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Loads of Liverpool fans have been giving their verdict on the future of Marko Grujic, as Jurgen Klopp’s first Liverpool signing is excelling on loan in the Bundesliga.

The move for Grujic has been almost completely forgotten about by many Liverpool fans, as the Serbian international has played just eight times in the Premier League, most of those as a substitute.

Klopp and his ex-partner in crime Zeljko Buvac were big fans of the 22 year-old though, and he is now showing exactly why with Hertha Berlin.

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The tough-tackling youngster was brilliant for Cardiff City last season, and his loan spell in the Bundesliga in working absolute wonders.

He is winning 3.4 aerial duels and 2.1 tackles per game, while also averaging 1.9 shots, 0.9 key passes and 1.9 successful dribbles per game.

He capped off an incredible performance with the winning goal in a 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, prompting his manager to call him the best midfielder the club has had for two decades.

“I’ve been at Hertha for 22 years,” said the boss after the win over Frankfurt. “This isn’t meant as an insult to anyone else, but Marko is by far the best midfielder I’ve seen in my time at the club.”

Fans are excited to see what Klopp can get out of the youngster when he returns to Anfield, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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Alfredo Morelos has been in excellent form for Rangers this season, and Aston Villa should move for the forward at the end of the season if they are promoted to the Premier League.

What’s the word, then?

Morelos joined Rangers from Finnish club HJK in the summer of 2017, and the forward has proved to be an absolute revelation at Ibrox.

Indeed, the Colombia international has scored 35 goals in 72 appearances for the Gers in all competitions, including 17 strikes in 29 matches this season.

Last month, Rangers boss Steven Gerrard insisted that he would ‘fight tooth and nail to keep’ Morelos at the club for as long as possible.

Gerrard conceded that ‘every player has his price’, however, and it seems unlikely that the Gers will be able to keep hold of the forward on a long-term basis.

The 22-year-old, who also has 10 assists to his name this season, only signed a new deal with Rangers in September, but Villa should attempt to sign him at the end of the season if they are promoted to the Premier League.

How are Villa going in the Championship?

Eight wins, eight draws and five defeats – that is how Villa have performed in the Championship during the 2018-19 campaign.

A total of 32 points from 21 matches has left them in eighth position, just four points off the top six, and 10 points off second-placed Leeds United.

It is difficult to imagine that Villa will not be involved in the playoff picture at the end of the season when considering their improvement under Dean Smith.

Indeed, Villa are unbeaten in the league since the end of October.

Tammy Abraham has been excellent for the team this season, but it seems likely that the forward’s future is with Chelsea.

As a result, Villa will need a new forward to lead them into the Premier League if they are promoted, and the club should certainly take a punt on goal machine Morelos.

Jordan Pickford’s recent blunders should put Everton on red alert, but Marco Silva’s goalkeeper crisis can be resolved with Stoke City’s Jack Butland.

What’s the word?

Pickford went from strength-to-strength upon his arrival at Goodison Park after relegation with his childhood Sunderland side, topped by a key role in England’s glorious 2018 World Cup quest.

But since the Premier League returned to action, the 24-year-old has been at fault for as many goals as any other player in England’s top-flight – only Bournemouth and Arsenal’s shot-stoppers, Asmir Begovic and Bernd Leno, had as many heading into the Boxing Day fixtures.

Two of the Toffees’ number one’s mishaps have proved costly beyond the points, as well, with the Merseyside Derby slipping in Liverpool’s favour with the final worthwhile touch of the game and defeat to Manchester City highlighting a lack of leadership in the ranks.

A possible cause for Pickford’s mental lapses could be a lack of serious competition for the role.

Maarten Stekelenburg is the only other senior goalkeeper on Everton’s books, while 22-year-old Mateusz Hewelt and Arsenal product Joao Virginia are yet to play a first-team game.

Stekelenburg, now 36 years of age, will never rival Pickford for a starting spot, but Stoke City star Butland can.

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Why Jack Butland?

The Potters £19.8million rated goalie had kept eight clean sheets heading into Boxing Day, and remains a top-tier talent despite his side’s relegation to the Championship last season.

His relegation did not affect his World Cup call-up, and nor should it cause Everton to hesitate to lure the 25-year-old to Goodison Park.

The Toffees showed they were not afraid to splash out on a goalkeeper who had just been relegated when they signed Pickford for £30million, and Stoke’s man can ensure his international teammate stays on his toes knowing he could be replaced if his performances do not pick up.

Prior to Boxing Day, Butland had recorded 66 saves in the Championship, and is capable of playing out from the back with 258 accurate short passes.

