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Everton have been linked with a move for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks as the club begins to make plans for the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to Caught Offside, the 25-year-old is wanted by Toffees manager Rafael Benitez and will push for a Spurs exit once the winter transfer window opens, with the Liverpool Echo claiming that the Merseysiders have now made an enquiry to Spurs for the player.

Winks has struggled for game-time in recent months and is now believed to be seeking a way out of north London in search of regular action.

Imagine him and Doucoure

After rising through the ranks at his boyhood club, Winks has made 178 appearances for Tottenham in all competitions and started their 2019 Champions League final defeat at the hands of Liverpool.

The technically gifted talent featured prominently during the reign of former manager Mauricio Pochettino, who lavished praised on the midfielder after a late winner against Fulham two years ago.

“He deserves the praise because the whole action is amazing,” said Pochettino. “He recovered the ball like a full-back, we started to build from the back, and then he arrived for the cross from GK, which was fantastic – we have to praise him too.

“It’s amazing, amazing, because we were talking in the last few weeks that he had to score and to have more presence in the opposition’s box because he has the quality to do it. I’m so happy.”

However, a lot of Winks’ good work goes unnoticed. The England international has only recorded nine goal contributions throughout his career, but he offers a different set of skills to the team.

As per WhoScored, no Spurs player who started a league match bettered or matched his average of 70 passes per game last season, and he also topped the charts for pass completion after achieving a 90% success rate.

His highly impressive figures weren’t just down to picking the safe and simple options every time, either. Winks managed 1.3 key passes per Premier League fixture in 2020/21 and pulled off 4.4 long balls – of all of Tottenham’s outfield players, only Toby Alderweireld completed more (7.3).

Therefore, Winks’s key attributes would provide the perfect balance for current Everton midfield star Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Frenchman’s power and pace cause opponents constant issues, but he also has the intelligence to play cute through balls in the final third of the pitch, making him a nightmare for defenders to handle.

It remains to be seen whether Everton follow up their interest in the £18m-rated Winks, but director of football Marcel Brands could pull off another astute piece of business by snapping up the disciplined Tottenham maestro.

In other news… Brands must sanction Everton swoop for £12.6m-rated ace, he’s an “outstanding technician” 

Speaking live on broadcast TV channel 7 Gold, as shared by Area Napoli, transfer journalist Fabio Santini has made an exciting Tottenham Hotspur claim involving Napoli star Lorenzo Insigne.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye Insigne move…

The Italy international is a player who Spurs have been repeatedly linked with since the summer, with a claim from another reporter in Paolo Paganini (via Area Napoli) also having emerged that Fabio Paratici made an offer for Insigne.

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Tottenham’s transfer chief, it seems, hasn’t exactly ceased his interest since then with Calciomercato.it recently revealing that Paratici, as well as West Ham and Newcastle, have already ‘probed the ground’ pre-January.

Insigne’s contract at Napoli expires in 2022 as it stands meaning Spurs could snap up Euro 2020’s star performer for free at the end of the season.

In a development, Santini has now made a rather exciting claim.

The Latest: Santini makes exciting Insigne claim…

According to the Italian transfer expert, speaking live on 7 Gold (via AN), Tottenham are now favourites to sign the 30-year-old.

“Antonio Conte is crazy about Lorenzo Insigne and would like the footballer as early as January,” Santini explained.

“In the winter sales and sales campaign. Lorenzo Insigne, of course, is flattered by the interest of both Conte and Tottenham , but he is undecided. He would not want to break up with Napoli during the current season.

“There have been meetings with Inter and Juventus, but Tottenham is the club closest to the player.”

The Verdict: No brainer?

One of the stars of the summer at Euro 2020, Tottenham could completely bypass his £43.2 million market valuation and snap up for no transfer fee at all – making this move somewhat of a no brainer.

Insigne, judging by his incredibly threatening numbers so far this season, would certainly offer Conte a real outlet out wide.

According to WhoScored, Insigne has averaged a very impressive 3.5 shots per match so far this season – eclipsing the rates of every Spurs star in that regard.

