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Sunderland have turned the Stadium of Light into a fortress ever since promotion to the Premier League was clinched.

Regis Le Bris’ men do have their unbelievable home record to thank for their sixth-place position at the moment, with defeat yet to be tasted on Wearside from eight league contests.

Even Mikel Arteta’s table-topping Arsenal couldn’t get the better of the stern hosts back in November in a thrilling 2-2 draw, with Sunderland also gaining bragging rights over arch rivals Newcastle United on their own patch, recently, by confidently beating Eddie Howe’s perplexed visitors by a solitary goal.

Still, if the right opportunity opens up in the January transfer window, Le Bris and Co would surely explore the potential of some moves…

Sunderland offered chance to sign new striker

Sunderland’s squad will be stretched over the course of the next month or so, with the likes of Noah Sadiki and Reinildo out of action at the African Cup of Nations, meaning some fresh reinforcements could come in handy.

Amazingly, though, it’s not in central midfield or defence where the Black Cats could improve, with reports from Italy now suggesting that the Premier League newcomers might surprisingly swoop for AS Roma forward Artem Dobvyk, when the hectic window reopens.

A whole host of Premier League clubs are interested in the services of the Ukrainian, according to the report, with West Ham United alleged to be looking at the 28-year-old as a replacement for Niclas Fullkrug.

Moreover, Sunderland are judged to be in the race for the Roma number nine, too, with the Serie A club’s sporting director, Ricky Massara, offering Dobvyk to Le Bris and Co, owing to Sunderland’s current director of football in Florent Ghisolfi, previously being employed by the Italian titans.

Sunderland won’t just view this as a nice gesture between two old connections, however, with the 6-foot-2 marksman’s goalscoring prowess playing in Italy and beyond, making him stick out as an upgrade on both Wilson Isidor and Brian Brobbey.

How Dovbyk would be an upgrade on Isidor & Brobbey

While the Black Cats do sit pretty in sixth position in the Premier League standings at the moment, they aren’t always the most free-flowing team to take in.

Indeed, Sunderland have only put away a weak 19 goals in league action so far this season, with the likes of Manchester City – helped by the superhuman efforts of Erling Haaland – boasting a far superior 41 goals, just behind Arsenal at the very top of the division.

Isidor & Brobbey’s PL numbers this season

Stat

Isidor

Brobbey

Games played

17

12

Goals scored

4

2

Assists

0

1

Goal conversion %

13%

33%

Stats by Sofascore

The Black Cats’ total is more in keeping with teams such as West Ham United and Burnley near the foot of the division, with both Isidor and Brobbey largely failing to be clinical so far this campaign as Sunderland’s main attacking sparks, as outlined in the table above.

The former Zenit St Petersburg attacker has now gone eight straight top-flight games without finding the back of the net, while his Dutch counterpart – for all his fight and endeavour against Newcastle – remains stuck on an equally weak two goals, having failed to register a single shot at Aaron Ramsdale’s net during the fierce Tyne-Wear Derby.

Dovbyk, on the other hand, has even been likened to Haaland for his explosive goalscoring exploits all across Europe, with a lethal 24 strikes coming his way on the books of Girona from just 39 games, on top of also helping himself to ten assists.

Subscribe for transfer insight on Sunderland and PL Get the newsletter for focused transfer coverage: analysis of Sunderland’s striker options, the potential Dovbyk move, statistical comparisons and how signings reshape Premier League squads — clear context and tactical insight around transfers. Subscribe Subscribe for transfer insight on Sunderland and PL Get the newsletter for focused transfer coverage: analysis of Sunderland’s striker options, the potential Dovbyk move, statistical comparisons and how signings reshape Premier League squads — clear context and tactical insight around transfers.

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Adding this level of firepower to Sunderland’s attack could take the Black Cats to the next level, with Girona finishing in a dizzy third position in the La Liga rankings during the 2023/24 season, just two campaigns on from their own promotion, due to the 28-year-old’s “elite” finishing ability, as he was once hailed by European football expert Zach Lowy.

