If you were to assess Middlesbrough’s first half of the season you would have to say that they haven’t looked quite as in danger of relegation as expected, but that they have not looked all that comfortable either. Aitor Karanka’s side have failed to put any real distance between themselves and the bottom three and are still looking nervously over their shoulder, but they’ve not been pulled down to the extent Crystal Palace have and have never really been in the lower reaches.

The principle reason for their current league placing is the fact that they have seriously struggled in front of goal. They have the unwanted record of being the joint lowest league scorers and are registering less than one goal-per-game on average.

That problem will hopefully be rectified by the arrival of Rudy Gestede. His signing from Aston Villa will reinforce Boro’s threadbare attack, but if Jordan Rhodes is to leave the club, as expected, they may well have to look at bringing another forward in.

However, it’s not just in attack where Aitor Karanka will look to upgrade his personnel, so let’s now look at THREE players who could be moving to Teesside this January…

Bojan

Middlesbrough may have made one new addition to their forward line but Karanka still surely feels he is short in that respect and is keeping a keen eye on one of his compatriots who is already at a Premier League club. That man is none other than Bojan of Stoke City.

The diminutive forward joined the club from Dutch giants Ajax in 2014 and started his Potters career well only to have his debut season curtailed by injury. After a full recovery last season, he managed to find the net on seven occasions after making 27 Premier League appearances.

But the one-time Spanish international is now believed to be looking for a move away from the bet365 Stadium as he has struggled to hold down a first-team place this season – of the 20 Premier League games that Stoke have played the 26-year-old has only featured in nine of them.

Aitor Karanka has already gone on record to say he is a big admirer of the talent that Bojan possesses, talent that he hasn’t quite shown this season, and perhaps a new challenge and a chance to work under someone who will play more to his strengths will give him the fresh impetus that he needs.

Gerard Deulofeu

If a move for Bojan does not materialise then another possible option is once again a Spaniard who is currently at a Premier League club. In this instance, it is Everton’s Gerard Deulofeu, who is attracting the eye of the former Real Madrid assistant manager Aitor Karanka.

Deulofeu first arrived on Merseyside back in the 2013/14 season on loan at Everton from parent club Barcelona. That campaign saw him make 25 appearances and score three times, including a late equaliser against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in December 2013.

A deal to bring Deulofeu to the club permanently did not materialise until last season, though, and it’s fair to say that his second spell has not been as impressive as his first. After being brought to the club by Roberto Martinez, he has failed to make a first-team place his own under Ronald Koeman and it’s for that reason he is attracting the attention of Boro.

With Ronald Koeman looking to make new signings of his own this month, especially in the wake of Everton’s FA Cup defeat to Leicester, the former Spanish youth international could be one of the players who makes way.

Neven Subotic

Looking at the other end of the pitch, there are still some concerns in regards to Middlesbrough’s defence and they may well make another bid for a player that they nearly signed in the summer: Neven Subotic.

A move for the Dortmund centre-back was all set to be completed before the start of the season only for the Serbian to fail a medical. With Subotic staying at the German club for rehabilitation after an operation on a rib injury, the 27-year-old is now fit and getting game time – although he is still nowhere near the Dortmund first XI, with his minutes on the pitch only coming in the form of the club’s reserve side that currently play in the Germany’s fourth tier. Therefore Karanka will have to weigh up if this is a gamble worth taking or not

That said you also have to keep in mind that Calum Chambers is only on loan for the duration of this season with the likelihood he will return to Arsenal in May. So, a move for Subotic may be one that looks beyond this transfer window.

Jack Wilshere is still yet to decide where his future lies as he enters the final 18 months of his contract with Arsenal, The Daily Mirror reports.

What’s the word?

Jack Wilshere has impressed on-loan at Bournemouth this season but is due to return to North London in just a few months time. However, the England international is still yet to decide what the best situation for his future is.

The 25-year-old is a fan favourite at Arsenal but consistently struggled with injury problems in recent years, before sealing a loan move to Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth on deadline day as he set out to secure more regular playing opportunities.

Wilshere has got what he wanted in the South Coast but, with 18 months remaining on his deal, the Gunners’ academy graduate hasn’t decided what course of action to take and is delaying a decision on his future until the summer.

Where’s best for Wilshere?

The Daily Mirror reports Bournemouth want to keep Wilshere beyond this season, whilst Italian giants AC Milan are monitoring the situation, but a stay in North London is the best fit. Had he stayed this season, he’d be earning opportunities.

