All posts by h716a5.icu

Rangers’ decision to sign Alfredo Morelos in 2017 has certainly turned into a masterstroke, with the Colombian having established himself as a top-quality forward during his time working under Steven Gerrard at Ibrox.

The striker was signed from HJK Helsinki in the summer of 2017, with Transfermarkt suggesting that the Ibrox outfit paid just £1.08m for his services, which has obviously turned into an excellent deal from both a financial and a footballing point of view.

In 176 appearances for the Gers, Morelos has contributed an impressive 93 goals and 42 assists, including an impressive 16 goals and 12 assists in all competitions so far this season.

He also became Rangers’ leading scorer in European competitions earlier this season, with his goal against Benfica seeing him overtake Ibrox legend Ally McCoist.

Following that game, Gerrard was full of praise for the 24-year-old, saying: “It’s fantastic for him from a personal point of view. Alfredo’s a top-class player, a top-class goalscorer, and it’s fantastic that he’s still here.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-rangers-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Read this week’s latest Rangers news, transfer rumours and more!”]

His performances in recent seasons have seen his market value go through the roof and, although any Rangers fan would be disappointed to see him leave, they can be safe in the knowledge that the club should make a serious profit on the Colombian international if he does depart.

According to Transfermarkt, the 24-year-old is now valued at £10.8m, which is ten times the fee Rangers reportedly paid for him, emphasising how well the then-sporting director Mark Allen did to sign him for so little.

Should Rangers manage to keep hold of their star striker this summer, then you would imagine that his market value will only continue to rise further, as he will undoubtedly want to continue his impressive record in Europe when Rangers return to the Champions League next season.

[freshpress-quiz id=“588789″]

Therefore, Allen deserves an immense amount of credit for bringing him to Ibrox in 2017 as he has been excellent for the club ever since.

In other news… Rangers may already have their McGregor heir in 17 y/o wonderkid training with the first team

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Glasgow Rangers manager Steven Gerrard provided an update on the fitness of Kemar Roofe ahead of Gers’ Europa League clash on Thursday.

Since joining Rangers from RSC Anderlecht in what was a £4.5 million deal last summer, Roofe has been in fine form over his 18 Scottish Premiership appearances, with the 28-year-old bagging 10 goals and registering two assists, as well as averaging a highly impressive WhoScored match rating of 7.13 – ranking him as the club’s joint seventh-best performer in the Scottish top flight.

After missing Gers’ last four league fixtures due to suspension and, more recently, injury, the £5.4 million-rated striker was once again an injury concern for the club’s Round of 16 Europa League clash with Slavia Prague on Thursday.

However, speaking in his pre-match press conference, Gerrard confirmed that Roofe would be available for the fixture, stating: “Roofe will train [on Wednesday] and will be available.”

Transfer Tavern Take

While Roofe has missed three of Rangers’ Europa League fixtures so far this season, the centre-forward has impressed in the five European fixtures he has featured in, scoring crucial goals against both Standard Liege and SL Benfica.

As such, his return for the first leg of the club’s tie with Slavia Prague on Thursday is likely to prove a huge boost for Gerrard, as well as fans of the club.

In other news: some Rangers fans slammed this politician’s comments – find out more here!

According to an update by reliable club source ExWHUemployee, via West Ham News, the Hammers could look to overhaul their goalkeeping department either this summer or next summer, with main options Lukasz Fabianksi and Darren Randolph at the centre of growing injury concerns coupled with age.

Fabianski, who has made 89 appearances in all competitions for the Irons since signing from Swansea City in the summer of 2018 (Transfermarkt), is David Moyes’ number one choice between the sticks.

However, at 35 years old and with injury concerns mounting, ExWHUemployee claims the Poland veteran could make way for new blood either in this summer’s transfer window or next year.

The same goes for his deputy Randolph, who isn’t getting any younger himself at the age of 33.

Reacting to this update, dropping a wide array of opinions, some Hammers fans believe the change is long overdue, with others disclosing who they think West Ham should try to sign.

