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Alfred Schreuder was left puzzled after a proposed move to Leeds United collapsed, according to Alan Nixon.

The Lowdown: Schreuder at Elland Road

It looked as if Schreuder was on course to replace Jesse Marsch this time last week. The attacking 4-3-3 style manager was at Elland Road for Leeds’ 2-0 defeat to Manchester United and was even at the team hotel prior to the fixture.

As we know, a move failed to go through, with a number of Leeds fans angry at the possibility of the 50-year-old taking charge in Yorkshire in the first place.

The Latest: Nixon’s claim

Reliable reporter Nixon shared a story on his Patreon account regarding Leeds and Schreuder. Relayed by MOT Leeds News, he said that Schreuder was puzzled after a move to Yorkshire collapsed.

The former Ajax manager was initially told that a three-year deal could be on the cards, but that was quickly halved and after further talks with Andrea Radrizzani, a move was off the table entirely.

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The Verdict: A mess

Radrizzani, the 49ers, Victor Orta and co have made a real mess of the managerial situation, with travelling supporters at Everton on Saturday once again chanting against the board. The Whites are now in the relegation zone, and it looks as if they are in complete free-fall both on and off the pitch.

Schreuder was clearly confused that Leeds pulled out of a deal, and it remains to be seen where the club go from here, with Michael Skubala still in caretaker charge.

Some urgency on either an interim or full-time appointment appears needed, especially with a crucial game against Southampton next weekend.

Scottish champions Celtic maintained their handsome nine-point advantage at the summit with a commanding 3-0 win over Livingston on Wednesday evening, with the Old Firm outfit continuing to march on in the defence of their title.

While bitter rivals Rangers have enjoyed an unbeaten run under new boss Michael Beale since the Englishman’s appointment back in November, that has mattered little in truth with the Hoops having hardly broken stride of late, with last night’s performance once again a reminder of the devastating attacking quality that Ange Postecoglou’s side possess.

In what was a remarkable first-half display from the hosts at Parkhead, goals from Greg Taylor, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi made sure of the points inside the opening 45 minutes, with opposition boss David Martindale quipping that he had been “trying to get an Uber” out of Glasgow at the interval, such was the rampant nature of the home side’s performance.

While much of the plaudits will go to Postecoglou’s forward line for having so ruthlessly dispatched the West Lothian outfit in that breathtaking spell before the break, a word must also be said on the club’s defensive unit, having once again recorded a shut-out.

The most notable figure among that backline was United States international, Cameron Carter-Vickers, with the imposing colossus having been something of a rock on the night, after producing ‘another dominating performance’ – in the words of Glasgow Live’s Will Lancaster.

That immense showing saw the former Tottenham Hotspur man – who has now kept 11 clean sheets in 21 league appearances this season – win 100% of his aerial duels, while also recording three clearances and two interceptions in total.

Not just an almost impenetrable presence defensively, the 25-year-old also showed his class on the ball as he enjoyed a stunning 92% pass accuracy rate from his 108 touches, having lost the ball on just ten occasions.

The 12-cap maestro also registered one key pass as a marker of his forward-thinking approach at the heart of the defence, with that all-round performance having unsurprisingly warranted a solid 7.4 match rating, as per Sofascore.

The Southend-born powerhouse was also lauded by Celtic Way’s Tony Haggerty, with the Hoops journalist awarding the centre-back an 8/10 match rating, while stating: ‘Strolled through proceedings and you almost felt heart sorry for lone Livi striker Bruce Anderson who got no change out of the USA international all evening. He read everything superbly well and his concentration levels are excellent. He is a formidable presence at the back of the pack.’

Formidable is indeed the word to describe Carter-Vickers’ impact at Celtic Park over the last 18 months or so, with the reported £6m fee that it took to make the defender’s deal permanent over the summer already looking like something of a bargain.

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has been talking with Jack Harrison regarding his Elland Road future, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The Lowdown: Not just Leicester…

The winger appears to be a man in demand in the final days of the January transfer window, with Leicester making an offer in the region of £20m for his services.

However, it isn’t just the Foxes who are keen on the 26-year-old, with talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook claiming that Aston Villa are also keen and Newcastle remain long-term admirers.

Harrison is now into the final 18 months of his contract in Yorkshire and has recently enjoyed a change of position, contributing to four goals in two FA Cup games as an attacking midfielder.

The Latest: Sheth’s comments

Shheth was speaking to GiveMeSport and described Harrison’s immediate future as ‘interesting’. The Sky Sports reporter said that Marsch has ‘been speaking very openly’ with the player over his situation following speculation in the media.

Sheth outlined: “This is interesting because Jesse Marsch hasn’t flatly denied it.