The La Liga golden boot winner has since chipped in with a weighty 19 goals in the Italian capital, with both Isidor and Brobbey surely unsure of their immediate Sunderland futures, if the Ukrainian powerhouse were to step foot onto English soil.

Even when he hasn’t been at his best this season, Dovbyk has still managed to collect three goal contributions from just three league starts, with Sunderland becoming a far more entertaining and brash prospect in the second half of the season, if the £19m target were to move to Wearside.

Related Sunderland "warrior" looks like a new Dan Ballard in the making

Regis Le Bris has a new Daniel Ballard on his hands at Sunderland in this determined warrior.

Posts ByKelan Sarson

Newcastle United correspondent Lee Ryder has shared news of Rodrigo Vilca’s loan move to Universitario de Deportes.

The Lowdown: Vilca’s Doncaster spell

The 22-year-old, who signed for the Magpies back in October 2020, was sent out on loan to Doncaster Rovers in the summer.

A temporary move to the League One side didn’t exactly go to plan, however, with the attacking midfielder making just seven league starts for the club.

Former manager Richie Wellens labelled Vilca as ‘quality’, but he has since returned to St. James’ Park and is on the move once again.

The Latest: Peru return

As reported by Ryder and shared on Twitter, Vilca has returned to his native country to join Universitario de Deportes on loan.

He is set to be watched by loan manager Shola Ameobi over the coming months and may still have a future with the Magpies after previously training with the first-team group under Eddie Howe.

The Verdict: This loan key?

After struggling for game time at Doncaster, you’d expect that Vilca will need to make his mark over the coming months to have any chance of a long-term future at St. James’ Park.

His latest exit is one that has gone under the radar, with Newcastle yet to share the news on any of their official social media platforms or websites.

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That could well be telling on how Newcastle view Vilca at this moment in time, but hopefully, he’ll start to catch Ameobi’s eye back in Peru.

In other news: Staveley now actively working on free transfer deal for Howe; target shares same agent as Fraser. 

It’s safe to say that Yannick Bolasie’s best years are behind him, but those best years were certainly during his time at Crystal Palace.

The now 32-year old moved to Selhurst Park in 2012 for £567k from Palace’s fellow Championship side at the time Bristol City.

Current director of football at Palace Dougie Freedmen, who was manager when the transfer took place, described the transfer as ‘easy’ in an interview for the club’s Amazon Prime documentary.

According to him, Bristol City ‘felt sorry for the player’ after Palace had just thrashed them 4-1.

As far as signings go, easy or not, it turned out to be a good one for the Eagles. He was a key part to their promotion success and had ten goal contributions by the end.

However, it was his form in the Premier League that raised eyebrows, particularly in the 14/15 and 15/16 season where he tallied 24 goal contributions in 60 games.

Described as “wonderful” by Tony Pulis’ assistant, Gerry Francis, he was also dubbed ‘dazzling’ and ‘an entertainer’ and it wasn’t long until he was attracting interest from some bigger clubs in the Premier League.

A move eventually came and it was to Everton for £25m, but he failed to repeat the form he showed in south London when he moved to Merseyside.

Bolasie saw out his five-year contract but it was a transfer nightmare for the Toffees with the Congo international only making 32 appearances and being involved in just six goals during his time at Goodison.

The period included various loan spells to Aston Villa, Anderlecht, Sporting Lisbon and Middlesbrough. It’s also worth noting that he missed a year’s worth of action due to an injury.

So what went wrong? Well whilst the 32-year-old record at Palace was good, at the time £25m seemed a lot, and if he was that good then why weren’t clubs like Manchester City or Chelsea snapping him up at the time?

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Maybe it’s because they were able to attract a higher quality of player due to being in the Champions League and therefore not having to shell out £25m for a player who turned out to be ‘average’.

After leaving Everton last summer Bolasie joined Turkish side Caykur Rizespor on a free transfer and is now worth just £608k. On that evidence, it’s safe to say they struck gold by selling him when they did.

