As reported by The Daily Mail, Celtic assistant manager Chris Davies has spoken about the attributes Marvin Compper possesses that will enhance the first team squad at the Hoops.

What’s the story?

Compper was announced as Celtic’s first signing in the January transfer window on Wednesday, arriving at the Scottish champions for a fee reported to be around £1m.

The experienced defender is tasked with helping out a much criticised Hoops defence, with supporters criticising the likes of Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic in recent weeks for faltering performances.

Chris Davies reckons he has the attributes to be a success at Celtic and fits the profile of what the club are looking for in the position.

As reported by The Daily Mail, Brendan Rodgers’ assistant said:

From what I’ve seen, he is a guy who fits the profile of what we would like in a central defender. He is used to playing a high defensive line, he is technically good on the ball, athletic and fast. He understands the model of play we like. It’s someone who’s experienced. You need a balance in your squad rather than too much either way. You saw the benefits of having Kolo Toure last season, with the experience he has. We’ve got guys like Craig Gordon, Broony (Scott Brown) our captain, guys with experience. It’s not something we are lacking but it’s good to have that balance.

Due to officially make his move at the start of January, Compper will have Celtic’s winter break to get up to speed for first team action ahead of a massive few months as the Hoops chase more silverware.

Much needed

Celtic’s defensive fragility has long been a talking point for supporters and it has only become more and more of a glaring issue as the season has worn on, culminating in a shocking 4-0 defeat to Hearts on Sunday, during which there was a number of defensive errors.

The usually reliable Jozo Simunovic suddenly looks vulnerable while Dedryck Boyata has at times looked uncomfortable playing in the possession-heavy, building from the back style of Brendan Rodgers.

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Compper needs to make an impact from the start and at 32 years of age, with close to 300 professional appearances to his name, has the experience to hit the ground running at a high level. While cup-tied for the UEFA Europa League, Celtic fans will be hoping he can play a big part in settling down a nervous back four as the Hoops chase another treble.

Liverpool fans have turned to Twitter to vent their frustration following Simon Mignolet’s woeful display against Arsenal.

For the first 52 minutes of the game, Liverpool were dictating affairs with a sense of comfort. In truth, had they displayed greater ruthlessness in front of goal in the first-half, the game would have been out of sight.

Then a genuinely bizarre five-minute period altered the entire complexion of the game, goals from Alexis Sanchez, Granit Xhaka and Mesut Ozil gave Arsenal a surprise 3-2 lead. The last two goals were especially suspect from a defensive perspective, and they expounded Mignolet’s weaknesses in the Liverpool goal.

The goalkeeper was solely responsible for conceding Liverpool’s second goal of the evening, as he failed to parry Xhaka’s central shot away from goal.

This isn’t the first time that the Belgian has committed a mistake of this nature and here’s how Liverpool supporters reacted to his performance on Twitter…

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According to reports in the Daily Mail, Arsenal could lose out to the Premier League’s bottom side Swansea City in the race to sign AC Milan striker Andre Silva, who could be an alternative option if a move for Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang falls through this month.

What’s the word, then?

Well, French media outlet Le10Sport reported back in December that the Gunners were interested in bringing the Portugal international to the Emirates during the January transfer window, having been impressed with his performances for the Serie A giants.

However, there has been no further progress in the north London outfit’s interest this month and now the Daily Mail says that Swansea are targeting the 22-year-old having been rebuffed in an attempt to sign Kevin Gameiro from Atletico Madrid.

Silva only joined Milan in a £32m deal from FC Porto last June, but a move away from the San Siro appears to be on the cards before January 31 with Le10Sport reporting that he hasn’t lived up to expectations.

How has Silva done this season?

He has done very well in Europe, but not so well in Serie A.

The 22-year-old centre-forward has scored all eight of his goals this term in 10 appearances in the Europa League, but he is yet to find the net in 12 Italian top flight outings having largely played second fiddle to Nikola Kalinic at the San Siro.

According to WhoScored.com, his main strengths are his ability to play key passes, his passing, finishing and headed attempts, and the Portugal international has made 17 key passes in 18 appearances in Serie A and the Europa League group stages this season, winning 25 of the 55 aerial duels he has faced.

Would he be a good signing for Arsenal?

He certainly could be, yes.

While Silva has failed to find the net in Serie A he has largely been restricted to cameo appearances form the bench, and his record in the Europa League, as well as the fact he scored 24 goals in 58 games for Porto and has 11 in 18 caps for his country, show the quality and potential that he has.

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He is certainly a different player to Lacazette, but the north London outfit’s reported interest in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would sideline any potential move for the AC Milan man.

Danny Rose has failed to win over the entire Tottenham Hotspur fanbase following his outburst in the summer.

The left-back publicly criticised the club for their transfer activity and relatively modest wage structure.

Rose also questioned the club’s ambition, but since he spent the aftermath out of the limelight recovering from a knee injury, the furore soon passed.

The full-back was reintegrated back into the team and has made nine appearances in all competitions this season.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino, though, has been without Rose for the past three weeks due to injury.

The 27-year-old’s future at the North London outfit remains uncertain, but according to The Independent, Manchester United have ended interest in him.

