Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on Miguel Almiron, who re-joined MLS side Atlanta United after six years at the club: "Very special player, very special person, he's going to be greatly missed by everyone connected with us. Miggy was what you saw, the perception of him was real, bubbly and bright personality.

"He was very, very professional. Ultra professional. He would always be in recovery, looking after himself, eating the right foods. Doing everything he could to be his best every day. From my perspective you can't have enough of those players that set the right standards in terms of behaviour.

"He was a really good role model. Miggy is going to be greatly missed as a player and person."

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Newcastle United

It looks like Newcastle United fans hoping for a potential signing before the transfer window closes on Monday will be disappointed after manager Eddie Howe said that the club was "not actively looking to recruit".

More to follow from Howe's news conference.

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Ollie Watkins has comfortably been Aston Villa's first choice striker throughout this season, but did Jhon Duran deserve more minutes this term.

In all competitions, Watkins has scored 11 goals in 32 appearances so far this term, while Duran has netted 12 goals in 29 games.

When you look at their minutes played, there's a glaring difference.

Watkins has played 2,221 minutes for Villa this season, averaging a goal every 201.9 minutes.

Duran has played 1,059 minutes this season for Villa, meaning his goals have come at a rate of one per 88.25 minutes.

Perhaps why Watkins has been preferred is his creativity, with 10 assists in all competitions, while Duran has none.

With assists incorporated, Watkins has a goal contribution every 105.8 minutes.

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa rejected an approach from Arsenal for England striker Ollie Watkins this week.

Sources confirmed to BBC Sport the Gunners made their enquiry for the 29-year-old on Monday.

Reports of a £60m Arsenal bid first surfaced just hours before Aston Villa's Champions League win over Celtic on Wednesday night at Villa Park.

With fellow striker Jhon Duran seemingly edging closer to completing a move to Saudi Premier League side Al Nassr, latest reports suggest that Villa will not be looking to sell Watkins under any circumstances in this transfer window.

Dan Roan, Nick Mashiter & Nizaar Kinsela
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran is close to completing a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, sources have confirmed to BBC Sport.

A fee has been agreed between the two clubs and Duran - who was on the bench for Villa's 4-2 win over Celtic on Wednesday night - was undergoing a medical on Thursday.

A price of £65m for the 21-year-old Colombian has been reported, although not verified by BBC Sport.

A senior Saudi Pro League source said Duran will fly to Saudi Arabia on Saturday if the medical goes well.

Sources told BBC Sport that Duran was saying his goodbyes to staff and colleagues at Villa Park on Wednesday night after the deal progressed.

Earlier this month, West Ham reportedly had a £57m bid for Duran rejected by Villa.

Duran has scored 12 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions this season, but manger Unai Emery has preferred England's Watkins as his first-choice striker.

That line linking Mathys Tel with a move to Tottenham has taken the spotlight off Aston Villa for a few hours, but the Midlands club remains of interest, in transfer gossip terms.

Will either of Villa's leading strikers - Jhon Duran or Ollie Watkins - be leaving before the transfer window closes on Monday?

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Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany issued much the same line when asked about the future of 19-year-old forward Mathys Tel.

“He is still a Bayern player," said the former Burnley boss.

"Until the last moment, it’s important that he is ready to play. If something happens, then it happens.”

Bayern Munich

Here is the latest from Bayern Munich's director of sport Max Eberl on the future of forward Mathys Tel, following those reports of a potential £50m move to Tottenham:

"He is a Bayern player. There is no new update. As of now, he will be hunting for goals for us tomorrow.

"Mathys is an incredibly sought-after player. Whether it will be a loan or a sale, we will discuss it in the coming days and hours.”

Image source, Getty Images

Bayern Munich held a news conference this morning, when plenty more was said on Mathys Tel, which we will bring you in a moment.

Prio to that news conference, Bayern director Max Eberl had said he had received plenty of interest in the French teenager.

“Yes, Mathys Tel wants to go. Loan or permanent? We will assess all the options," said Eberl.

“I've rarely had so many clubs call me about a player before.”

Tottenham have agreed a £50m deal withBayern Munich for19-year-old France forward Mathys Tel, according to French outlet L'Equipe.

