Portsmouth are badly in need of some new, highly-motivated players to come and join their promotion bid, having slipped up in the past two games.

The League One high-flyers are in danger of capitulating early into the New Year and that is not a good sign at all for fans to be witnessing.

They know their team is capable of a lot more but they made need to make some vital additions to help push their promotion aspirations onwards again.

Pompey have had a very tough time in the last five years or so, it’s time for them again to enjoy success and that can be delivered with the help of a new striker.

Although he has played just a matter of minutes due to injury this season, Birmingham’s Isaac Vassell could get back to his best and help Portsmouth return to the Championship.

Vassell, (who is valued at £225k on Transfermarkt) has just got himself back fit and now in contention for Garry Monk’s plans going forward.

The 25-year-old striker has suffered badly since arriving at the Championship club, with recurring knee injures not allowing his career with Birmingham to take off.

For a player of his ability, that is terrible and he will be hoping to get the opportunity soon to change those woes and impressive at a club like Portsmouth.

It would be a hard task joining Portsmouth, considering they are seriously in the hunt for Championship football.

But with all the pressure, Isaac Vassell could shine on the big stage, becoming the latest forward to be a hero at Fratton Park.

Do you agree… Let us know!

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According to Sky Sports, Newcastle United have enquired about the availability of Atletico Madrid winger Gelson Martins in this January transfer window.

What’s the story?

Martins only joined the La Liga outfit in the summer, on a free transfer from Portuguese club Sporting. However, the 23-year-old has failed to establish himself in Diego Simeone’s team since then, and has made just eight league appearances so far this season, seven of which have come from the bench.

Check out Neymar’s controversial new haircut for 2019 and Xherdan Shaqiri as you’ve never seen him before in the video below…

Martins could already be set for pastures new, with Atletico potentially ready to allow him to leave the club on loan this month to join the Magpies. 

A goal boost

Martins would certainly be an excellent acquisition on the part of the Tyneside club. The 21-cap Portugal international may have struggled to have an impact at the Wanda Metropolitano, but he definitely has the capacity to shine at St James’ Park.

Rafa Benitez’s side currently lack consistent end product coming from the wings. Martins’ return of 27 goals and 30 assists from his 140 Sporting appearances (per Transfermarkt) suggests that he could inject some much-needed extra goal threat into the Newcastle squad.

What’s more, he also represents a cost effective, low risk option, if he can be acquired on a loan deal. With funds likely to be tight for Newcastle, Benitez must pounce upon any and every bargain that comes his way.

If Newcastle could land Martins this month, then that would represent a fantastic bit of business on the part of the Premier League strugglers.

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Crystal Palace knocked London neighbours Spurs out of the FA Cup on Sunday and, in doing so, progressed to the fifth round; the game could have been very different had the visitors not been hit with a string of injuries to a number of key players, but Spurs fans were more concerned with one of Palace’s players rather than their own.

Andros Townsend netted his seventh goal of the season in all competitions via the penalty spot and could have had a second but failed to fire either side of Paulo Gazzaniga, instead hitting the cutback straight at the Argentine.

The Eagles winger has played for an incredible twelve English clubs, including Newcastle and Championship leaders Leeds, but seems to have found a home at Selhurst Park after spending much 0f his Spurs career out on loan and is currently enjoying what is surely his best season in the Prem.

Naturally an energetic wide-man, the 27-year-old has been converted into an unorthodox striker this season by Roy Hodgson and is becoming quite good at arriving in the box – meanwhile, Spurs’ Fernando Llorente struggled to get any breathing room and took just 38 touches in ninety minutes as he failed to threaten Palace’s stand-in backline.

After netting from the spot, Townsend’s celebrations were muted, the reasoning for which was explained by the man himself on Twitter, leading to many Spurs fans applauding the number 10 for his class; others took it a step further by stating that they wish he was still in white.

Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin may be out for the season but it’s given him a chance to show off his new accessory. Check out the video above to see for yourself…

You can check out the best of the reaction below…

With Liverpool starting to flounder in the title race, they need something new to light up their momentum. Their current system is being found out by Premier League sides and Jurgen Klopp needs to try new things. With that in mind, introducing wonderkid Rhian Brewster into the fray can be a wise decision.