He’s also made 2.1 key passes in the final third every match in that time, again, with no Tottenham man able to match those numbers domestically this season (WhoScored).

Standing out as a real threat when compared to Conte’s current crop, this has got to be a sure-fire swoop on a free deal.

In other news: Spurs also in pole position to sign ‘perfect’ player for Conte after price tag drops by nearly half, find out more here.

Liverpool striker Divock Origi is preparing to leave Anfield this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano. 

The lowdown: Yet more heroics from Origi

The 27-year-old was once again the hero for the Reds on Sunday as Jurgen Klopp’s side overcame Everton 2-0 in the Merseyside derby, scoring once and playing a pivotal role in the build-up to Andy Robertson’s opening goal.

The Belgium marksman has developed a happy knack of turning up when he’s needed the most and now has six derby goals to add to a Champions League final strike and a stunning brace in an unforgettable 4-0 victory over Barcelona.

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However, despite multiple iconic moments from the 27-year-old, it appears that the end could well be nigh for Origi at Anfield…

The latest: Romano provides Origi latest

Taking to Twitter to cite Klopp’s glowing words on the enigmatic Belgian, reputable journalist Romano confirmed that the 32-cap international is heading towards the exit door.

The reporter tweeted: ‘Jurgen Klopp: “We will miss Divock Origi – if he leaves, he will explode wherever he goes. He is a world-class striker, he is a legend and will stay a legend forever”. #LFC

‘Origi will leave Liverpool in June – AC Milan are leading the race to sign him as free agent.‘

The verdict: Time to say goodbye

Liverpool have certainly gotten their money’s worth from the £10m spent when bringing Origi to the club from Lille in 2014 (BBC). During his time on Merseyside, the Belgium striker has scored 41 goals and provided 17 assists in 173 outings as a Red.

However, with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota all ahead of him in the pecking order and Takumi Minamino also somewhat in the cold, it has become apparent that opportunities will be few and far between for the man once described as a ‘monster’ by Klopp following a last-gasp winner against Wolves in December.

Out of contract in July (Transfermarkt), so far this season Origi has netted six times in 16 appearances across all competitions, and his latest derby exploits would suggest that should AC Milan indeed be the benefactors, the Serie A outfit would be landing a big-game striker for nothing in transfer fees.

In other news, Liverpool have been linked with a shock move for one player. Find out who it is here.

West Ham like the idea of signing Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi this month.

That’s according to The Daily Mail, and a number of Villa supporters have been reacting to the news on social media.

El Ghazi is reportedly unhappy with his lack of game time under new Villa boss Steven Gerrard, with the Dutch forward playing just 33 minutes of Premier League action following Gerrard’s arrival.

Villa are thought to be open to permanent and loan offers for the 26-year-old this month, although they would prefer a full-time transfer.

The Daily Mail claimed on Saturday that the Hammers want a forward, with El Ghazi one of the players they would like to sign in their bid for another impressive finish in the European places.

Villa fans react

The AVFC Faithful shared the news regarding West Ham liking the idea of bringing El Ghazi to the London Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with many keen to see him depart.

“Beg this is true”

Credit: @FloppyChicken92

“Swap deal for Bowen”

Credit: @marcw1987

“oh my god please take him”

Credit: @NoahKnowsBall

“Today is just getting better and better”

Credit: @avbiIly

“Imagine if we get rid of El Ghazi and replace him with Coutinho”

Credit: @PositiveVillan

“I’ll drop him off”

Credit: @Miller_JD

In other news: ‘Mental’ – Some Villa fans fume as Gerrard eyes club-record transfer. 

As per London World, a promising transfer update has come to light involving Tottenham Hotspur, Antonio Conte and Middlesborough defender Djed Spence.

The Lowdown: Spurs join race…

First reported by Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas, sharing news on his personal Twitter feed, Spurs and transfer chief Fabio Paratici have joined the race to sign Spence amid his impressive stint on loan at Nottingham Forest.

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The 21-year-old has been turning heads at the City Ground under Steve Cooper, attracting the attention of major Premier League clubs as Conte seeks out new right-back options.