That’s proven by the fact that Arsenal face having just two central midfielders available for the next few weeks, with Granit Xhaka suspended, Mohamed Elneny away at the African Cup of Nations and Santi Cazorla sidelined through a lengthy injury.

Arsenal now just have Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin as senior players to slot into their midfield, so Wilshere would have had chances, and the fact that Arsenal have five midfielders for Wilshere to compete with is pretty irrelevant when you dig into the facts.

Firstly Cazorla, recently turning 32, isn’t likely to stay at Arsenal beyond the 2017/18 season. The Gunners are yet to find a replacement for the Spanish maestro and there’s every chance Wilshere could be that man, if he remains patient.

As for his other competition, Aaron Ramsey has struggled for consistent form and there’s little argument that Wilshere is better than Elneny, whilst the playing styles of Francis Coquelin and Granit Xhaka mean the duo will always spend time suspended.

Add Arsenal’s injury record into the mix and it only increases the likelihood of opportunities presenting themselves to Wilshere, so he should give it at least one more year before moving on. Come summer 2018, nobody will blame him if he hasn’t played much football and decides to pack his bags.

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Yep, Mamadou Sakho is still a Liverpool player. The Frenchman is somewhat a cult hero among Reds fans, but Jurgen Klopp is clearly not the centre-back’s biggest supporter, with the former Paris Saint-Germain ace having been axed from first-team duties this term.

Sakho famously saw himself ruled out for the end of last season – including the Europa League Final – amid a doping saga (for which he was cleared), but the straw that broke the camel’s back, it seems, was his bad behaviour during the club’s pre-season tour of America, in which he missed team meetings and interrupted Klopp during a TV interview.

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Since then, the 26-year-old has been playing for Liverpool’s U-23s and was even overlooked during the hectic winter period in which Joe Gomez was thrust back into action after a lengthy injury lay-off.

But, his Kop exile may come to an end soon, with Crystal Palace reportedly chasing a Deadline Day move for the player. But, would Klopp be making a mistake if he lets the France international move on? After all, Ragnar Klavan has been hit and miss this season, while Lucas Leiva’s outings at centre-back have been less than impressive.

Tell us what you think…

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There seemed to be a certain degree of resignation surrounding the draw for the first knockout round of the Champions League this season.

Arsenal fans seemed to labour under the assumption that they would once again be facing the German giants Bayern Munich in this competition. Indeed, the feeling was reciprocated in Bavaria with the official twitter account for the German champions asking their North London rivals if they should make their travel arrangements now.

Whilst there is a sense of familiarity in this tie, though, it should be noted that this is a very different Bayern side under the influence of Italian coach Carlo Ancelloti as opposed to the Spaniard Pep Guardiola. Whilst the German side are still not to be underestimated, they are nothing like the attacking whirlwind that Arsenal have encountered in recent seasons.

There has been a sense of disappointment from Bayern fans this season, despite them still sitting on top of the Bundesliga, as the quality of football on display has not met the high expectations that were set during Guardiola’s three years in charge.

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The same can be said of Arsenal, who have blown hot and cold in recent weeks with the fans becoming more and more restless at the prospect of long serving manager Arsene Wenger staying on for a further term given the lack of recent progress.

The feeling amongst the fans of both sides makes a positive result in this tie hugely important…

Bayern will look to dominate space between Arsenal’s midfield and defence

Whilst playing under Pep Guardiola, Bayern became the masters at exploiting the spaces between the opposing side’s defensive and midfield lines. Even with the Spaniard gone, the players that he left behind still retain many of the lessons that he taught.

Arsenal will have to constantly be aware of the movement and positioning Thomas Muller, Thiago and Robert Lewandowski in particular. Out of the three, Thiago could prove to be the key player in this tie with his ability to drift in to pockets of space and find the point of maximum damage in the opposition, whether with a pass or by dribbling with the ball.

The weak point of Arsenal’s defensive structure has remained the same for years – their lack of a genuine controlling defensive midfielder – that player who could control the space in front of the defensive block.

They are often lightweight in midfield, with the recent defeat to Chelsea a case in point when Alex Iwobi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were in the centre of the field with Francis Coquelin sitting deeper. That trio, while technically strong, lack the strength and defensive capacity to control the game against this Bayern side.

The introduction of Swiss international Granit Xhaka would at least add some more strength to Arsenal’s spine but the form that he has showed in the first half of the season has left much to be desired.