IN other news: Vieira now heading for huge disaster over CPFC’s £27m-rated “absolute tank”…

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has been handed a defensive boost following Matt Doherty’s fantastic performance in Spurs’ 4-0 victory over Leeds at the weekend, with the manager raving about the ‘good’ options now at his disposal.

The Lowdown: Conte’s desire for a right-back

Conte was heavily linked with a number of potential right-back moves during the January transfer window.

Fabio Paratici was close to signing Wolves winger Adama Traore, with Sky Sports reporting that, after an initial £15 million bid was rejected, both sides were nearing a compromise on the fee.

It was said that the Italian boss would utilise Traore as a right wing-back, despite his more attacking origins. However, La Liga giants Barcelona swooped in at the last moment with an offer, as the 26-year-old opted to return to Spain due to his reluctance to play at the back.

This left the 52-year-old with Emerson Royal as his primary option at right-back. Doherty can of course play on both flanks, but shined for Wolves on the right, where he also grabbed a goal and assists against Leeds last weekend.

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The Latest:  Conte handed defensive boost

In his pre-Middlesbrough press conference, Conte sung Doherty’s praises, claiming his versatility offers a ‘good alternative’, as he also confirmed news of returns for Sergio Reguilon and Emerson.

As quoted by football.london, he claimed:

“He’s another player improving, working very hard and improved a lot. He’s a serious guy. I like him, if he plays or doesn’t play, his commitment and his attitude is always at the top. I think he’s improving a lot and he understood that in this squad he can have an important part for this team.

“With Emerson on the right but also Doherty on the left he can give me a good alternative. I was pleased to see him perform at this level. It was the same for Sessegnon.

“Now we have recovered Sergio Reguilon and also Emerson. We’re improving, we’re working hard. We have to use the defeats to learn, to continue to improve in many aspects, not only football aspects but also character and spirit and desire to be strong.”

The Verdict: Much needed depth

Conte will be thrilled to see Doherty’s improvements. This will provide him with much-needed squad depth, as Spurs look ahead to their FA Cup clash against Middlesbrough.

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Statistically, when comparing full-back performances over the past year in European competition and the ‘big 5’ leagues, the Ireland international has been phenomenal.

He ranks in the 99th percentile in Europe for non-penalty expected goals, assists, blocks, clearances and aerial duels won (via FB Ref).

If the 30-year-old can maintain his fine form from the Leeds game, where he earned himself an 8.3 rating, Conte will be sure to utilise him much more frequently.

In other news: Conte sends Dane Scarlett message

What is it about Liverpool and January?

So often a month of chaos and desperation, the winter window has provided the Reds with gem after gem in recent times, with 2026 hopefully set to be no different.

Indeed, a string of what would prove to be stellar names have signed for the Merseysiders at the start of the year, ranging from Luis Suarez to Philippe Coutinho to Virgil van Dijk and to Luis Diaz, among plenty more.

Among that plethora of names is also 2013 arrival, Daniel Sturridge, with the then-23-year-old arriving at Anfield following a forgettable stint at Chelsea, prior to securing cult hero status for himself in his new surroundings.

A central part of the side that came so close to Premier League glory in his first full campaign at the club, the now-retired striker – who registered 98 goals and assists in 160 games for the club – proved something of a bargain considering his £15m fee, even while enduring frequent injury setbacks.

As the case of Sturridge, and others, has showcased, there is value to be found in the January market, with Arne Slot and co no pressing ahead with their own potentially astute moves in the present.

Liverpool ready to offer terms to Premier League star

In the latter days of Jurgen Klopp, the German genius also used the winter window to great benefit, having acquired Diaz in 2022, ahead of Sadio Mane’s exit just a few months later, while also adding Cody Gakpo into the fold in 2023.

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A new winger, amid the uncertainty of Mohamed Salah’s future, is likely to again be on the agenda heading into the new year, with recent reports indicating that Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has decided that he wants to join Liverpool in 2026.