“But he has admitted that he’s been speaking very openly to Jack Harrison about what’s been around in the media with regard to this interest from Leicester City. He’s only got 18 months left on his contract.”

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The Verdict: Keep him?

Leeds have added to their attacking ranks this month in Georginio Rutter, with the Frenchman primarily a centre-forward. The Whites haven’t brought in a winger so far in January, so parting ways with Harrison this late in the window may not leave them enough time to sign a replacement.

He is the oldest and most experienced in the Premier League of Leeds’ four wide attacking options and has shown his versatility by coming inside as an attacking midfielder.

The 26-year-old has also been Leeds’ fourth-best performer so far this season, registering more assists than any other squad member (WhoScored), so cashing in could be a gamble by the Elland Road board, especially with Marsch eager to keep hold of his services.

Everton have found themselves struggling in the Premier League once again this season but Frank Lampard will be afforded the opportunity to strengthen his squad and find solutions during the transfer window this month.

The Toffees are currently 18th in the league table ahead of their clash with 20th-placed Southampton at the weekend and taking all three points from the Goodison Park clash will be crucial in their efforts to climb out of the relegation zone into a much more comfortable position.

It has become glaringly obvious that Everton’s attacking threat has been significantly weakened by the departure of Richarlison and injury troubles plaguing Dominic Calvert-Lewin despite the signings of Neal Maupay and Dwight McNeil.

The Merseysiders have the third-worst goal tally in the entire top flight which should make it clear to Lampard that his top priority should be signing a goal-scorer who can make an instant impact in the team during the current transfer window as pressure mounts for positive performances and outcomes on the pitch.

One player who Everton have reportedly already had a bid rejected for is Aston Villa striker Danny Ings as the Midlands club are reluctant to part ways with their goal-machine half way through the season.

Indeed, the Toffees are in a sticky situation with their finances which will likely only worsen should they get relegated this season so the powers at Goodison Park will need to decide if the risk guarantees them reward going forward.

Ings has been an established Premier League striker for many years now, tallying up 68 league goals and 19 assists over his 187 appearances so far, with a goal contribution every 2.1 matches.

Over 17 appearances this season, Ings – who was dubbed a “goal machine” by football writer Simon Peach – has scored six times and successfully completed 60% of his dribble attempts so far, proving to be an asset who causes all sorts of danger to his opponents.

Furthermore, he has won 2.1 duels per game, suggesting he is a physical presence too, with the aforementioned numbers indicating that he could be a hugely valuable asset to Everton.

If the club can acquire the services of the former Liverpool striker this month it wouldn’t be the first time that they have had success with Aston Villa alumni.

Indeed, Ronald Koeman captured the tremendous signing of Idrissa Gana Gueye from Villa back in 2016 with the midfielder quickly becoming a stand-out performer during his first stint with the Toffees.

He was one of the best tough-tackling players in the division during that initial spell, making 4.1 tackles per game in the 2016/17 campaign, the highest of any player in the top flight that year.

The hope, therefore, is that Ings could have a similar impact if he moved along the same path to Merseyside.

It is without a doubt that the forward could be the exact profile of player that can help the Toffees’ forward line and it could just be a game-changing signing over the rest of the campaign.

Manchester United are believed to be plotting a long-term solution to their centre-forward problem this summer, with Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane seemingly among the list of potential targets for the Red Devils.

What’s the word?

According to ESPN’s Mark Ogden, while United do appear to be closing in on the temporary, short-term signing of Netherlands international, Wout Weghorst, the belief is that such a deal is merely to ‘bridge a gap’ until the end of the season, before a more permanent striking addition is secured.

The report suggests that should the England captain – who has just 18 months remaining on his existing deal in north London – fail to sign a contract extension with the Lilywhites, the 29-year-old could emerge as an option for Erik ten Hag this summer.

The piece goes on to add that the Old Trafford outfit are ‘aware’ that they could prove to be the most ‘attractive option’ for the prolific asset if he is to depart the Lilywhites, with Premier League rivals Manchester City and Liverpool having only recently strengthened in attack with the signings of Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez, respectively.

Sheringham 2.0

Turning to Kane – who has been linked with a £90m switch to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in recent months – would certainly represent a wise move as far as Ten Hag is concerned, with the experienced striker providing an almost guaranteed supply of goals with 256 to his name in just 412 appearances for Tottenham to date.

That includes a haul of 198 goals in the top-flight thus far, while the £200k-per-week “genius” – as described by talkSPORT pundit Matt Holland – also offers the benefit of his innate creativity, having been lauded as “one of the best passers of the ball in the world” by Anfield legend, Jamie Carragher.

Although there may be doubts over splashing the cash on a player who is set to turn 30 in July, those at the Theatre of Dreams can well look to the past for encouragement, having previously snapped up Teddy Sheringham from Spurs at a similar stage of the striker’s career back in 1997.