Find some of the best verdicts below.

West Ham fans flock to ExWHUemployee claim

“Yes it needs to happen. Randolph is liability now and we get scared when Fab gets injured”

Credit: @tonyclarke1

“Needs to be this summer we need decent back up to Fab”

Credit: @paulturner358

“I’ve said this before, can’t go at their age without consistent injuries like we’re seeing now… need a good keeper in their twenties”

Credit: @BillySullivan27

“Let’s hope this gets done properly this time, I’m sure it will. Was strange when we signed the 2 keepers in the same window. A backup keeper has to be good enough to be the number 1. Ours aren’t and we need to get it right. 2 top keepers to fight for a place”

Credit: @Deanoseabrook

“yessssss”

Credit: @brushheadd

“Pope should be our top summer target after a striker. If we get European football we should be his best option to move his career forward.”

Credit: @slayburn

“I never understood why we gave Randy three and a half year deal. We will do well to move him on. But Sam Johnstone would be my pic if WBA go down.”

Credit: @IanDeakin16

In other news: West Ham fans also responded to this club update, find out more here.

Wolves’ win over Arsenal on Tuesday evening was crucial. Going into the game, the Molineux outfit hadn’t tasted victory in the Premier League this year so it was a welcome return to form.

That being said, it cannot paper over the cracks of what has been a dismal few months.

On the chalkboard

Since Raul Jimenez suffered a horrendous fractured skull, Wolves have been in diabolical shape. They have won just four times in all competitions following on from that, but alarm bells started to ring well before his injury in November.

The Old Gold have kept only a solitary clean sheet in the league since October and with Nuno tinkering between his formations, it has led to inconsistency.

That has clearly been the case in central midfield – an area you’d traditionally associate with class and vigour.

However, in Joao Moutinho, they have a player who is struggling this season. The Portuguese returned to form against Arsenal by scoring a thunderbolt from long-range but before that, the veteran had failed to score this term.

He is usually the man to set the tempo and pick the locks of Premier League defences. Yet, he has been way off the boil this season and has failed to register a single assist.

It’s led to Wolves reporter Tim Spiers claiming this could be the midfielder’s final campaign as a regular in Nuno’s starting XI. It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if that conclusion was reached.

Unleash Otasowie

Moutinho’s passionate display against the Gunners can’t afford to gloss over what has been a timid and tired campaign for the 34-year-old.

You can hardly blame his weary legs due to the amount of football being played on a regular basis but that’s exactly why Owen Otasowie deserves more minutes.

The American has only appeared five times for the senior side and was handed a surprising Premier League debut against Chelsea. He started behind the striker on that occasion but usually, he plays in a more holding or box to box midfield role.

He has boundless amounts of energy and for Wolves’ central area that could be game-changing. It’s hard to suggest that Leander Dendoncker, Ruben Neves and Moutinho are too mobile so the 20-year-old may add something new.

Speaking about the £1.3m-rated talent earlier this year, Scott Sellars summed up his qualities perfectly: “He’s versatile. His physicality is his biggest strength. He’s really good at protecting the ball and at one-v-ones, with and without the ball. A lot of his development has been done in cages in London and you can see that with him. He’s got a lot going for him.”

His growth in the game has been very different from the more cultured progression of Moutinho. Though, his personality is no different. Like the Portugal international, he has an infectious persona and a positive outlook on football.

Sellars added: “He’s bright, he challenges the norm, which I like about him. He won’t just say, ‘Yeah, that’s OK, I’ll do what you say’. He’s got personality. I’ve had some interesting and very honest conversations with him about where he’s at, which he appreciates.”

We’re yet to see Otasowie truly burst onto the first-team scene but it surely won’t be long before we see him making a bigger impression.

After all, the way he gallops forward is unlike many others in the Wolves team. Nuno simply has to consider the youngster over the next few months.