Available for a £65m fee, the in-demand Ghanaian is likely to have a queue of clubs chasing him, however, with the same also true of another leading Premier League target, Marc Guehi

As reported by TEAMtalk, Liverpool and FSG are believed to be among a list of 13 elite clubs who have informed the Englishman’s camp that they are ready to offer terms to him, with the 25-year-old’s current Selhurst Park deal set to expire in June.

The report hints that while the likelihood remains that Guehi will leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, after missing out on his Anfield switch over the summer, Crystal Palace could still look to sell in January, rather than lose their captain for nothing.

The Reds may be somewhat back to square one, considering just how much rival interest there is in the centre-back now, yet if there is a slim chance of landing the ex-Chelsea man next month, FSG should certainly take it.

Why Guehi could be another Sturridge at Liverpool

There’s nothing better than a player arriving mid-season and hitting the ground running immediately, with Sturridge doing just that back in 2013, having scored 11 goals in just his first 16 games for the club in all competitions.

That six-month spell set the tone and the foundations for what was to follow in 2013/14, with Rodgers’ famed ‘SAS’ frontline coming within a whisker of securing the Premier League crown, with Sturridge plundering 32 goals and assists in 33 games in all that year.

While it is at the other end of the pitch where the priority lies in the modern era, another exciting English talent with Chelsea links could perhaps have a repeat impact in 2026, with Slot so desperately needing a figure like Guehi to slot in just as smoothly.

The hope would be that the ex-Swansea City loanee could help to turn the tide of this turbulent season under the Dutchman, before going on to form a central part in another title bid next season.

There may be question marks over whether a centre-back can be quite so influential, although the woes of Ibrahima Konate have highlighted the glaring need for an upgrade, with the Frenchman a “bit too much at the crime scene”, in the view of his manager.

Guehi vs Konate – 24/25 PL stats

Stat (*per game)

Guehi

Konate

Games

34

31

Starts

34

30

Goals (Assists)

3 (2)

1 (2)

Pass accuracy*

84%

90%

Key passes*

0.5

0.3

Tackles*

1.8

1.3

Interceptions*

0.8

0.5

Total duels won*

59%

66%

Clean sheets

11

11

Stats via Sofascore

Like the 2013 version of Liverpool, who desperately needed a rival or partner for Suarez to lead the line, the current iteration desperately needs a suitable colleague for Van Dijk at centre-back, with Guehi surely the prime candidate.

Subscribe for deeper Liverpool transfer analysis Looking for expert transfer context and scouting detail? Subscribe to the newsletter for in-depth analysis of Liverpool targets like Guehi and Semenyo, player profiles, tactical fit and broader transfer-market clarity to inform your view of club moves. Subscribe Subscribe for deeper Liverpool transfer analysis Looking for expert transfer context and scouting detail? Subscribe to the newsletter for in-depth analysis of Liverpool targets like Guehi and Semenyo, player profiles, tactical fit and broader transfer-market clarity to inform your view of club moves.

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Lauded as a “monster” of a defender by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi – albeit while operating as part of a back three – is about as ready-made as they come, having proven his Premier League quality time and again in recent seasons.

As for 2025/26, the Three Lions talent notably ranks in the top 6% of top-flight centre-backs for assists, shot-creating actions, and progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, as well as in the top 8% for progressive passes, highlighting just what an asset he is in possession.

A threat in the opposition box, Guehi is also a master at defending his own, winning 71% of his aerial duels on average this season, as per Sofascore, as well as winning 65% of his ground duels.

Like with Sturridge and others before him, there should be no reason why he can’t come in and flourish immediately. Let’s face it, Slot no doubt needs someone too.

Related Worse than Konate: Liverpool star is now a "far bigger issue than Salah"

A number of Liverpool’s star players have slumped in form this season.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair

There is no doubt that Steven Gerrard has really revitalised Aston Villa since his appointment as manager, with the club soaring back up to 11th, level on points with two games in hand over Crystal Palace in 10th.

The loan signing of Barcelona attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho was a masterstroke from the Liverpool legend, who contacted his former teammate and persuaded him to join the Midlands club in a bid to revive his career.