Rivals Chelsea made an enquiry to sign Tel earlier in the window amid interest from Bayern in Christopher Nkunku.

The 19-year-old has made just two starts in the Bundesliga for Vincent Kompany's side so far this season.

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Remember, you can send us messages about any footballing topic - we will feature a selection throughout the day.

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Newcastle United

Right, we are expecting Eddie Howe soon, and will bring you his quotes on team news and transfer updates as soon as we get them.

Talking about transfer updates, let's have a look at the latest from around the Premier League...and beyond.

Alistair Bruce-Ball
Commentator on Europa League debrief podcast

I've seen quite a bit of them under [Ruben] Amorim and it is the best that system has looked in action for a full game. Difficult place to come and play as well, let's not forget FCSB had plenty to play for at the start of the night in a very intimidating venue. Fantastic atmosphere.

Manchester United controlled the game from the start, the goals didn't come until the second half, [Alejandro] Garnacho had a real impact. Amad [Diallo] came on, who has been the real star recently, but Garnacho really stood out this evening.

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Manchester United or Tottenham will take on either AZ Alkmaar, Midtjylland, Real Sociedad or Galatasaray in the last 16.

Click here to find out more.

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Manchester United completed a trio of British clubs to qualify directly for the last 16 of the Europa League, finishing third in the table after Thursday's 2-0 win at FCSB.

Manager Ruben Amorim said that it was important to avoid the extra two games in the knockout play-off, which they would have had to play had the club not finished in the top eight.

"That is really important, for us to have time to train and have the connection between everybody - even the staff," he said, knowing that United will not return to Europa League action until the first leg of their last-16 tie on 6 March.

"In training we go to the pitch and get to know each other in the right environment.

"It is really important and then you can have one week to prepare again. At the beginning of the week you can work your ideas and then you have time to focus on the opponent.

"I can understand my players better then. We need time to understand the players as Kobbie Mainoo was struggling a lot defending as a midfielder. As a 10 he was so free playing the ball near the box.

"We need time to work with the players to understand what the best position is for them."

Gavin Wallace
BBC Sport on Europa League debrief podcast

I think you want the big names and big stars, you would love to see [Fenerbahce manager] Jose Mourinho at Ibrox.

But I think the realistic Rangers fans would probably want Bodo/Glint, who have beaten Celtic in the past. They are no mugs, no pushovers. Anderlecht and Bodo/Glint are the two I think Rangers fans will really like.

In my opinion. it gives them the best chance of progressing.

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Rangers

Philippe Clement's Rangers will now face one of Bodo/Glimt, Anderlecht, Twente or Fenerbahce in the last 16, depending who progresses from their knockout play-off fixtures, which will be played on 13 and 20 February.

Just a reminder that the draw for the knockout play-offs will be held at 12:00 GMT today, while the last-16 draw will take place on 21 February.

Thomas Duncan
BBC Scotland commentator

This season, like many before it, European football's second-tier competition has been Rangers' salvation amid choppy domestic waters.

Victory against Union Saint-Gilloise sealed an unlikely top-eight berth and safe passage to the last 16 as Rangers made it to the Europa League knockouts for a fifth consecutive time.

As manager Philippe Clement was keen to stress afterwards, they have done it again despite a very difficult fixture list and a raft of injuries, particularly in defence.

Having been under pressure for league performances, especially away from home, the Rangers boss can now point to a seriously impressive achievement this term.

"It's good people start to see more and more, things a few months ago people maybe didn't believe," Clement said.

"Qualification in this Europa League is one of these things. The club is on the right way. Is it fast enough to win everything? That's our ambition.

"We need to create this culture and more and more I see it. They know what it means to play for this club."

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So Tottenham's young goalscorers provided a welcome boost for the club following a difficult run of injuries, poor form and faltering results in the Premier League.

Rangers have had an equally difficult spell in the Scottish Premiership, where they have fallen 10 points behind leaders Celtic, but enjoyed a dramatic finish to their league phase campaign in the Europa League.

Philippe Clement's side claimed a 2-1 win at home to Belgian outfit Union Saint-Galloise before results elsewhere turned in their favour to gift them a top-eight finish...

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