Any move, unfortunately, would cost Everton a high figure, with The Telegraph reporting Stoke aim to hold off any bid under £50million.

Let us know in the poll below if you’d like to see Butland at Everton…

Loads of Everton fans have been eyeing up potential striker targets for January, and just over half of the fans that voted in our poll want to sign Red Bull Salzburg superstar Munas Dabbur.

According to Football Whispers, Liverpool are “closely monitoring” Dabbur as they continue to search for a reliable back-up for Roberto Firmino.

If the red-hot striker is eyeing up a move to the Premier League however, he should surely be looking for a team that will allow him to start, not simply warm the bench for an already established player.

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Everton of course are absolutely crying out for a clinical goalscorer, as it really feels like the Toffees are a top quality number nine away from challenging the top six.

Dabbur may be plying his trade in an inferior league with Leipzig, but ten of his 20 goals so far this season have come in the Europa League, so he is more than capable of lighting up the Premier Leaguel.

20 goals and six assists at this point of the season is truly remarkable, and his movement, work rate and overall link-up play would fit perfectly alongside players like Richarlison.

You can view the full poll results down below, where just over half of fans think they should move for the Liverpool target…

West Brom boss Darren Moore will be reasonably happy with his squad heading into the January transfer window, but there is one addition that the 44-year-old must make.

On the chalkboard

The Baggies are currently sitting in third place in the Championship after their impressive first half of the season, although they could have moved ahead of second placed Norwich if they had beaten Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

As it was, the West Midlands side needed a 95th minute equaliser to cancel out Atdhe Nuhiu’s early goal at the Hawthorns, and the tie proved that Moore must sign a new central defender if his side are to get promoted.

Nuhiu’s goal came from some shambolic West Brom defending, and Moore clearly cannot rely on his usually lethal attack to bail out his side in every game.

The main problem

It would seem that the biggest issue is currently summer signing Kyle Bartley. The 27-year-old started alongside Craig Dawson on Saturday and after the game West Brom fans on Twitter were slating him for his performance.

The 27-year-old joined the Baggies from Swansea in the last transfer window but his performances this season have been well below par.

He has now racked up 16 Championship appearances in this campaign, but a move for a replacement in January should be the priority for Moore as no player can be carried in such a competitive division.

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West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini did little to reassure fans who were worried about Marko Arnautovic’s future at the club, after the striker reacted poorly to being substituted in just the 19th-minute of the Hammers’ 2-0 win over Birmingham in the FA Cup.

What did he say?

When quizzed on what happened between himself and the Austrian international upon his withdrawal from the game, Pellegrini said: “He felt a pain in his back at the beginning. He wanted to continue after that, but it was not good to take a risk. He played 90 minutes on Wednesday, the previous game 65 minutes, so it was important for him to be replaced.”

However, the more telling aspect of the Chilean’s post-match quotes came after he was asked if Andy Carroll – who replaced Arnautovic in the match and scored his first goal since April – and the former Stoke hitman would be at the club come the end of January.

Pellegrini answered: “I don’t know what will happen but I think both players will stay here.” Hardly reassuring to say the least.

What do his words mean?

Well, one would assume that the former Manchester City manager wouldn’t needlessly stir the pot by plunging Arnautovic’s future into question, so there must be something going on behind the scenes.

His reasons for withdrawing his star man are understandable, but the ensuing rift between the pair would suggest that there are underlying issues at bay.

Why would Pellegrini want to get the fans on his back over nothing? If he was convinced of Arnautovic’s future, he most likely would’ve just said outright that he’s going nowhere, given his importance to the side.

“I don’t know what will happen”, smacks of a man who perhaps knew the answer to the question that was being asked, but did not want to give it as it would not have gone down well with the fans.

Whatever is going on, it won’t have filled the Hammers’ supporters with much confidence.

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Tottenham fans are sweating over their chances of silverware this season following the news that their talisman, Harry Kane, will be out of action until at least early March after damaging ankle ligaments in the 1-0 loss to Manchester United.

The 25-year-old is scheduled for a return to training at the beginning of March, but his absence will have a serious impact on Spurs’ chances of a trophy – Kane will miss vital cup games in all of the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

The England international and World Cup Golden Boot winner will have to sit out both legs of the Champions League last 16 tie against Borussia Dortmund, the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea, and the FA Cup fourth round tie against Crystal Palace – he may also miss the Carabao Cup final if Spurs make it.