Villa have now won three of their last six, and are putting on some very impressive performances, including the weekend’s 4-0 win at home to Southampton – who themselves have had a very good season too under Ralph Hasenhuttl.

However, Coutinho’s footballing intelligence and quality proved to be too much for the Saints defenders to handle, as he created one goal and scored another himself, taking his tally for the season so far in the Premier League to three goals and three assists in just seven appearances.

He should have had two more goals to his name though, after missing a couple of big chances – as well as creating two big chances – with compatriot Douglas Luiz burying one of them.

Despite some critics like Chris Sutton, who labelled him as a “flat-track bully” in a recent interview on Radio 5 Live, Coutinho has won over the fans of Villa and pundits, particularly former defender Micah Richards who replied to Sutton’s comments, saying: “That is one of the worst things you’ve ever done.”

Meanwhile, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Gerrard wants to make the deal permanent, saying: “Steven Gerrard would love to keep Philippe Coutinho at Aston Villa.

“Buy option clause available for €40m – [the Villa] board wants to wait until May and then make final decision, while they’re happy with Coutinho.”

Coutinho ranks in the top 3% among attacking midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues and continental competitions for carries into the final third per 90 (3.26), as well as top 10% for percentage of dribbles completed per 90 (63.3%) and top 11% for expected goals per 90 (0.42).

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The quality he has brought to the team as been invaluable, and fans will be desperate for Gerrard and the board to trigger the buy option in the summer ahead of a potential push for European football qualification next campaign.

They simply have to make him a permanent part of the furniture if they want to move to the next level.

In other news: Gerrard can finally axe Villa’s £38k-p/w “nightmare” by unleashing 19 y/o sensation

Liverpool look set to pip Celtic to a move for young Derry City attacker Trent Kone-Doherty.

The Lowdown: Doak move

It appears as if the Hoops will lose the services of young winger Ben Doak, with Liverpool closing in on a move for the Scot.

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Doak is yet to pen professional terms with the Hoops and the Reds appear to have taken advantage of that. Reports have suggested that Celtic could receive just £150,000 in compensation for Doak, who has been attracted over the possibility of working under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

The Latest: Kone-Doherty update

The Irish Independent shared a story on Wednesday morning regarding another exciting attacker, Kone-Doherty.

They claimed that the 15-year-old previously spent time training with Celtic, however, it looks as if Liverpool are going to win the race for his services as well after making an ‘assertive’ six-figure compensation move.

The Verdict: Hoops sick of Liverpool…

Celtic chiefs may well be sick of the sight of Liverpool in 2022 following this update on Kone-Doherty. It is unsure if the Hoops were willing to offer the Irish youngster a pre-contract deal ahead of his 16th birthday, but they clearly rated the attacker highly in order to bring him over to Lennoxtown and train.

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Unfortunately, it doesn’t look as if Kone-Doherty will come in as a possible replacement for Doak, with the pair possibly now set to play alongside each other in the Reds’ academy next season.

In other news: ‘Worrying…’ – Sky Sports man claims ‘brilliant’ Celtic ace may now have suffered ‘bone damage’. 

Tottenham Hotspur’s academy is arguably one of the best in the Premier League.

The likes of Harry Kane, Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp have all broken through from the academy system to establish themselves as a first-team regular at some point over the last few years.

But who could be the next in line?

Japhet Tanganga has flirted with the prospect of being that man but far too often, he’s failed to deliver and prove his worth at this level. After all, he’s never been out on loan, whereas two of the aforementioned three made their name in temporary stints elsewhere.

Instead, Malachi Fagan-Walcott could be the one to save Spurs millions of pounds as just like his fellow U23 gem, he’s a versatile defender capable of playing anywhere along the backline.

Given Antonio Conte’s desire to play three-at-the-back in north London, there are more places up for grabs because of that extra central defender, so it seems plausible that someone like Fagan-Walcott will be in line for an opportunity sooner or later.

The 19-year-old has already caught the eye of the Italian head coach, having been called up to first-team training in recent months.

Fagan-Walcott has had experience away from Hotspur Way, featuring for SPFL outfit Dundee FC last season, though it was short-lived due to injury.