Brewster has been suffering from persistent injuries since his heroics at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot, helping the Three Lions lift the trophy. However, he is recovering pretty well and wishes to be a genuine option for Klopp. With not many sides knowing Brewster’s strengths, the German coach can find something different in him.

While the youngster is still a few weeks away from attaining match-fitness, when he does become available, Klopp should utilize him. Be it as only a substitute, Brewster’s pace and a fantastic eye for goal makes him a dangerous player for the Reds. He scored eight goals in the U-17 World Cup and has been prolific in the youth level competition for the Reds.

While not the biggest in frame, Brewster’s unpredictable movement and clinical striking ability make him an assured option for goals. He doesn’t miss much in front of goal and the way Liverpool create chances, he can blend into their system in no time.

The Reds need goals to overtake Manchester City’s superior goal difference. Brewster brings many goals with him and if utilized well, can be Klopp’s trump card into prevailing in this tight championship race. Perhaps this season is too soon, but if Liverpool are going to compete in the years going forward, Brewster can be a wild card.

Leeds United are reportedly one of the teams in pursuit of Hull City’s Jarrod Bowen.

Indeed, a recent report states that numerous Premier League and Championship clubs are monitoring the Tigers’ talisman with eyes on making a move for him in January.

Bowen is undoubtedly a talented player as he’s scored 15 Championship goals already this term, but with a Hull Live journalist stating that he wouldn’t be allowed to go for anything less than £20m, should Leeds make this move happen?

United already have two supremely talented players down the right with two-time Player of the Year winner Pablo Hernandez and £15m man Helder Costa, so is it worth them going for Bowen?

There are certainly arguments both for and against Leeds making this signing, so we asked our team of writers to give their verdicts as to whether or not United should attempt to sign the 5 foot 9 man in January.

Matt Dawson

“Jarrod Bowen would be a fine addition for any side in the Championship, even one fighting for promotion as convincingly as Leeds are. The Whites may sit in second place but adding a player like the Hull man to their ranks could just ensure the xG finally reaches the level it’s supposed to be at.

“For a whole host of reasons, primarily Patrick Bamford not scoring for ten games, they are ten goals behind West Brom’s tally. However, by landing Bowen, they’d have someone not only proven in this division, but someone who could quite easily make the jump to the Premier League.

“His 22 goals last season was fine evidence of the talent he possesses while his 15 strikes in 2019/20 is a stunning rate. There’s a reason there’s been calls from Stan Collymore for Chelsea and Arsenal (The Mirror on Tuesday, via The Hull Daily Mail) to get involved in the race for his signature. This would be a considerable coup even for a team of the size of Leeds’ stature.“

Lewis Blain

“While Jarrod Bowen would be a game-changer in Leeds’ quest for promotion, one that would likely to put their attack on the same wavelength as their nearest challengers, West Brom, it’s a move that ultimately seems far too good to be true.

“The winger has bagged 15 times this season, playing in an array of attacking positions. But Marcelo Bielsa faces stiff competition from a whole host of Premier League clubs, some of whom are guaranteed to be in the top-flight next season, whereas the Whites could falter late on once again.

“In addition, Helder Costa has started to find his feet at long last in west Yorkshire, scoring and assisting a goal in his last three matches – he’s expected to sign permanently for a fee of £15m too, can they really afford to splash out on the 22-year-old?”

Vijievan Jeevathayalan

“With Helder Costa holding down the fort on the right-hand side, a move for Jarrod Bowen perhaps doesn’t make too much sense on the face of it. But despite featuring prominently under Marcelo Bielsa this season, his end product has been severely lacking.

“In 22 games across all competitions, the 25-year-old has just seven total goal contributions to his name (two goals and four assists). Bowen on the other hand, has been in scintillating form. His 15 strikes in the Championship alone means he is only second in the goal-scoring charts (behind Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic).

“For a wide-man to be putting up those numbers at any level is remarkable, and shows he is in the mould of a modern-day winger in the shape of a Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane. He would have no problem adapting to the league, and that simply makes this move a total no-brainer.”

Charles Jones

“Personally, I reckon that signing Jarrod Bowen would all but seal promotion for Leeds United.

“The only thing holding Leeds back from absolutely dominating the Championship is their record in front of goal as they’ve conceded just 13 in 21 down the other end, and that record can’t be knocked.

“Bowen is a proven goalscorer at this level as he hit 22 strikes last term, and he seems to be getting even better as he’s netted 15 goals already this season.

