between the two sides could work in Celtic's favour, and according to journalist Rudy Galetti, the Glaswegian Giants are looking to take "advantage" of the current situation.

What has journalist Rudy Galetti said about Dominik Livakovic to Celtic?

Galetti confirmed that whilst the Hoops are looking for a new left-back, they are also working to capitalise on the stalemate between Fenerbahce and Zagreb, even if it's proving to be "complicated."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "Celtic are working for a new left-back and started contact with LOSC Lille for Gabriel Gudmundsson.

"Celtic need to sign a new goalkeeper as well, and they are trying to take advantage of the stalemate between Fenerbahce and Dinamo Zagreb for Livakovic. It's a complicated option, but Celtic will try to the end for him."

How old is Dominik Livakovic

Born January 9th, 1995, in Zadar, Croatia, the 28-year-old, who has been described as a potential "wonderful" signing, is certainly a player who, whilst never playing for a club outside of his home country, has shown himself to be a classy operator.

So far, the Dinamo Zagreb star has made 45 appearances for the Croatian national team and became something of a national hero for his unbelievable performances at the World Cup last year.

The 6 foot 2 shot-stopper made seven appearances in the competition, conceding an average of just one goal a game, making 3.6 saves per game and preventing 3.52 goals a game, all while averaging a match rating of 7.33, per Sofascore.

However, his best performance – and probably the best goalkeeping performance of the entire tournament – came in their quarter-final tie against one of the competition favourites, Brazil.

Over the course of the game, the Selecao forced him into making 11 saves, which was the most saves a Croatian keeper has ever had to make in a World Cup match as well as the most saves any keeper had to make in a World Cup game since Tim Howard in 2014 against Belgium, per the Analyst.

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He was also the key man when the game came down to penalties, winning the game for the 2018 runners-up by saving Rodrygo's spot kick.

His exploits were greatly appreciated by manager Zlatko Dalic who heaped praise on him following the game, saying:

"But he made the difference for us through the whole match. Brazil created some chances through their quality and speed but he prevented goals because he was in top shape – he was there in the crucial moments to save us."

Whilst Livakovic's lack of club football outside of Croatia may worry some potential suitors, his performances at the World Cup should be evidence enough of his sheer quality and were Rodgers and Celtic able to get this deal over the line, it could go a long way in helping them keep hold of the title for another year.

Arsenal could be set to reignite their interest in an old target, pouncing on the dwindling contract of a top star.

What's the latest on Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to Arsenal?

That's according to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who reveal the Gunners' interest in Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Having been linked before in the past, this is a move that could finally come to fruition given the Serbian maestro's £99k-per-week deal is due to expire in 2024.

The report notes that, whilst he is waiting to finish the season, his agent is already taking the necessary steps to mastermind his move away. His plan is to re-establish connections with clients of the past and given they arguably held the greatest interest, the north London outfit has emerged as top of his priority list.

With the 28-year-old keen on a switch to the Premier League too, and space in Mikel Arteta's midfield having just opened up with the impending exit of the long-serving Granit Xhaka, it seems this opportunity could have presented itself at the perfect time for the Spanish tactician seeking to bridge the gap between themselves and Manchester City.

Sky Italy have also previously outlined a €35m (£30m) price tag.

How good is Sergej Milinkovic-Savic?

To think of the success that their Swiss general gained in a more deep-lying creative role, having recorded 16 goal contributions in all competitions alongside Martin Odegaard, the thought of replacing him with Milinkovic-Savic is a truly frightening one.

Lazio's main man has boasted some of the most impressive attacking statistics in Europe for someone operating so deep, with a technical proficiency that means he could play as a holding midfielder, from box to box, or even in the no.10 role. This versatility lends itself to Arteta's system, which relies on two midfielders to shine at the apex of his box midfield.

As the Norway international scored 15 goals and assisted a further eight, displaying his deft creativity, adding the 6 foot 4 powerhouse beside him would make the duo a near-unstoppable pairing, one without a real weakness.

After all, from central midfield in Serie A, the attack-minded monster recorded nine goals and eight assists of his own this season.

This served to support Maurizio Sarri's notion, who suggested last year: "I’ve coached great midfielders, like Zielinski and Hamsik, and he’s one of the best. He really is a complete player with great quality."

FBref serves to emphasise his creative excellence, as when compared to other midfielders across Europe, he ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals, the top 7% for total shots and the top 8% for assists, as well as the top 2% for aerials won per 90.

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The latter of these figures also offer a fine alternative to Arteta's usual measured style too, as if all else fails the hulking Serbian could turn into an offensive bully to cause the necessary chaos to afford Odegaard some additional space.