Any deal to sign Spence this window would result in the player remaining at Forest until the end of the season and then joining in the summer, but that hasn’t swayed Spurs as they take a firm interest.

The Latest: Spurs ‘edging closer’…

According to London World, Tottenham are ‘edging closer’ to their ‘first January signing’ as Conte personally eyes a move for the Englishman.

The Italian is said to be ‘unimpressed’ with current right-back options Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal as he takes to the market in search of alternatives.

Spence, as a result, could ‘answer Conte’s prayers’ with his pace and delivery on that side – but north London rivals Arsenal are also still in contention for the starlet as things stand.

The Verdict: Exciting player…

The Boro man’s form on loan at Forest this season has been terrific, leaving little wonder there are now major players in the hunt for his signature this month.

Defensively, according to WhoScored, he’s shown real solidarity – averaging the third-most interceptions per 90 out of Cooper’s side in the Championship this campaign (1.6).

Meanwhile, going forward, Spence has been a constant threat – completing more dribbles per 90 (1.8) than any Forest regular with more than two league starts (WhoScored).

His form has attracted real praise, with Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff saying he has been a ‘massive player’ for the English second tier side and could well continue to be in their hunt for a Championship play-off spot (Sky Sports EFL Podcast via Football League World).

According to journalist Ryan Taylor of The Daily Express, Spence could cost up to £15 million, but a player of his high ceiling may well be worth the investment,

In other news: Reliable journalist: ‘Perfect’ player once valued at £83m now wants to join Conte at Spurs, find out more here.

Speaking to West Ham Zone, former Irons striker Frank McAvennie has reacted to some news involving star striker Michail Antonio.

The Lowdown: West Ham take action…

As reported by The Sun, it appears West Ham have taken some action in an effort to prevent any serious injuries to Antonio as he pledges his international services to Jamaica.

Indeed, as shared by the outlet, club doctor and head of medical services Richard Collinge was sent out with the 31-year-old on his last round of duty with the Reggae Boyz.

This was to ensure he could cope with the extra physical exertion on international duty and to watch over Antonio’s fitness levels amid concerns over his past injury record.

The Latest: McAvennie reacts…

Speaking to WHZ, McAvennie has shared his take on the development and ‘can’t believe’ the measures clubs and players are taking nowadays to maintain fitness levels away from the country.

“It’s not just Antonio, but I’ve heard people going on holiday and taking a fitness coach,” he explained.

“I mean, really? I just can’t believe that goes on.

“I know the game has changed, but come on, you work all year and you go on holiday, you deserve a break. If you don’t drink, fine, but you still deserve a break away from football.

“I just don’t get it but maybe it’s the best thing for Antonio because of his fitness problems, his hamstring issues.”

The Verdict: Necessary?

Given just how crucial the forward is at the moment to manager David Moyes, not to mention how well he has started the campaign, we believe this is a shrewd precaution.

Antonio’s involvement with the Jamaica national team will have raised many eyebrows from both inside and outside West Ham and it’s safe to say the extra games will be a concern.

He will also be travelling plenty of miles when called upon so it’s little surprise the club wish to take whatever measures they deem fit to keep him at 100 per cent.

In other news: ‘Incredible’, ‘Bargain’…Pundit blown away as West Ham eye ‘very, very good signing’, find out more here.

Celtic managed to secure another win in the SPFL this afternoon with a 1-0 victory over Motherwell thanks to a goal from Hoops midfielder Tom Rogic just before halftime.

One player that didn’t manage to fully impress in the win, however, was left-back Greg Taylor.

With 88 touches of the ball in total, Taylor managed to misplace ten passes in the 90 minutes he was on the pitch for, as well as making three misplaced crosses and three misplaced long balls, losing possession on 16 occasions.

As well as his erratic passing, Taylor was not particularly imposing from a defensive point of view either by losing seven of the ten duels he was involved in.

This overall performance earned the full-back, who is currently earning a weekly wage of £8.2k-per-week according to Salary Sport, an overall match rating of 6.7/10, making him the lowest-rated Celtic player on the day according to SofaScore, even lower than Mikey Johnston and Anthony Ralston who played fewer minutes in the game than Taylor did, which just goes to show how much he let Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou down.