The latter man – who was 31 at the time of his £3.5m switch to Manchester – would go on to prove a truly astute piece of business for Sir Alex Ferguson and co, as he scored 46 goals in 153 games for the club over the next four years.

That included the London-born maestro’s pivotal, late equaliser in the Champions League triumph at Camp Nou in 1999, while the former Three Lions star also swooped the PFA Player of the Year award for the 2000/01 campaign despite being well into his mid-thirties.

Much like Kane, the now-retired gem provided more than just a goal threat due to his remarkable link-up play, having been praised by ex-teammate Gary Neville in recent years for his “awareness, the ability to take the ball in tight areas, the vision.”

The comparison between the pair has also been noted by former Spurs cult hero, Jurgen Klinsmann, with the German icon having stated earlier this year:

“His [Kane’s] decision making is just outstanding. He’s a bit similar to Teddy Sheringham, always making the right decisions at the right time.”

Those parallels should well indicate that it could prove a real masterstroke if Ten Hag is to bring Kane to Old Trafford, with the case of Sheringham showcasing that such intelligent assets can well have plenty to offer despite their advancing years.

Liverpool have received a major post World Cup injury boost regarding one of their key players…

What’s the news?

According to James Pearce of The Athletic, Luis Diaz is now in a position to resume team training at Liverpool’s base in Dubai.

The winger hasn’t played since suffering a knee injury against Arsenal in October and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping he can take part in the two friendly matches the Anfield side are taking part in, playing Lyon on December 11 and AC Milan on December 16.

The hope is if he manages some minutes in those matches, a return to action against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup just before Christmas might be possible.

Superb news for Klopp

This news will be a major boost for the German, especially with his side struggling up until Christmas in the Premier League, winning just six games to occupy sixth spot in the league table.

Diaz has been a revelation since arriving on Merseyside following a January move from FC Porto. He settled into the team with ease, registering 11 goal contributions from 26 matches as he helped the club secure a League and FA Cup double, narrowly missing out on a famous quadruple.

The 25-year-old carried this form into the current campaign, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists in just eight league matches before suffering the injury in the defeat to Arsenal, and Klopp has missed him ever since.

Liverpool have scored just eight league goals during Diaz’s absence and are arguably missing his goalscoring threat from the left wing, with Klopp utilising Darwin Nunez as a winger on occasion in his place.

Compared to positional peers in the big five European leagues, Diaz ranks in the top 10% for dribbles completed (2.64 per match), touches in the attacking penalty area (6.57), and total shots (3.27) proving that he is one of the finest on the continent when fit and firing.

The team have badly missed his ability and heading into the second half of the season, Klopp will need him at his very best to push his side further up the table. His return is undoubtedly superb news for everyone at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp is looking at bolstering his Liverpool squad by signing a Juventus striker in the January window…

What’s the news?

According to Italian outlet CalcioMercatoWeb, the German manager is a keen admirer of Dusan Vlahovic and is willing to do anything in order to bring the striker to Liverpool.

The report also states that the 55-year-old coach could include French defender Ibrahima Konate in any potential deal with Juventus in order to secure the signing of the Serbian.

Despite arriving in Turin earlier this year for a fee of £67m, Juventus may consider selling if an offer of around €100m (£87m) is made for Vlahovic.

Dream Firmino heir

Record Liverpool signing Darwin Nunez has struggled in parts this season, scoring just five Premier League goals since his £85m summer move, and with Roberto Firmino having just six months left on his current contract at Anfield, Klopp will urgently require some more firepower in his squad before too long.

Vlahovic could be the ideal heir to the Brazilian forward. The 22-year-old hasn’t exactly been in blistering form this season for the Serie A side, scoring seven goals from 15 appearances in all competitions.

However, his form for his previous club Fiorentina is an indication of just how good a player he truly is, scoring 49 goals in just over 100 matches.

Indeed, it would appear his problems at Juventus are more down to his mismanagement under manager Max Allegri than his ability, with journalist Emmet Gates claiming that the forward is a “Ferrari being driven like a fiat” – and he could thrive under Klopp.

He was selected in the Serbia squad for the World Cup and scored against Switzerland last night in a 3-2 defeat, which ended their hopes of progression to the last 16.

The “generational” talent – as dubbed by Gates – has so much to offer and doesn’t appear to be the best fit at Juventus, under the current manager at least.

Firmino has registered 185 goal contributions for Liverpool during his seven-year stint so far and whether he leaves at the end of the current season or extends his contract, the Brazilian won’t be at Anfield forever and will be tough to replace.

Vlahovic has shown he can shine at the highest level, scoring goals in Serie A, the Champions League, and now the World Cup.

A January move might be slightly unrealistic, however, Klopp should be doing all he can to bring the striker to Liverpool by the start of next season.

