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Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left fuming over some news that has emerged involving their Non-Fungible Token (NFT) scheme.

The Ibrox faithful announced the new scheme earlier this month, which has been set up to commemorate their 2020/21 title-winning campaign.

The tokens allow supporters of the Teddy Bears to be entered on a blockchain ledger of payments, of which there are 1,111 in total, so that they can purchase various items related to their title success.

The Light Blues have now made the items in the ‘Rangers FC Champions NFT Collection’ available to buy on their official website, with NFT’s that have to be purchased in order to give the supporters a chance of winning them.

While taking the Scottish Premiership title off of the hands of bitter rivals Celtic was a triumph at the time, it seems a lot of Gers just want to concentrate on this season now, following their 3-1 loss at home to Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Others see it as nothing more than a money-making scheme, given that you would have to buy a significant amount of tokens to give yourself the best chance of winning.

Rangers fans on NFT news

These RFC fans fumed as the news was shared in an official club post on their Twitter page:

“No. Just no.”

Credit: @MobRoolz

“Who do the club actually think wants these things???”

Credit: @ECMcElhatton

“Going from bad to worse Rangers”

Credit: @RampantRyanJack

“Stop scamming fans!”

Credit: @gordmatheson

“This ain’t it”

Credit: @EG_72_

“Shut up about last season, it’s done”

Credit: @GilmertonLoyal

In other news, find out what ‘catastrophic error of judgement’ Giovanni van Bronckhorst has made here!

It is not difficult to understand why Leeds United were heavily linked with a move for 19-year-old sensation Fabio Carvalho in the January transfer window.

Indeed, the £3.15m-rated attacking midfielder has been in breathtaking form over his 27 Championship appearances for Fulham this season, scoring seven goals, registering six assists and creating ten big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of two shots and making 1.9 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the teenager who Sky Sports analyst Nick Wright dubbed an “extraordinary talent” average an incredibly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.01, ranking him as Marco Silva’s ninth-best performer in the second tier of English football – playing a key role in the Cottagers’ all but confirmed return to the Premier League.

And, although Victor Orta did spend £26m on support striker Rodrigo back in August 2020, in truth, between Tyler Roberts and the Spain international, Leeds have lacked a truly creative attacking midfielder ever since the departure of Pablo Hernandez.

While it is true that the 36-year-old was probably past his best in 2020/21, being used sparingly by Marcelo Bielsa, the playmaker was influential for the Whites over his 36 appearances in the club’s Championship-winning campaign back in 2019/20.

Indeed, this season, the £270k-rated Spaniard scored nine goals, provided nine assists and created 13 big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.1 shots and making 2.3 passes per fixture.

These metrics saw the £19k-per-week midfielder who Phil Hay dubbed both a “demon” and “unreal” earn a quite remarkable seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.35, not only ranking him as Leeds’ best performer in the second tier but also as the third-best player in the division as a whole.

As such, while a deal for Carvalho – who looks set to become available on a free transfer this summer – may be a difficult move for Orta to pull off, with Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund all being linked with the 19-year-old, it would nevertheless appear essential for the sporting director to do all he can to land the Fulham sensation at the end of the season – as the Portugal U21 international could well prove to become the next Hernandez at Elland Road.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Phil Hay drops 7-word behind the scenes Leeds update, Marsch will be gutted

A major update has emerged on Rangers and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s attempts to bring a new forward to Ibrox this month…

What’s the talk?

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, via VoetbalKrant, the Gers are set to miss out on a deal for winger Andreas Skov Olsen.

The report claims that the Scottish giants placed a £4.1m (€5m) bid for his services before Club Brugge came in with an offer of £5.8m (€7m) to oust them, with the winger now poised to join the Belgian club as an agreement is close with the Serie A outfit.

Infuriation for Van Bronckhorst

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst will surely be left infuriated by this latest update, as it suggests that the club will not be able to bring in Olsen this month.

The Dane could have been a fantastic addition to the squad and the Dutchman will be gutted that he will not be able to work with the 22-year-old in Glasgow. Olsen has shown enough at senior level to suggest that he would have been able to make an impact in the short term, and he is at an age where he could have the potential to improve even further in the future.

He has already played 70 times for Bologna in Serie A, which shows that he has a solid bank of experience in a top European league. In those games, he has racked up three goals and five assists, with two assists in 18 matches this term as he tests himself against the likes of Juventus, Inter, Milan and Atalanta.

The forward has also shown promise for Denmark at international level, with five goals and three assists in 10 World Cup qualifiers. This suggests that he presently has the ability to arrive at Ibrox and make an impact on the first team this season, which is why Van Bronckhorst will be infuriated by the club missing out on his signature, as he would be deprived of a player who could strengthen his side immediately.