“If Leeds have the financial capabilities to make this happen then they should absolutely dip into the market to bring the winger to Elland Road.”

In other news, one former Leeds man has given a surprising answer when asked who Leeds’ most disappointing player has been.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking on Premier League Productions (as quoted by The Manchester Evening News), Ryan Giggs has slammed Anthony Martial’s performance against Everton.

What did he say?

The France international has hit a roadblock in terms of his form in the Premier League in recent weeks, with just one goal in his last six games. And against Everton on Sunday afternoon, Martial had a day to forget, not registering a single shot on target and winning just three duels in total.

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And speaking after the game, United legend Giggs delivered a stinging criticism of the striker’s display, and even declared he is now under pressure from emerging starlet Mason Greenwood, who scored the equaliser against the Toffees.

He said: “He is talented, and he’s not a bad kid, but the problem he has is that he looks lethargic all the time. He looks casual, as if he’s not bothered. When it comes off, and he’s doing brilliant things, you say it just comes naturally. But when it’s not, you think: he’s not running, he’s not trying, he’s not working hard enough, he’s not holding the ball up.

“It’s all these sort of things that you’re not getting off him at the moment. With Mason coming on and doing that, getting in positions to score goals, he (Martial) is going to be under pressure, because he’s not giving you anything defensively and he’s not giving you anything offensively either.”

Under pressure

Make no mistake about it, Greeenwood’s break-through this season has given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer some major food for thought. The starlet has bagged seven goals for the senior side, and is well and truly knocking on the door for regular first-team opportunities.

Can you get full marks on the Ultimate Man United Quiz? Test your knowledge below…

The United boss is seeing first-hand that the 18-year-old can step up to the plate when needed, and that all means he doesn’t have to continuously play the likes of Martial and Marcus Rashford if he feels they are out-of-form or due a much-needed break. If the former disappoints like he did against Everton at the weekend, then Greenwood will fancy his chances of knocking the Frenchman off his perch as the side’s number one striker.

Meanwhile, Manchester United fans have hammered this star after his disappointing display against Everton.

It was a baptism of fire for many of Liverpool’s players against Aston Villa on Tuesday.

Considering that the club’s academy players needed to line up against the Villans at Villa Park in the League Cup, it was not too much of a surprise to see them to lose 5-0 against Dean Smith’s men. And even despite that thrashing, there were some positives for Neil Critchley and co to take away from the match – they had more shots and also managed 58% possession.

Watch Leicester vs Liverpool Free Live and Free with Amazon Prime on Boxing Day

Herbie Kane did not have the best game, though. He managed a WhoScored rating of just 6.6 which, although not absolutely atrocious, should have probably been higher considering he was one of the more experienced heads amongst the Reds on the evening at the age of 21.

Can you name the result these iconic Liverpool images belong to? Give it a go now…

That match was only his second appearance for the Anfield outfit, and it was just his 51st in professional football as a whole. Now, after that display, it is being said by Goal.com that Liverpool are ready to sell him in January.

This was probably his last chance to impress the 52-year-old boss and stake a claim for a place around the first-team squad in the future, but there is very little, if nothing at all, that will have made Klopp stand up and take notice. Especially when you consider that Harvey Elliott, five years his junior at just 16 years of age, stood out amongst his peers.

With Doncaster Rovers last term, he scored seven goals and provided 10 assists in 49 matches, which does show that he could probably do a job at a lower level. However, that does not mean that he has the ability to feature for Liverpool. At 21, and with just two appearances to his name, you feel his time has run out on Merseyside. A move away to a Championship club like Charlton or Hull – who are said to be after him – would be the best thing for all involved.

In other news, one Liverpool man shows his experience against Aston Villa.

West Ham United, a side who had ambitions of breaking into the top-six at the start of the season, find themselves in a relatively disastrous situation at the beginning of 2020.

The January window will offer the club’s decision makers an opportunity to freshen things up and help David Moyes steer the club to safety, and a recent report from Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol reveals where the club will look to strengthen.

What’s the word?

The Hammers spent big in the summer to secure the likes of Sebastien Haller and Pablo Fornals, but their spending spree hasn’t had the desired effect so far.

Perhaps what the players need is a quality central midfielder to connect the various dots.