Since joining Celtic back in September 2019 from Kilmarnock, the 24-year-old has made a total of 62 appearances for the Parkhead club across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing 14 assists along the way, showing that he is and has been Celtic’s first-choice left-back.

Having previously been described in the past as a “very limited” player in terms of his capabilities on the pitch by Celtic analyst Tony McLaughlin, the left-back showed an example of this in his latest performance for the Hoops, even though they managed to secure the three points and keep a clean sheet in the process.

Moving forward, even though Motherwell only had 29% possession and could only rack up nine attempts at goal this afternoon compared to Celtic’s 71% possession and 26 shots at goal, Taylor will have to make sure he can improve his performances and deliver them on a regular basis or else he could find himself out of the team if he can’t perform against tougher opposition.

Given how 19-year-old Adam Montgomery has made nine appearances for Celtic in the left-back position this season, there’s every possibility that Postecoglou could make him the club’s first-choice left-back if the Australian decides that Taylor isn’t up to it anymore.

In other news: Forget Rogic: “Outstanding” Celtic star with 6 key passes stole the show v Motherwell – opinion

The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas has shared an update on West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma following the injury he sustained in the 2-0 defeat against Brentford on Sunday.

The Lowdown: Zouma’s injury

During the Irons’ clash against their London rivals, the 27-year-old had to be replaced by Issa Diop in the 29th minute after he sustained a knock to his ankle. Thomas Frank’s side then went on to score twice in the second half, dealing David Moyes a blow in the Hammers’ pursuit of a top-four finish.

Of more imminent concern, Zouma’s injury has sparked concerns ahead of West Ham’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon on Thursday night.

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The Latest: Thomas’ update on Zouma…

Taking to Twitter, Roshane Thomas provided an update on Zouma’s injury, revealing: “Kurt Zouma to be assessed before Lyon trip after twisting ankle in Brentford defeat. #WHUFC”

In his corresponding article from The Athletic, the reporter shared Moyes’s post-match comments as the West Ham manager spoke about the situation, saying: “Kurt’s twisted his ankle and we don’t know how bad it is.

“We’ll get him checked but I hadn’t had a chance to speak to the medical team yet. Coming off is not a good sign so hopefully it’s not too bad.”

The Verdict: Zouma is crucial to West Ham

According to FBRef, Zouma ranks in the 94th percentile for clearances made, demonstrating the importance he holds in making last-ditch interventions. In addition to the 1.1 blocks he averages per league game, this makes him an essential part of the Hammers’ back-line.

As a result, Moyes will be hoping that the France international can shake off the injury before the quarter-final clash against Lyon, having received a 7.3 Sofascore rating for his performance in the first leg last week.

It looks like it could be a race against time for Zouma to be fit for the match in his homeland on Thursday night, leaving West Ham supporters with a nervy wait on his injury status before then.

In other news: Thomas has voiced his concern with the form of another West Ham player

If you are looking for a break from the stresses of football……………..!

Poker is a trendy game, and rightly so. Unlike other games of luck like slots, roulette, and blackjack, you can play with other people. This makes poker a perfect game to play with friends, family, or even total strangers.

You can play poker online today, like many other casino games. And for those who love bonuses, you can check out casino bonus sites in the UK.

Poker is a sport that requires a high level of skill and mental alertness. Poker tournaments can last several hours, and stamina is required. A saying says poker takes a day to learn but a lifetime to master. In other words, don’t feel frustrated if you seem not to be learning fast enough. Mastering poker indeed takes time, effort, and patience.

This article will provide ways to improve your poker skills.

 5 Ways to Improve your poker skills

Here are some ways to improve your poker skills:

Learn about the game

When starting poker as a beginner, the first step you need to take is to learn everything you can about the game. If you don’t understand the fundamentals of the game, there’s no way you can learn quickly.

You can start by watching tutorial videos. There are tons of videos for poker beginners on YouTube and Twitch. You can also visit poker blogs to learn about the latest poker strategies.