Also, as Milinkovic-Savic sits in the top 18% for progressive passes received per 90, and Odegaard in the top 10% for progressive passes per 90, the nature of their partnership can be visualised further already.

With a midfield partnership that would cover all bases with regard to work rate, offensive threat and physicality, sure to improve upon Xhaka's outstanding term too, this marks a no-brainer for Arsenal to hand their 24-year-old star the perfect ally with which to terrorise the Premier League further.

Liverpool forward Luis Diaz is now back running on the training pitches after a lengthy absence through injury.

The Lowdown: Diaz a huge loss for Liverpool

The Colombian was an instant hit when he arrived from Porto last January, adding new life to the Reds’ season as they pushed to win an unprecedented quadruple.

Diaz came into this season as an undisputed key man, but unfortunately, he was limited to just seven Premier League starts before picking up a knee injury against Arsenal.

Thankfully, it now looks as though the 26-year-old’s return isn’t a million miles away, following a new update.

The Latest: Back on track

Taking to Twitter, Jones reacted to an image showing Diaz is now running outside again, albeit not taking part in full contact training:

“Another positive step for Luis Díaz in his recovery from injury.”

The Verdict: Massive boost for Reds

It may still be a while before Diaz officially returns to the pitch for Liverpool but this is undoubtedly a huge positive in their season, given his importance to the team.

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The 37-cap Colombia international’s pace and directness have been a major loss for Jurgen Klopp, with that left-sided position tough to fill without him around.

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The manager has hailed Diaz as ‘exceptional’ in the past and he is someone who could be such a key player in the latter weeks of the season, should Liverpool be pushing for a top-four finish.

Moving forward, the £56,000-a-week star can become an even greater force, with his best years potentially coming up, and his absence has to be considered a big reason for the Reds’ struggles this season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been credited with an interest in Sevilla full-back Marcos Acuna recently and the Argentine could be Julen Lopetegui’s own version of Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko.

According to Spanish news outlet Vamos mi Sevilla, Wolves are one of four clubs keen on signing the versatile defender in next month’s transfer window.

They claim that the La Liga side want around €12m (£10m) from his sale, after informing the 31-year-old that he is now surplus to requirements at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

The former Sporting Lisbon man is well-known to Lopetegui, having made 84 appearances under the Spanish manager during his time with Sevilla, so it is perhaps no surprise that he is keen to reunite with the Argentina international at Molineux.

Should he swap Sevilla for the Midlands in January, he could perform a similar role to Zinchenko’s at Arsenal and Manchester City in recent seasons.

The Ukraine international has struggled with injuries since signing for Mikel Arteta’s side in January but has impressed in his seven appearances in the Premier League, averaging a strong 6.90 average rating from WhoScored for his performances.

According to FBref, the versatile 25-year-old is the seventh-most similar player to Acuna when compared to other full-backs across Europe’s top leagues.

This season has seen the two defenders register similar statistics with regard to goal-creating actions per 90 minutes (both 0.16), progressive passes received (10 vs 11) and aerials won (both 10).

According to WhoScored, both Zinchenko and Acuna excel at passing, holding onto the ball and playing key passes, which is perhaps exactly what you would expect from two full-backs who have featured in midfield on a regular basis in their careers.

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Considering how good Zinchenko has been for Arsenal and City since his move to England, Lopetegui would surely be foolish to turn down a player so statistically similar, especially one who he has worked with before and clearly trusts.

Therefore, owner Jeff Shi should definitely look at bringing Argentina’s World Cup star Acuna to Molineux in January as he looks to provide Lopetegui with the signings he needs to turn the Old Gold’s fortunes around and stave off relegation.

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has a potential groin injury, which is why he didn’t feature against Southampton, according to reliable journalist Liam Keen.

The Lowdown: Jimenez misses Wolves win

Bruno Lage’s men secured a 1-0 win at home to Saints in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, with Daniel Podence’s first-half strike proving to be the difference between the two sides.

However, Jimenez didn’t feature in the squad at Molineux due to fitness concerns, but new big-money striker Sasa Kalajdzic led the line for the hosts.

In a cruel twist, the towering striker picked up an injury which has since been confirmed as ACL damage, meaning that he could be out for the rest of the season.

The Latest: Jimenez injury blow

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Keen confirmed that a groin problem kept Jimenez out of proceedings, in what is an added blow after Kalajdzic’s setback.

The journalist relayed:

“Wolves have confirmed that new signing Sasa Kalajdzic has suffered an ACL injury to his knee on his debut. He will now see a specialist. Also said Raul Jimenez felt some pain his groin and they didn’t want to risk him.”