The Athletic once described him as an imposing centre-back at 6 foot 2 inches, a threat from set-pieces and popular with ex-manager Jose Mourinho, whilst Scottish publication the Daily Record dubbed him a “rising star” on social media.

Under the Portuguese, the academy prospect earned his professional debut, coming on in the final few minutes of Spurs’ last appearance in the Champions League – a heavy 3-0 defeat to RB Leipzig back in March 2020.

“It was a night of mixed emotions, extremely disappointed to be knocked out of the Champions League with such a great team, but on a positive note happy to have made my professional debut in the Champions League,” he tweeted (as relayed by football.london).

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Not only is he blessed with those ‘imposing’ attributes but he also has rapid pace and acceleration, being a 200m district sprint champion and that only bolsters his credentials and might point to why Conte has already taken a look at him.

Whilst it’s unlikely we see him this campaign, Fagan-Walcott is certainly one to watch for the future and he will help save chairman Daniel Levy millions in future transfer windows.

AND in other news, Cost nothing, now worth £18m: Pochettino struck gold at Spurs with “absolute machine”…

Celtic are back in action tomorrow with a Premiership clash against Ross County after securing their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup with a 3-0 victory over Dundee United in midweek.

With 30 league games played, the Hoops have won 23, drawn four and lost three, scoring more goals than anyone else in the division, with 65 put away and 18 conceded, making them the top scorers in the league and also holders of the best defensive record.

Looking ahead to the clash on Saturday, it seems as though Ange Postecoglou’s side have been handed a major Lennoxtown boost which would surely have many Bhoys fans jumping for joy.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from the Daily Record, Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi was spotted with a ball at his feet in the background of a recent behind-the-scenes training video as rest of his team-mates prepared for this weekend’s game.

Since arriving at Parkhead last summer from Japanese club Vissel Kobe, the attacker has been a revelation for the Hoops, racking up 16 goals and five assists in just 26 appearances across all competitions.

Fans would be buzzing

Having been out of action since December with a hamstring injury, it’s safe to suggest that many Celtic fans would be delighted to see the Japanese star back on the training pitch once again and presumably getting closer to making a full recovery, based on what he has already delivered for the Hoops in an attacking sense.

Even though Postecoglou’s side have only failed to score in two of the league games that Furuhashi has missed since December, the Celtic manager will still be pleased to have the 27-year-old back in the squad whenever he’s ready.

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Whether the striker will be fit enough to play a part against Ross County is yet to be seen, but if he can get back to full fitness in the coming days and then resume scoring goals for fun as he was doing throughout the first half of the campaign, he would surely give his team a big boost in their quest to secure the league title.

In other news: Lawwell dropped big Celtic howler on “powerful” machine whose value has rocketed 3,900%

Liverpool are set to up their efforts to sign a new attacker in January, with The Reds linked with moves for Crystal Palace’s prospect Wilfried Zaha and out-of-favour Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe.

The Anfield club are having issues hitting the back of the net currently, highlighted by their 0-0 draw with Stoke at the weekend, and with Luis Suarez suspended the Merseysiders look slightly toothless in attack.

Mirror Football indicate that both Kenny Dalglish’s men and Manchester United are keen to sign highly-rated youngster Zaha, but Palace manager Dougie Freedman has issued a hands-off warning.

“I’ve had chit-chats with Kenny Dalglish­ and Alex Ferguson, but he is not going anywhere,” the Scottish coach stated.

Meanwhile, England international Defoe has been forced to watch Tottenham from the sidelines for the majority of this campaign, with Harry Redknapp preferring to partner Rafael van der Vaart with Emmanuel Adebayor up front.

Defoe’s agent has been pestering Redknapp to play his client on a more regular basis, but Liverpool may well be able to offer him regular football; Mirror Football again state that they are ready to bid £10 million for the diminutive marksman.

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With Euro 2012 just around the corner Defoe needs to be playing more frequently to force his way into Fabio Capello’s squad, and could be interested in a move to Anfield.

By Gareth McKnight