At the age of 22, Olsen has scope for further improvement and could increase his value down the line. This means that Rangers could be about to miss out on a forward who would have offered a short-term and long-term benefit to the club on and off the pitch.

AND in other news, Van Bronckhorst can jettison Rangers liability in swoop for “phenomenal” 18y/o with a “big future”…

A major update has emerged on Rangers duo Kemar Roofe and Ryan Jack regarding their injury situations…

What’s the latest?

Gers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst has revealed, in his pre-Aberdeen press conference, when the pair will be returning from their respective knocks.

He told the club’s Twitter channel: “Aribo will miss out on International duty. Helander started training but the game will be too early for him. Arfield and Davis will also both miss out with injury. Roofe and Jack will both start training with the team this week.”

Fans will be buzzing

Rangers fans will surely be buzzing with this news, as both players are capable of being key figures for Van Bronckhorst’s side.

Jack has been plagued by injuries this season but previously proved himself to be a top player at Premiership level under Steven Gerrard. Last season, he averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.14 as he played 19 matches in the league.

He won 56% of his duels and completed 90% of his passes as he produced consistently dominant performances in the middle of the park. This suggests that he could be a valuable player for the Gers if he is able to return to full fitness and be a regular option in midfield, so this news could be a big boost for the club, and fans could enjoy seeing him back after only two appearances in the league this term.

Roofe, on the other hand, has proven his class this season and last. In the current Premiership campaign, he has scored six goals in six starts whilst also creating 0.8 chances per game. This is after he found the back of the net 14 times in 18 starts in 2020/21 as Rangers won the title, averaging an impressive SofaScore rating of 7.12, showing that his overall performances were also strong.

The former Leeds marksman is a natural goalscorer and has shown that he can find the net on a consistent basis at this level, which is why his return could be a major boost to the side in the coming weeks. Supporters will be delighted to see him back in action and competing for a spot in the starting XI or coming off the bench, as he can provide moments of quality in front of goal to get fans off their seats and celebrating.

AND in other news, Van Bronckhorst could find Rangers their next Patterson in machine who’s tipped for a “big career”…

West Ham United have made a move in a bid to bring Bamba Dieng to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by French media outlet RMC Sport (via the Daily Mail), who claim that both West Ham and Crystal Palace have made an approach to Olympique de Marseille regarding a deal to sign the centre-forward this month.

The report goes on to state that the Ligue 1 side are now in a position where they have to sell in order to balance their books, and could let the 21-year-old leave the club for a fee of just €10m (£8m) in the current market.

The next Drogba

With a new centre-forward very much being a priority for David Moyes over the remainder of the January transfer window, the news that Dieng looks as if he will be available for such a small fee this winter is sure to have intrigued the 58-year-old Hammers manager.

And, it is clear to see why the Scot would be interested in a deal to sign the Senegal international this month, not only because West Ham’s only current senior centre-forward is Michail Antonio, but also because the 21-year-old is clearly a player who boasts a remarkable amount of potential for the future.

Indeed, over his 14 Ligue 1 outings this season – only seven of which have come as starts – the £7.2m-rated hitman has already scored four goals and created one big chance for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.5 shots per game and finding the back of the net every 136 minutes of football played.

These returns have led to the player who Jorge Sampaoli dubbed “explosive” receiving some extremely high praise, none less so than from El Hadji Diouf, who stated of Dieng: “He’s a striker, a Didier Drogba. All he can do is score goals. He is a young person with a future. All I have to say is keep his head on his shoulders, keep working. He is an attacker who ends up in the box.”

As such, it would appear as if a move for the 21-year-old would be a very wise move for Moyes to make in the coming days, as, should Dieng continue his current rate of development following a switch to the London Stadium, the Hammers could very well have the next Drogba on their hands.

In other news: Moyes could form a deadly front three as WHU plot late Jan offer for £15m “greyhound”

Many Arsenal fans were left slamming the display of Mohamed Elneny despite their 5-1 win at home to Sunderland in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

It was a convincing victory for Mikel Arteta’s team in the end at the Emirates Stadium, as Eddie Nketiah grabbed himself a hat-trick, while Nicolas Pepe and debutant Charlie Patino also found themselves on the scoresheet.

However, a lot of Gooners were unimpressed with Elneny’s performance, as he struggled at times to be the anchor at the base of the midfield, losing out on all three of his duels, while he also failed to make a single interception or tackle in the game (SofaScore).

The Egypt international also failed to make any key passes (SofaScore), in what was a shaky night for him individually.