If you have a couple of bucks to spare, you can pick up poker strategy books. Strategy books are available for both online and live poker. A poker strategy book costs around $20 to $30. This budget is perfect for small stake players.

A significant edge that poker strategy books have over watching videos or scouring blogs is the extensive information they contain. You can learn more from a single poker book than you would ever learn from videos or blog posts.

Join online communities

Online forums are another way to accelerate your growth as a poker player. You’ll always find more experienced players who are more than happy to offer advice to new players. And you know the best part? It’s free.

You can even post your hands for review on poker forums to receive valuable feedback. However, not all the feedback you’ll get will be beneficial. Some pieces of advice may not be from winning pros. And it’s of no use when a blind person tries to lead another blind person.

When using online forums, another thing to keep in mind is to be polite and respectful. Other members will be more willing to help and share tips with you.

Hire a poker coach

Free tips and advice will help you as a beginner but won’t take you far. Hiring a personal poker coach is sure to speed up your growth. The sky will be your limit when you have a seasoned professional dedicated to helping you improve.

However, the big drawback with hiring a coach is that it’ll cost you. Well, there’s no fixed price. Expect to spend at least $200 per hour if you want a decent coach.

Hiring a poker coach is only advisable if you’re a mid-stake or high-stake player.

Study your hand’s history

If you play online poker, a good poker tracker is an indispensable ally if you want to up your game. It tracks your hands and results and your opponent’s statistics. The statistics the software gathers from your opponent help you devise strategies to beat them.

You can review each poker session later to find out your mistakes. Once you’ve discovered your errors, the next thing is to work on them. You’ll undoubtedly notice a significant improvement in your game over time. 

Play more poker

Practice makes perfect. If you want to get good at poker, you need to devote more time to improve your skills. That’s just how it works. A coach and books can’t do your work for you.

You also have to find a perfect balance between theory and practice. Too much theory without much practice is useless. And practice without theory or strategy is like running without direction. Your progress will be slow— if you make any at all.

Practice what you learn consistently. You might not notice the daily improvements instantly. However, one day when you look back, you’ll be surprised at how far you’ve come and your progress. 

Conclusion

Getting good at poker can appear a daunting challenge at first. However, you can become that professional you’ve always dreamed of with patience and consistency.

Focus on one thing at a time. An overload of information does more harm than good. You’ll progress faster when you take things a step at a time than when you’re trying to learn everything at once.

Photo by Unsplash

Liverpool are interested in signing Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez if Mohamed Salah leaves, according to Serie A journalist Niccolo Ceccarini.

The Lowdown: Martinez shines for Inter

The 24-year-old has become one of the key figures at Inter in recent years, scoring 14 goals in just 21 Serie A starts this season, not to mention registering two assists.

Martinez has been described as ‘spectacular’ by the one and only Lionel Messi, which is high praise indeed, and it could be that he is on the move at the end of the season, with Inter seemingly already eyeing up replacements in the shape of Paulo Dybala and Gianluca Scamacca.

The £63million-rated Argentine’s current deal in Milan expires in the summer of 2026.

The Latest: Liverpool keen on signing

Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb [via Sport Witness], Ceccarini claimed that Liverpool are interested in making a move for Martinez if Salah leaves:

“As for Lautaro, the club’s (Inter’s) position is very clear. The Argentine striker remains central and fundamental in the Nerazzurri project, but in the face of a big offer, Inter will still make a reflection.

“We have to understand if a big European name will come forward concretely. Liverpool is a possibility, especially if Salah should leave at the end of this season.”

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The Verdict: Hard to see happening

While Martinez is undoubtedly a special talent who could thrive at one of Europe’s top teams, it is hard to see Liverpool signing him this summer.

In Salah, Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino, the Reds already have five magnificent options in attack, so the Inter man would struggle for playing time if he came in.

The only way that a move would make sense is if Salah, Mane or Firmino moved on, with the trio all out of contract in 2023, but there is no guarantee that that will happen.

In other news, a journalist has made an exciting claim regarding one Liverpool target. Read more here.