The Red Devils were initially heavily linked with a swoop, but Jose Mourinho is believed to have abandoned plans to sign a new left-back in this window as he has been impressed with Luke Shaw’s comeback.

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This latest development surrounding Rose’s future has got Tottenham fans talking.

There are two big derbies going on this weekend in the football calendar, with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal going head to head in the Premier League, and Aston Villa taking on Birmingham City in the Championship.

The latter will be hosted at Villa Park and Steve Bruce’s side head into the fixture in perfect form.

The team are on a six-game winning run in the second tier, and in that time they have scored 14 goals and conceded just three times.

As it stands, the Villans are third in the table and could potentially move into the automatic promotion places as they sit just one point behind second-placed Derby County.

Birmingham travel to their enemies’ stadium on Sunday with the need for points as they are four above the relegation zone.

The Blues are in relatively positive form, though, as the team have picked up wins in their last two matches.

On Villa’s official Twitter page, the club posted a graphic showing the clubs’ current form, and fans made an interesting point.

Some added their predictions for the clash.

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Southampton have confirmed that their defender Florin Gardos, has returned to his native Romania for the remainder of the season.

The 29-year-old has experienced a torrid time as a Saints player, due to his persistent injuries. According to transfermarkt, the defender has missed 378 days through injury during his time on the South coast.

His career with the Saints started reasonably promisingly as he made 17 appearances during his first season, yet he has only managed to make a single appearance over the course of the past three seasons.

The club confirmed that he has returned to Romania by signing for Clubul Sportiv Universitatea Craiova on loan until the end of the season. Florin Gardos’ contract with Southampton expires at the end of the season. Thus, the 29-year-old defender has already played his last game for the club.

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His new side are currently positioned in third place in Romania’s Liga 1. Here’s how the Southampton supporters reacted to his departure on Twitter…

Tottenham Hotspur gave their chances of finishing in the top four of the English Premier League a big boost on Sunday after narrowly defeating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

It took until the 88th minute for Mauricio Pochettino’s side to find the breakthrough, which predictably came from Harry Kane. It was the English striker’s 35th goal of the season, a total he’s managed in just 36 matches.

While fans were pleased with the result, the performance left a lot to be desired, with many frustrated by the side’s inability to comfortably get ahead against the Eagles.

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Much of the criticism was aimed at Serge Aurier who produced a pretty poor performance, failing to cross from the right flank accurately and even failing to take throw-ins consistently.

The Ivory Coast international joined from Paris Saint-Germain last summer but has failed to win over supporters, with many now calling for him to be dropped and replaced with Kieran Trippier.

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They took to Twitter to discuss his role in the first team…

Sunderland fans are voting Chris Coleman as the best option to save their defensive injury crisis.

The Black Cats are faced with major injury problems ahead of their visit to QPR this weekend, as Lamine Kone is their only fit centre back.

John O’Shea and Ty Browning both picked up injuries in the 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Tuesday, and Jake Clarke-Salter has one match left on his suspension.

Coleman’s arrival at Sunderland has not exactly had the desired effect, and Tuesday’s capitulation against Villa encapsulated everything that’s been going wrong for the Black Cats.

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Coleman’s career ended in 2001 when a car crash broke his leg, but Sunderland fans think the 47 year-old might be their only hope.

Everton loanee Brendan Galloway is an option, but has only played 42 first team minutes this season. Billy Jones filled in at centre back on Tuesday, but with little success. Jack Rodwell started his career as a centre back, but has not played for Sunderland since telling Coleman he wants to leave the club.

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With few options to choose from, Coleman is currently leading the vote to fill in at the back.

Sunderland fans, what do you think about a Coleman-Kone partnership? Let us know in the comments below…

After consecutive defeats in the English Premier League, Arsenal returned to winning ways in the top-flight on Sunday, beating Watford 3-0 at the Emirates.

Fresh from an impressive victory away to AC Milan on Thursday, the Gunners looked confident and assured against their visitors, easing the pressure on themselves as players and manager Arsene Wenger.

Scoring through Shkodran Mustafi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the home side never looked like losing the encounter and can look ahead to their second leg against the Italians on Thursday with optimism.

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Central to the win was midfielder Mohamed Elneny, who ran the show in the middle of the park and showed Wenger that he is worth a spot in his starting eleven going forward.

Fans were delighted with his contribution, with some believing he is underrated by their fellow supporters.

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Should he be a more trusted member of the Arsenal squad?

Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts…

With the season reaching the closing stages, attention has begun to turn to this summer’s transfer window.

West Ham United’s main priority is to remain in the Premier League as they currently sit two points above the relegation zone.

However, they are also likely to be drawing up transfer plans, and according to The Sun, Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles is on their radar.

The publication claims that the East London outfit are pondering a £15m swoop for the defender, who the newspaper claims could be tempted by a transfer if a decent deal is on offer.

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The Sun also claims that Lascelles’s agent is close to West Ham officials, but in the end, any transfer will be down to fee and wages.

The 24-year-old has been consistently strong for the Magpies this season and has played in 25 top-flight fixtures so far.

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He did, though, miss out on a spot in Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad ahead of the World Cup in Russia this summer.

After news emerged of West Ham’s reported interest in Lascelles, fans of the London club have been tweeting their verdicts.