Arsenal will look to connect Sanchez, Ozil and Iwobi in the final third

It speaks volumes of the impression that Alex Iwobi has made so far this season that I have mentioned him alongside Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

Playing predominantly from the left side of the pitch, Iwobi has impressed with his ability to play inside the half space between the left and centre of the pitch and his capacity to contribute to the attacking phase for Arsenal, as well as his ability to dribble in tight spaces to find the right pass when under pressure.

Arsenal are at their best when these three players are able to play close together, with rapid combinations and movement pulling the defensive structure of their opposition apart. Expect to see the extensively experienced Xabi Alonso sitting as the single pivot at the base of the Bayern midfield and while Alonso is an incredible passer and thinker, he is no longer the mobile player he once was.

Arsenal have an opportunity to turn this match in their favour should they overload the left side of the pitch, with the left-back advancing up the left flank and Iwobi and Ozil connecting in the centre or half spaces, while Alexis Sanchez will also drop in to and out of space in the advanced areas. This will make it difficult for the Bayern defensive structure to set themselves and account for all threats across the pitch.

This structure is made stronger when Theo Walcott is stationed on the right side of the pitch, where his pace can be deadly if he manages to get the ball in isolated positions against a single defender. This threat ensures that the opposition cannot simply shift their entire defensive structure over to the left hand side.

Conclusion

There are numerous attacking threats from both sides that could be the difference in this first-leg clash. The key could well come from the team that takes the initiative in the first instance and looks to attack from the very first kick.

If Bayern are able to settle in to a pattern of comfortable possession, thus holding Arsenal to quick transitions and counter attacks, then you can expect to see the German side go on to win the match relatively easily.

Conversely, if Arsenal are able to hold their own in the battle for possession then they have the opportunity to force openings and create chances against this Bayern side.

The tie may have a familiar feel about it but expect the match itself to look very different.

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Despite the uncertainty that surrounded the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic on these shores over the course of the summer, the superstar Swede has largely proved the sceptics he may have had wrong.

Regardless of him having established himself as one of the elite marksmen on the continent during a glittering spell across Europe, his performances against English opposition in the Champions League earlier in his career had raised concerns about his suitability for life in the Premier League.

However, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward has been a revelation in red and his reuniting with Jose Mourinho looks to be a happy one for the 35-year-old.

In 36 appearances, he’s scored a stunning 24 goals for the Red Devils, with Old Trafford legend Ryan Giggs even going as far as to compare him to a certain Eric Cantona.

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One of the major criticisms levelled at Ibrahimovic’s game of the years has been his perceived arrogance from those who dare to doubt him, with naysayers seemingly believing the ex-Ajax and AC Milan ace is merely in it for himself.

Still, the fact he’s laid on six assists for his team-mates largely goes against that notion, so it’s easy to see his importance at the Theatre of Dreams, which is why recent suggestions his future at the club he joined only back in the summer wasn’t entirely clear must have spread fear amongst the United faithful. Penning a one-year deal upon his arrival, Zlatan was quite open about the fact nothing was yet resolved in regards to his future, with another 12-month extension merely an option.

”The option is already fulfilled. But there’s nothing done yet. From my side. We’ll wait and see. Let’s see what happens.”

So, we asked United fans all over the world whether or not they thought he was worth another deal, despite his advancing years. Rather predictably, a whopping 90% of you believe the answer to be yes, though there’s the small matter of 11% who don’t believe Ed Woodward and Jose Mourinho should.

Why on earth not?

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Newcastle United emerged triumphant in the huge battle at the top of the Championship yesterday, after sealing a 2-1 victory over Brighton that put the Magpies back at the summit of the league with a two-point advantage.

Rafael Benitez’ side fought back from a goal down to clinch all three at the AMEX Stadium, with a bizarre goal from Mohamed Diame cancelling out Glenn Murray’s first-half penalty before a dramatic winner from Ayoze Perez sent the away fans into full-on party mode.

The win also leaves Brighton looking over their shoulders as Huddersfield can move just three points behind them if they win their game in hand, which means the battle for automatic promotion to the Premier League is far from over.

Benitez masterminded another late comeback, with substitute Christian Atsu setting up Perez’ winning goal just seven minutes after being introduced, and Jamaal Lascelles took to Twitter to celebrate a victory that could be decisive come May.

Newcastle will now be full of confidence heading into the final 12 games of the Championship campaign, although they’ll be aware there is still work to do- with tricky clashes with play-off chasing Huddersfield, Reading and Fulham on the horizon.