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The Verdict: Must sign a striker

This is a horribly unfortunate situation for Lage, spending lots of money on Kalajdzic only to lose him to long-term injury immediately. The hope is that the Austrian will be able to return to his best form once he recovers, given the severity of the issue.

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Jimenez has had fitness worries of his own in recent weeks and months, too, so it is absolutely imperative that Wolves sign a new striker who can bring some much-needed firepower.

The transfer window is closed, of course, meaning that only free agents can come in. However, a move for Diego Costa has been mooted, and while it might not seem the most ideal scenario, it could be a clever stop-gap swoop.

Manchester City have reportedly offered a new deal to Riyad Mahrez to keep him at the Etihad Stadium.

What’s the news?

According to a recent Twitter post from journalist Foot Mercato Santi Aouna, the Manchester club have offered the winger a short-term contract extension, with his current deal set to expire next summer.

In his tweet, Aouna said: “Info: Riyad Mahrez has been offered a SHORT TERM contract extension by Manchester City. From sources close to the board of Citizens, discussions are progressing well. Not agreed yet but optimism reigns.”

City signed the Algerian back in the 2018 summer transfer window from fellow Premier League club Leicester City in a deal worth a then club-record fee of £60m.

Since then, the 31-year-old has gone on to make 189 appearances for the Citizens across all competitions.

In those appearances, the attacker has found the net 63 times and delivered 46 assists along the way, in addition to winning three Premier League titles, three Carabao Cups and one FA Cup.

City fans will be buzzing

His previous Premier League campaign with Pep Guardiola’s side saw the former Foxes star score 11 goals and deliver five assists in 28 league appearances, leaving him with more goal contributions than the likes of Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish among others.

To further highlight how pivotal he was at times last season, the winger also scored seven goals and registered two assists in City’s 12 Champions League games, as well as scoring in big league games against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that Mahrez is an important figure for City and has been a big part of their success since his arrival.

It also makes it easy to see why the club are reportedly keen to extend his contract, which would surely leave a lot of buzzing to see happen this summer.

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Moving forward, if City can get the attacker to put pen to paper on this reported extension, it would definitely be a big boost for the club and put to bed any worries that may have cropped up over his future.

In terms of next season, if Mahrez can continue scoring and creating goals for his side, he will undoubtedly give the club a great chance of being successful in terms of winning trophies once again and prove why they were right to break their record transfer fee to sign him in the first place.

AND in other news: Pep can land the next Dias with Man City bid for £86m sensation who “can’t be stopped”

Sunderland are no stranger to a transfer mistake, as they have made a number of blunders over the years in the market.

Some of them were out there for all to see as the Netflix documentary illustrated their deal for Will Grigg – which flopped badly – in all of its glory.

However, they have all had howlers in the sense that they have not been able to land a player who has subsequently gone on to shine elsewhere.

One such player was left-back Marcos Alonso in 2014. He spent the second half of the 2013/14 campaign on loan at the club from Fiorentina and enjoyed his spell on Wearside, playing 20 matches, including a League Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

Speaking about his time at Sunderland, Alonso said in 2020: “I had six very happy months at Sunderland.

“When I went there we were bottom of the table but we ended up safe from relegation and there was also the League Cup final. That was special even if we could not win. That day at Wembley will always be good memories for me.

“The fans they enjoyed that day so much. I think even more so than we did. We lost in the end, but their support was amazing – much better than the City fans – and for me, that was very special.”

Despite the success of the loan move, the Black Cats were unable to strike a permanent deal for the defender, who was valued at £1.8m by Transfermarkt at the time.

He stayed with the Italian outfit for two more seasons before sealing a transfer to Chelsea in 2016, and that is where his career took off.

The Spaniard caught the eye in his first two campaigns at Stamford Bridge as he racked up 13 goals and five assists in two Premier League seasons for the Blues, winning the title in 2016/17 under Antonio Conte.

In 2018, then-Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri lavished the full-back with praise as he said: “Alonso, at the moment, this position at left-back is maybe the best in Europe. Physical qualities at a top level, I think. He’s doing very well in the offensive phase.”

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His market value backs up Sarri’s comments, as Transfermarkt valued him at a whopping £40m in 2018. This is a staggering increase from the £1.8m at which he was valued in 2014 and shows that he fulfilled his potential as a player, having been able to kick on after his loan spell at the Stadium of Light.

Therefore, the club made a big howler that year, as they would have benefitted from his immense talent over the years had they been able to sign him on a permanent basis.

AND in other news, Speakman must avoid embarrassing Sunderland error over “sublime” gem who “can change a game”…

A number of Liverpool supporters are delighted after journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed Divock Origi would not be leaving in the January transfer window.