Arsenal fans slam Elneny

These Gunners slammed his display on Twitter, with one AFC supporter even going as far as to claim that he is ‘hopeless’:

“Man Elneny is terrible”

Credit: @AngizwaKahle

“Send Elneny out the door, would rather a youngster have his minutes”

Credit: @SeebyK

“Elneny is hopeless the sooner we get rid the better”

Credit: @FanofCedric

“I hate watching Elneny play football”

Credit: @34_yaseer

“Jesus Christ Elneny is atrocious.”

Credit: @RemontadaVV

“Watching Elneny is painful.”

Credit: @Gronah

In other news, find out who Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are fighting to sign here!

West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate this summer as David Moyes looks to bolster his defensive options.

What’s the latest?

According to The Telegraph, the Hammers could lure the 26-year-old to east London for just £8m, with Transfermarkt valuing the Frenchman at £16.2m.

The commanding central defender can also play at left-back and has featured in 24 of Mainz’s 28 Bundesliga matches this term, scoring three goals and keeping eight clean sheets.

Currently, the Irons have Kurt Zouma, Craig Dawson, Angelo Ogbonna and Issa Diop at centre-back, although the Italian has spent the majority of the season on the sidelines with an ACL injury, while Diop could depart this summer amid reported interest from Ligue 1 outfit Lyon.

Therefore, it’s vital that Moyes adds to his defensive arsenal in the upcoming transfer window.

West Ham must swoop for Niakhate

Zouma has done well to establish himself as the clear first-choice centre-back in his first season at West Ham following last summer’s £29.8m move from Chelsea. However, the Frenchman needs a regular partner, with the likes of Dawson, Ogbonna and Diop all taking turns this season to partner the 27-year-old.

Moreover, left-back is also an area which needs addressing, with Aaron Cresswell now 32 years of age. In fact, the Hammers squad is the second oldest in the Premier League, with an average age of 28.8.

With Niakhate, these issues can be solved.

The Mainz captain stands at 6 foot 3 and averages 1.4 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 2.1 clearances per league game. For context, Zouma averages a lower tally of 0.6 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per match but also makes a whopping 5.6 clearances.

In Niakhate, West Ham can find their new Rio Ferdinand in colossus of a defender on whom they can later make a profit, particularly if £8m is the German club’s asking price.

Described as “clever” by Mainz manager Bo Svensson, the £12k-per-week French defender can add much-needed depth and quality to the Irons’ squad, which will be vital if Moyes’ side are to qualify for Europe again for 2022/23.

Having balanced four competitions over the course of the season, the Hammers’ lack of squad depth has been exposed at times, particularly when injuries have stacked up.

The lack of depth makes the upcoming transfer window particularly vital, especially considering that the east Londoners made no signings in January.

With reinforcements needed in essentially every position, Moyes will need to be shrewd in how he spends the transfer kitty provided to him, making a potential £8m deal for Niakhate an undoubted bargain swoop which must be made.

In other news – Fewer touches than Areola: West Ham dud who completed just one pass against Lyon let Moyes down

Even though Leeds United have one of the youngest squads in the Premier League with an average age of 24.8, just slightly more than Brentford’s average squad age of 24.7 according to Transfermarkt, it seems as though the Yorkshire club could be welcoming another young talent to Elland Road.

It has recently been reported by the Daily Mail that Leeds have a deal in place to sign Espanyol’s 18-year-old striker Mateo Joseph Fernandez.

The report also claims that Fernandez had a release clause of £1.3m but was out of contract in the summer. Leeds initially offered around £420,000 before increasing their bid and reaching an agreement, beating the likes of Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal to the youngster’s signature.

If the report is true and Fernandez does end up at Leeds in January, this could well be Victor Orta’s latest transfer masterclass at the Yorkshire club following previous signings like Raphinha who has scored 12 goals and provided ten assists in 44 appearances since arriving from Rennes back in October last year.

Described as a player that has “great potential” within him by Javier Rodriguez Alonso, the hierarchy must have seen something in the young attacker to make them work out a deal for him.

Given the other clubs reportedly interested in the teenager and the fact that Leeds apparently managed to secure Fernandez for a fee lower than his release clause, this shows what a good bit of business it could be from a financial point of view.

However, only time will tell if the club were right to go for him based on what he delivers on the pitch for them.

Taking into account his young age, it seems unlikely that Fernandez will immediately be dropped into Marcelo Bielsa’s squad, however, the player could one day become a regular first-team player at LS11 if he grows and develops in the youth ranks.