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Rangers visit Celtic Park on Sunday hoping to show that they can compete with the Hoops, having fallen to three defeats in three matches against Brendan Rodgers’ side this season so far.

It’s not an easy task after what has been a difficult month for the club following the departure of Mark Warburton.

U20s coach Graeme Murty has been tasked with leading the side through this period and although the Ibrox club continue their recruitment drive for a first team manager and director of football, it appears Murty will again be the man in the dugout this weekend.

So do Rangers have any hope of a victory? A look at the form book would suggest no. Celtic haven’t lost a single domestic game this season and have won every single one of their matches against Scottish teams since September.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom and Gers fans will still be clinging to a slight glimmer of hope heading into Sunday’s match.

Here are THREE reasons why you can’t completely dismiss Rangers ahead of the derby…

The first half hour at Ibrox

When Celtic travelled to Ibrox on Hogmanay, it was the first time they’d set foot in the blue cauldron for close to five years. After half an hour they realised that it was as formidable an arena as ever. Rangers showed glimpses of a team that could compete with the Scottish champions that day, rushing to 1-0 lead that in truth could have been added to.

The Hoops ultimately clicked into gear and showed the qualities that have seen them dominate Scottish football all season but it was a reminder that, in the unique atmosphere of this derby, Celtic can be vulnerable.

If Rangers can reproduce that sort of swagger, attitude and combative performance at Celtic Park on Sunday then it may not be as easy as some people think for Brendan Rodgers men to win.

It’s an uphill battle for sure, but it’s one that can be a battle instead of a one-sided mauling.

The dawn of a new era

The departure of Mark Warburton was acrimonious and, in the short-term, unsettling but for their long-term aims it was probably a necessary step. Results seemed to be getting worse and worse as the season wore on and his recruitment of players wasn’t exactly top notch.

According to The Scottish Sun, the new manager, thought to be Pedro Caixinha will be unveiled before the derby takes place, giving the entire squad and support a huge boost before he takes the reins of training and team selection next week.

We’ve seen on plenty occasions in football in the past that the transition from era to era can bring about out of the ordinary performances from teams and Rangers supporters will certainly be hoping the XI on the pitch on Sunday can tap into this new feeling of optimism.

Surely the team picked will be going all out to impress the incoming manager and what better stage to make yourself a Rangers hero than at Celtic Park?

Two wins in a row, is it enough?

It’s true that results in 2017 have been fairly dreadful for Rangers but the last 10 days or so have actually been pretty good by anyone’s standards.

Down to ten men and drawing at home to St Johnstone, it looked like it would be another one of those nights last Wednesday but an Emerson Hyndman stoppage time winner gave them a huge three points and a confidence boosting victory.

They followed that up with an absolutely excellent win against a Hamilton side that had beaten Aberdeen earlier that week. They thrashed the Accies 6-0 and showed a clinical edge in front of goal that we haven’t seen from the Ibrox side in ages.

Are they peaking at the perfect time ahead of their trip to Celtic Park? Is the momentum they’re building enough to go up against the Celtic juggernaut?

What’s clear is that Graeme Murty has done well to salvage some sort of positivity from recent fixtures heading into the derby. Had things gone differently in recent matches then they could have been heading across the city at their lowest ebb of the season.

Following the news that striker Romelu Lukaku will not sign a new deal with Everton, the Merseyside outfit will be even more determined to keep another player that has been linked with a move away from the club – midfielder Ross Barkley.

The England international is said to be a target for Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur according to reports in the Daily Telegraph this week, and it won’t come as much of a surprise to manager Ronald Koeman following some impressive displays from the 23-year-old this season, who has been given a more free role in the team by the Dutchman in recent weeks.

If Barkley did leave Goodison Park, Everton would need an individual with quality to replace the four goals and seven assists he has provided in 25 Premier League appearances this season, which isn’t always easy to find.

However, here are FOUR players that could replace Barkley if he decided to move on to pastures new this summer…

Yacine Brahimi

Everton came close to a £35m club-record deal for the Algeria international last summer according to reports in the Guardian, and they are likely to renew that interest at the end of the season.

The Porto winger, who can also play in an attacking midfield role, has scored five goals and provided four assists in 24 appearances in all competitions for the Portuguese giants this term.

While it may not be as good as his record in previous years, the 27-year-old continues to show that he can be real danger in the final third.