And Solhekol has suggested that’s exactly what the east London outfit will be targeting in the mid-season window, per Sky Sports.

“The Hammers have two key targets during the January window and are seeking a strong, physical, box-to-box midfielder – and they have between £6m and £12m to spend.”

The report suggests they’ll also be targeting a goalkeeper and their budget for that acquisition is set between £6m and £12m, while the club are open to the idea of signing another centre-forward amid Haller’s struggle to hit the ground running in the Premier League.

Central midfielder long overdue

Perhaps the most important acquisition Moyes can make in his first month as manager is that of the central midfield variety.

The club would have been wise to sign an all-round midfielder in the summer in order to phase out Mark Noble and give the team a focal point in midfield, and their failure to do so was one of Pellegrini’s biggest problems during his time in charge.

Jack Wilshere’s fitness is consistently unreliable and beyond Manuel Lanzini, who has also endured his fair share of injury problems, there is little by way of natural midfield quality.

It’s a long overdue acquisition for the club to make and it’s one which just might hand Moyes the tool he needs to carry the Irons to safety.

Solhekol’s claim that the club will target a central midfielder should be music to supporters’ ears.

After suffering a humbling defeat at the hands of noisy neighbours Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United side return to Premier League action on Saturday.

The Red Devils will surely be smarting from the manner of their loss to their arch-rivals, with City racing to a 3-0 goal lead by half-time. And their last match in the top-flight didn’t end on a positive note either, culminating in a 2-0 defeat to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal on New Year’s Day. So when Norwich turn up to Old Trafford, Solskjaer will be hoping for some much-needed respite, and the bottom of the table Canaries could provide them with exactly that.

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This could well be the perfect chance for them to enjoy a morale-boosting win full of goals, and with that in mind, below is a look at how United should line-up.

Following another disappointing performance against City in mid-week, this could finally be the game where David de Gea gets dropped from Premier League duties. Sergio Romero has been publicly praised by Solskjaer for being a reliable performer whenever he has been called upon, and a home clash against Norwich surely represents the perfect opportunity for the Argentine to dip his toes into the water.

In front of him, Phil Jones is likely to have had sleepless nights, replaying that now iconic moment of Kevin De Bruyne completely making a mockery of him in the build-up to City’s third goal of the night.

The big fat United quiz of 2019 – how much do you remember about the last year at Man Utd?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Solskjaer delivered a promising verdict on Harry Maguire’s potential return from injury, and he could come back to Victor Lindelof and thus save Jones.

As their only senior options, Fred and Nemanja Matic should return to the starting line-up, but it is further ahead where Solskjaer should look to go all out. Changing to a 4-4-2 formation could see Marcus Rashford and Daniel James line up out wide, and with Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial forming a strike partnership.

It would be a statement of intent from the United boss to throw all his key attacking options into the same side, and give them a great chance of securing the kind of seismic victory both in terms of score-line and much-needed momentum.

Meanwhile, Man Utd swooping for this ruthless finisher could be exactly what they need.

With the January transfer window in full swing now, clubs are no doubt on the lookout for potential signings. And perhaps more than most, Manchester United are in need of some reinforcements this month.

The Red Devils have endured a difficult campaign that sees them currently lying outside of the top four places, and with defeats to the likes of Watford and Arsenal fresh in the mind.

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New players would surely help with lifting the mood, but speaking ahead of United’s clash against Norwich, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted that people shouldn’t expect too much activity at Old Trafford.

After hearing his comments, fans of the Manchester side flooded to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation, with a couple simply insisting that the club’s ambition has gone down the drain.

A few Red Devils supporters revealed that Solskjaer is simply being Ed Woodward’s puppet, and that he is simply following instructions of whatever the board and hierarchy give him.

A couple of supporters seemed to think enough is enough, urging the club to sack him, with one fan in particular clamouring for that decision to be made immediately.

As a lot of these United fans have expressed, Solskjaer’s verdict on the club’s plans for this window is hardly the kind of encouraging words of optimism the club could do with.

Quickfire Quiz: How much do you know about Man Utd’s history in the January transfer window?

Injuries and a lack of strength in depth means it is difficult to see how the Norwegian can possibly justify the Manchester side not trying to sign a few players in this window. Not doing so could very well be the difference in breaking into the top four or not this season.

Meanwhile, Man Utd swooping for this ruthless finisher could provide them with what they are missing.