Leeds have the likes of Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood in and around the senior squad at the moment, and these are the sort of players that Fernandez will have to be emulating if he wants to break into that side in the future and potentially become a long-term heir for Patrick Bamford.

Consider the amount of goals he’s scored at youth level and it looks as though Leeds have plucked out a gem here, though. He found the net on 15 occasions in 2018/19, before racking up another 15 in the following campaign. Last term, the young forward scored one fewer, taking his tally in the last three seasons to an impressive 44.

If he can replicate that at Elland Road, it would be nothing short of a masterclass from the Leeds recruitment team. Leeds fans have already taken to young Gelhardt and a similar-minded player in Fernandez would surely go down well at Thorp Arch.

Bielsa has proven in the past that he has what it takes to develop young players with Kalvin Phillips now an England regular, Illan Meslier the youngest goalkeeper to 50 Premier League appearances and Pascal Struijk now a key member of the team too.

With that in mind, it’s clear Orta has a plan in place, one that could be a masterstroke if Leeds manage to cement themselves in the top-flight.

In other news: Orta could win over Leeds fans by securing stunning swoop for £9m-rated “goalscorer” – opinion

Aston Villa have been rather busy when it comes to adding new players to their squad so far in the January transfer window, with deals completed for Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne.

It now appears that the Midlands club have been making moves in trying to tie down one of their current players for the foreseeable future.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from the Daily Mail, Villa have offered Kortney Hause a new contract to try and keep him at the club after his current deal expires in the summer.

Villa originally signed the defender on loan from fellow Premier League club Wolves three years ago before securing him on a permanent basis in the summer of 2019 in a deal worth a reported fee of £3m.

Overall, the 26-year-old – who is currently valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt – has made 53 appearances for the Villans across all competitions, scoring four goals in the process – the latest of which came in their 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Premier League earlier this season.

Even though Hause has only made one appearance for Villa in the Premier League since Steven Gerrard was appointed as manager back in mid-November, it will still be hugely pleasing for the Villa boss to see the 26-year-old sign a new deal at the club.

They currently have only Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings in their squad who predominantly play at centre-back alongside Hause, after Axel Tuanzebe’s loan deal was cut short earlier this month.

Despite making just five appearances for Villa in the Premier League this season, Hause has shown that he is just as capable of performing to a solid level as Mings and Konsa, with WhoScored giving him an overall rating of 6.67/10 – the same as the former and higher than the latter.

With this in mind, if the ex-Wolves defender were to put pen to paper on a new deal at Villa Park, it would be a great piece of business for the club to get done this month rather than have owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens worry about Hause potentially leaving in the summer as a free agent if he decides that he would be better off going elsewhere to get regular game-time.

In other news: “In the last hours…” – Journalist drops Aston Villa transfer update, Gerrard will be delighted

Celtic could make on-loan winger Jota their fourth and final January addition, according to Football Scotland’s Mark Hendry.

The Lowdown: Japanese trio

The Hoops have already begun working on their January business, with Ange Postecoglou looking to add three Japanese players to his injury-hit squad.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-19/” title=”Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Terms have reportedly been agreed for midfielders Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi, whereas Celtic also want to bring in forward Daizen Maeda and are confident of doing so.

The club’s early 2022 business may not stop there, though, with rumours of Jota’s loan possibly becoming permanent surfacing earlier this month.

The Latest: Permanent Jota move?

Football Scotland journalist Hendry shared a Celtic-related transfer update on Wednesday morning, suggesting the Hoops are not interested in Gremio midfielder Fernando Henrique.

Within their report, they reiterated that Celtic want to bring in Hatate, Ideguchi and Maeda before facing Rangers on January 2, with Jota’s permanent Parkhead move possibly their fourth and final winter window addition.

The option to buy fee for Jota, labelled as a ‘game-changer’ by Alex McLeish, stands at £6.5m, which could see him become the club’s most expensive signing under Postecoglou ahead of Kyogo Furuhashi’s £4.86m summer switch.

The Verdict: Enough?

Celtic have plenty of attacking injuries to deal with at this moment in time, one of which is Jota, with full-backs Josip Juranovic and Adam Montgomery playing on the wing against Ross County on Wednesday. [SofaScore]

Postecoglou has also relied heavily on Callum McGregor, David Turnbull and Tom Rogic in the middle of midfield, so two new additions should be enough for the second half of the season.

Four permanent signings in January would continue Postecoglou’s Parkhead rebuild after 12 additions in the summer and should give him plenty of options to choose from as Celtic look to chase down rivals Rangers.

In other news: Devlin shared exit news hours before Ross County; ‘first class’ Celtic gem could now go