Naturally, Spurs fans are petrified about what the next few months behold…

Jurgen Klopp is normally a manager that gives his players the chance to prove their worth. Whilst many players in the Liverpool squad likely wouldn’t be there if the fans had their way, like Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum, the German has persisted with them, and Henderson and Wijnaldum have arguably been two of the Reds’ best performers this season. 

However, one man that Jurgen Klopp has not given a chance to is Lazar Markovic, and now, the club are reportedly, according to the Liverpool Echo, actively seeking offers to sell the disappointing winger.

There’s no doubt about it, Markovic has been below par at Anfield, but is there an argument to suggest that he’s deserved better at Liverpool. He hasn’t been a regular at the club for years, and his current role in the squad is largely still based off of one mixed season at Anfield.

When he has been given a Liverpool chance since, he certainly has given Jurgen Klopp something to think about. In particular, his performances across the summer pre-season period were good enough, and whilst he didn’t light any fires, he certainly played like a player that is more than capable of playing a back-up role at Anfield.

Is he ever going to reach the heights of Sadio Mane or Mo Salah? That seems unlikely, but how are Liverpool to know if he doesn’t have a chance to prove it? Selling him may make sense now, but it’s a decision that Liverpool could live to regret. It’s hard to believe, but he’s still just 24-years-old, and so he’s very much still a player that is developing.

If Liverpool sell him now, and if he’s able to make his pre-season form more prominent and work hard in training, there’s no doubting that he’s still got the potential to reach the heights that Liverpool expected of him when he first moved to Anfield.

Thoughts?

West Ham might fancy a busy transfer deadline day after securing the future of Marko Arnautovic.

Speculation has raged on all month long with the Austrian international subject to significant interest from China. An unnamed club were believed to have offered upwards of £35m for the former Stoke man and his future seemed unclear. However, the forward eventually committed his long-term future to the Hammers by penning a new contract.

Arnautovic’s renewal is massive for Manuel Pellegrini who is hoping for a late charge for Europe in his remaining fixtures. Adding some more quality to the squad could prove to be vital in bringing European nights to the London Stadium.

One man Pellegrini could target is Schalke utility man – Daniel Caligiuri. Valued at £6.75m by Transfermarkt, the Italian has been one of the most consistent performers in the Bundesliga during recent seasons. Once again, the 31-year-old has been in fine form for his side, he has been a shining light in a dismal Bundesliga campaign so far.

Caligiuri would prove to be a useful option for the former Manchester City boss to have at his disposal. The former Wolfsburg man is comfortable at right-back or right wing back as well as the right of midfield. The German-born winger has helped his side’s cause with two goals and four assists so far this season and would be the ideal long-term replacement for Pablo Zabaleta on the right flank.

Luring the versatile defender to London on deadline day could prove to be a wise move by the Hammers.

West Ham fans, thoughts?

Declan Rice has been a huge success story at West Ham since he was properly integrated into the team by David Moyes, but his rise to prominence arrived around about the same time when many might have predicted Reece Oxford to break through.

Indeed, Oxford was tipped to blossom into a fantastic talent at West Ham when he impressed on his Premier League debut against Arsenal in 2015, but more than three years later he finds himself on the fringes of the senior squad.

Rice, on the other hand, has usurped Oxford as the club’s most promising talent to rise through the ranks and established himself as a vital component under Manuel Pellegrini.

Oxford’s lack of opportunities this season have prompted a series of reports linking him with a move away from the London Stadium in January, but a recent report from Sky Sports suggests that the player has made a u-turn in a bid to fight for his place at the club.

“He [Oxford] is now prepared to see out his contract until 2021 because of the politics surrounding the player and the way he has been portrayed.”

Well, that’s a turn of events which few would have predicted, but Oxford’s desire to see out his contract perhaps suggests that Pellegrini has offered some kind of assurances over his long-term future.

Either way, the indication is that Oxford has the self-belief and professional attitude to make himself a success at the club, regardless of how he has been perceived of late. The 20-year-old clearly has the technical talent and physical attributes to establish himself at the heart of West Ham’s defensive unit, but he needs a genuine opportunity to showcase his ability.

Rice was handed the right level of opportunities under Moyes and he took the chances afforded to him, giving his manager no choice but to continue utilising him in the senior squad.

Now he finds himself as a crucial member of the squad and a genuine fan-favourite – an example which both Oxford and Pellegrini must follow to facilitate the emergence of another Rice-esque success story in east London.

At just 20-years-old, Oxford still has huge scope for improvement and should be regarded as a future mainstay in West Ham’s defensive unit, and the fact he has decided to snub a loan move suggests Pellegrini could yet be the man to galvanise his career and help him to follow in Rice’s footsteps.

West Ham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!