Gylfi Sigurdsson

The Toffees should be taking a look at Sigurdsson this summer whatever situation they find themselves in – but especially if Barkley does leave Goodison Park.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed another fantastic season at the Liberty Stadium, and he has scored eight goals and provided 11 assists – the most in the Premier League – in a side that has spent most of the campaign battling relegation.

Recent reports in the Daily Star suggest the Iceland international is valued at £30m and is an Everton target, and he would seemingly be worth every penny.

Youri Tielemans

The 19-year-old has been in outstanding form for Anderlecht this season, and he will likely have a number of the European giants looking to sign him this summer.

With 17 goals and 10 assists from 40 appearances in all competitions for the Belgian side from the middle of the park, it will come as a surprise that he could be available for as little as €20m according to Tuttomercatoweb.

The fact that he is good friends with Toffees striker Romelu Lukaku and will want guaranteed first team football could give the Merseyside outfit an advantage, and it would be a real statement of intent from the club.

Wayne Rooney

Toffees manager Ronald Koeman admitted last month that he would consider bringing the Manchester United man back to Goodison Park if the opportunity arose, and it seems more and more likely that it could happen this summer.

The 31-year-old is already playing in a slightly deeper role than the one he played the majority of his career in, and it is one that is similar to the one that Barkley is currently featuring in.

If the 23-year-old did leave, not too many Toffees supporters would turn their noses up if the returning Rooney was his replacement.

Do YOU agree, Everton fans? Let us know in the comments section below.

Manchester City have the most promising attack in world football. Next season may not be their best, but they have a collaboration of sensational, young forwards who could all be considered the world’s best within a few seasons. Raheem Sterling, Kevin de Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus are the main protagonists, joined by the ever-graceful David Silva and lethal Sergio Aguero.

Aguero could leave, sure, but City will likely add a younger, less injury prone player to fill his berth. That would be a player favoured by Guardiola, a player like Gabriel Jesus, in fact.

City, quite simply, have an attack that could go down in history for its balance and its devastating play. There have been glimpses of that already – at home to Barcelona and Monaco in the Champions League notably – and it will only improve from here.

Links to other attack-minded players continue to bubble along in any gossip column, though. Isco is the current flavour the month in many a rumour mill and the mazy-dribbling Spaniard would be a superb addition to almost any side in Europe. He’s a bargain, too, so it seems like a stunning deal for City, doesn’t it?

Well, it would be a good signing if he can find his best form and play regularly. As it stands he would not get in the side, even without birthday boy Gabriel Jesus – who turns just 20 years old today. Jesus will return from his injury and be – pardon the cliche – like a new signing. The Brazilian has been a revelation in his brief City career to date before a frustrating injury snapped any momentum he could have hoped to build leading the line.

Manchester City’s transfer policy has been a bit hit and miss of late. Although the aforementioned players have proven to be well worth the investment, the club has continued to neglect areas of the team that are in dire need of reinforcement. Isco might just be another sign of a club forgetting their real weaknesses and adding to a loaded attack that is the least of Guardiola’s worries for 2017/18.

Ultimately, Isco would be a magnificent to player have in the squad, but he is no necessity at this point. City’s rocky transfer past – particularly in the defensive positions – will not fill anyone with confidence and deserves the complete attention of the club. They have an attack capable of damaging any side in world football and, while depth will be needed with Jesus Navas and Nolito set to leave, that must be secondary to reinforcing a too-often disastrous defence.

Building the greatest attack in world football must be tempting for City and Guardiola, but that is not what will determine the success of next season for them. Even with all the great football we have witnessed from them this season, they are set for a definitive transfer window. But adding to the attack instead of the defence would be one way to waste a fortune this summer.

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Slaven Bilic has been a man under pressure at West Ham for a while now. Four games ago the Croatian had three matches to save his Hammers career (well, according to the London Evening Standard) and with two losses and a win from those ties (as well as a subsequent draw at Sunderland), the jury remains somewhat out on his future.

West Ham’s public stance has been that Bilic still has their faith, but Italian reporter Tancredi Palmeri has caused a stir today by revealing that Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi has been “offered” a contract to become manager of the club this summer…

The Stadio Olimpico chief, brother of legendary AC Milan striker Filippo, has impressed in Rome this term, taking his team all the way to the Coppa Italia Final, where they will face Juventus, while also guiding them into fourth spot – they can secure Champions League qualification if they make up the nine-point and 24 goal buffer between themselves and Napoli in the slot above.

With this being such a big development, plenty of fans have been talking about it on Twitter and here are some of the best reactions…