The 26-year-old had put together a memorable Reds career – one that will likely see him considered a legend for many years to come.

While Origi has rarely been a regular starter for Liverpool since arriving in 2014, he has scored some iconic goals against the likes of Barcelona, Tottenham, Everton, Newcastle United and most recently Wolves.

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The Belgian’s current deal potentially expires in the summer of 2023 and he has even been linked with a January exit, despite Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane being away from Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, however, Romano claimed Origi was going nowhere until at least the summer, saying Liverpool have no intention of selling him this month.

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Liverpool fans love Origi update

These Reds fans provided their positive thoughts on the matter on Twitter, no doubt delighted to keep hold of the cult hero given their lack of options up front in January.

“Not surprised, Salah and Mane already left for Afcon. And Minamino still injured…”

Credit: @biGDhee08

“HE STAYS!!!!”

Credit: @SIGHYONARA

“The hero stays!!!”

Credit: @lfc_reviews

“THANK GOD. WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT LORD ORIGI”

Credit: @Muniamma007

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“Good”

Credit: @lomein4real

“At least we got to keep Origi”

Credit: @Littleisprince

In other news, some Liverpool fans also love a David Ornstein transfer claim. Read more here.

Aston Villa are once again interested in signing Reading midfielder John Swift amid suggestions that contract talks have stalled between him and the Royals.

What’s the story?

The former England U21 international was the subject of intense speculation over the course of the summer transfer window back in 2020, with reports even going so far as to claim that Villa were ready to make a bid for him.

While a deal failed to materialise back then, Football League World now claim that Dean Smith’s side are one of a number of teams keeping tabs on Swift’s situation at Reading.

It’s claimed that with the midfielder entering the final year of his contract, the Championship club have yet to agree a new deal with him, and thus opening the door to a potential move away.

Could be another John McGinn

Swift has a track record of being someone who can offer a goal-scoring threat from midfield much like McGinn has proven himself to be over the past few seasons, managing an impressive 58 goal contributions in 171 games for the club – in fact, his start to the current campaign for Reading has actually been quite incredible, netting seven in eight matches in the Championship as well as chipping in with four assists too.

Speaking back in August after a 2-1 win over Preston, Royals manager, Veljko Paunovic, said: “Now he’s back, it is important we keep him healthy and motivated as he is now because that will help us a lot.

“He is super talented and he showed an urgency that he wanted to decide the game. The first couple of passes to Azeez and Joao were fantastic vision and execution of the final pass – something we’ve missed in the past. We missed those slick combinations through the middle when we progress forward so that’s something we have to keep up.”

While McGinn has hardly been a Frank Lampard-esque midfielder in terms of his sheer number of goals – he’s contributed to 33 goals in 115 matches for Villa – he does pop up with some big goals in big games, not least scoring against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City last season.

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The £3.6m-rated Swift could offer Villa another midfielder with some of the same attacking instincts as McGinn in the engine room.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have another exciting academy starlet in this teenager…

Alex McLeish has backed Jesse Lingard to be a good signing for Tottenham Hotspur should he make a move to the North London club.

The Lowdown: Lingard eyed

As per Football Insider, Lingard is one of two players from Manchester United wanted by Nuno Espirito Santo in negotiations over a potential swap deal for Harry Kane.

His future at Old Trafford is currently in doubt as he only has a year left on his deal, and other clubs in the Premier League are interested in signing him.

The Latest: McLeish backs Lingard move

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish, who is now a pundit having previously been a manager in the top flight, has backed Spurs in their move for Lingard, and cited how ‘amazing’ he was while on loan at West Ham United in the 2020/21 season:

“Well, if he plays to the level he played at West Ham, he will be an absolute improvement.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. Jesse obviously kind of slowed down the last couple of years, when he was an England regular. That can hurt a player very badly.

“To do what he did at West Ham last season and help them to a fifth-place finish was amazing. It was a rise from nowhere, really.

“He was getting criticism at Man United, he was not involved in the team, never really picked at all.

“Then to come and play almost instantly at the level he played that then of course. I think if he continues that form, then he’ll be an asset to Spurs.”

The Verdict: Sign

There is no doubt that a whole host of teams will be queuing up to fight for Lingard’s signature given his impressive displays while with the Hammers, and that is precisely why the Lilywhites need to pounce, and fast.

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The 28-year-old scored no fewer than nine goals and made a further five assists in just 16 games in the Premier League with the Irons (Transfermarkt), which are exactly the kind of numbers that THFC could do with from midfield.

Nonetheless, having just missed out on the final England squad for Euro 2020, he will no doubt want to kick on even more this term in order to get himself back into contention.

In other news, find out what move Fabio Paratici has made for this ‘incredible’ star here!