West Ham United have made an approach to sign Everton defender Michael Keane, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Out of favour

Despite still having three years remaining on his contract, the centre-back has recently fallen down the pecking order under Frank Lampard following the arrivals of Conor Coady and James Tarkowski, meaning that an exit could be on the cards in 2023.

The Irons are believed to have held a strong interest in the 29-year-old over the summer, and even though a deal failed to materialise before the deadline, the Premier League side are now taking a second bite at the cherry.

The Latest: West Ham make Keane contact

According to Football Insider, West Ham have ‘registered their interest’ in Keane and have made an ‘approach’ ahead of a potential move next year.

The report states that David Moyes’ side are now ‘back in’ for their target, with the boss a ‘huge admirer’ of the Toffees colossus.

It’s claimed that the Merseyside outfit are ‘willing to listen to offers’, with £10m set to be enough to seal a deal in the January window.

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The Verdict: Dawson replacement

Craig Dawson allegedly wants to secure a move away from the London Stadium in the New Year, and Keane would be the ideal replacement should the veteran depart.

Labelled ‘aggressive’ by Josh Bunting, the defender was a rock last season, averaging four clearances and three successful aerial duels per league game, as well as making five goal contributions (WhoScored).

The Stockport-born talent is in need of minutes and GSBK are in need of reinforcements, so this is a move that would suit both parties.

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson will be available for the Reds’ Premier League meeting with Leeds after an injury scare in midweek, journalist James Pearce has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Thiago fit for Leeds game

Jurgen Klopp’s men host the Whites on Saturday evening, in what represents a hugely important game for both sides in their respective top-four and relegation battles.

Liverpool have been boosted by the news that Thiago is available for the match, having missed the defeat away to Nottingham Forest and victory at Ajax.

There is an added positive in the Reds’ midfield ahead of the game, too, following a fresh update.

The Latest: Henderson back

Writing on Twitter, The Athletic‘s Pearce confirmed the availability of Henderson and Thiago against Leeds, despite the skipper popping up as an injury concern after Ajax.

“Thiago fit to return, Henderson expected to be okay.”

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The Verdict: Massive boost for Liverpool

This is great news for Liverpool, who have been so injury-riddled for much of the campaign, consistently missing a string of key players.

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Henderson produced his best performance in a while against Ajax in the Champions League, providing a lovely assist for Mohamed Salah, and he will surely start again, potentially alongside Thiago.

The remaining midfield spot could then be taken by either the still-struggling-for-form Fabinho or the exciting Harvey Elliott, who is growing in stature all the time.

Celtic are back in action at home to Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, with the Old Firm giants still seeking a first win in this season’s group stage campaign.

The Hoops’ latest loss in the competition to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig has ensured that the Scottish champions can no longer qualify for the knockout stages, although Ange Postecoglou’s side will still have something to play for with a place in the next round of the Europa League still on the line.

Heading into a clash at Parkhead which could potentially prove decisive in the race to finish third – with the Glasgow side simply having to win to have any chance of avoiding finishing rock-bottom in Group F – there will no doubt be a number of selection decisions for the Bhoys boss to make, with their no doubt intense competition for places at present.

One man who may well find himself out of the side is summer signing Alexandro Bernabei, with the young Argentine having endured a difficult afternoon in the thrilling victory over Hearts at the weekend.

The 22-year-old had gone into that clash at Tynecastle off the back of an impressive run of form for the Scottish Premiership, having shaken off early off-field issues to provide “fierce competition” for usual starter Greg Taylor, in the words of The Athletic’s Owen Brown.

The former Lanus man – who was snapped up on a £3.75m deal in the recent window – had registered two assists in his last two league games heading into the weekend win over Robbie Neilson’s side, although was unable to continue that eye-catching as he produced a frustrating display on the day.

The diminutive full-back seemingly ‘lost his individual battle with Hearts winger Josh Ginnelly’ – in the words of The Scotsman’s Matthew Elder – having notably failed to prevent the opposition forward from teeing up Lawrence Shankland for the striker’s second of the match just after the break.

That moment epitomised the defender’s limp showing as the 5-foot-7 menace also lost possession 14 times from his 57 touches, while winning just two of his four ground duels, having failed to record a single tackle, interception or clearance.

As it proved the new arrival was subsequently hooked just after the hour mark in favour of the aforementioned Taylor, with his match rating of 6.0, as per SofaScore, having been the worst among his teammates.

To make matters worse for Bernabei, his replacement would go on to net the winning goal off the bench after sliding in at the back post to become the unlikely hero, with it looking likely that it will be the Scotsman who takes his place in the side tomorrow night.

If it is the former Argentina youth international who is ditched, the promising talent can seemingly have few complaints.