AND in other news, Nuno must unleash rarely-seen Wolves flop next term, Jota called him a “good signing”…

According to reports, Tottenham are interested in signing former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey.

What’s the story?

The Wales international left the Premier League to join Serie A giants Juventus, and though he’s shown flashes of brilliance with the Bianconeri, has struggled to really nail down a place in the starting eleven – he’s completed the full 90 minutes just twice in the league.

Now, Italian publication TuttoJuve claim that both Jose Mourinho’s Spurs, and fellow Premier League side Wolves, are keen on luring the 30-year-old back to English football, and reveal that the Serie A champions “could be willing to sell him to earn a figure of €10-15m (£8.7-£13.1m)”.

Mourinho’s next Lampard

While things haven’t quite panned out at Juventus, there’s no questioning that Ramsey’s style of play is something Spurs could desperately do with.

Mourinho sorely lacks a real box-to-box presence with that goal-scorer’s instinct in his squad, with only Tanguy Ndombele even coming close to matching that with his tally of six goals this season in all competitions.

But in Ramsey, the Spurs boss could find the closest thing to a Frank Lampard. The Chelsea icon’s performances under Mourinho is well-known, with the ex-Blues boss bagging 70 goals and providing a further 61 assists in just 215 games.

Described as an “outstanding technician”, Ramsey would offer that same knack of getting into the box at the right times and scoring those poacher-type goals. In fact, Lampard himself wrote in a column for The Evening Standard: “It will probably come as no surprise to people that I like Ramsey. Like me, he makes late runs in the penalty area and he showed that with aplomb for the second goal at AC Milan last week.”

That sentiment was echoed by Ramsey’s former boss at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, who said: “He is a Frank Lampard type. He is (about) getting in the box and he has a huge capacity to run. Physically, he has a combination of stamina, power and his capacity to repeat high intensity is certainly the best in the league.”

In his time at Spurs’ north London rivals, the Welshman scored an impressive 65 goals, including big strikes in big games, not least two match-winning finishes in FA Cup finals.

While it may not be the most popular move, Daniel Levy could find an absolute gem in the £18m-rated Ramsey, and deliver Mourinho his next Lampard at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Meanwhile, this Spurs star showed he could be Mourinho’s game-changer…

Liverpool could finally land a Philippe Coutinho replacement for Jurgen Klopp amid their reported interested in signing Rodrigo De Paul from Udinese.

It was suggested recently that the Reds are considering a move for the Udinese playmaker, as they look to sign a midfielder to replace Georginio Wijnaldum, who looks likely to join Barcelona when his Reds contract expires in the summer.

Leeds were heavily linked with the 26-year-old during the summer but the recent report suggests that he is more enamoured with Liverpool’s ‘project’, which could give the Reds the advantage in any transfer negotiations.

Whilst De Paul would arrive as a replacement for the outgoing Wijnaldum, he is not as much of an all-rounder as the 30-year-old Dutchman, and a better comparison would be with former Liverpool ace Coutinho.

The Brazilian departed in January 2018 for a club-record £142 million after establishing himself as one of the best creative players in the Premier League during his time with Jurgen Klopp’s side; contributing 54 goals and 45 assists in 201 appearances for the Reds.

Goals from midfield is something that Liverpool have lacked since Coutinho’s departure, with Jordan Henderson and Wijnaldum currently tied on one goal in the Premier League this season, as the top-scoring midfielders in Klopp’s side.

Therefore, adding someone such as De Paul would add a new dynamic to the Reds’ midfield and perhaps take the pressure off the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to provide the goals, as when they have been disappointing in recent fixtures Liverpool have struggled to score goals as a result.

De Paul contributed seven goals and six assists for Udinese in the Serie A last season, winning eight man-of-the-match awards and averaging a superb 7.25 rating.

In Coutinho’s last full season with the Reds, he would contribute 13 goals and seven assists in the Premier League, also winning eight man-of-the-match awards and averaging a superb 7.56 rating.

Both the Brazilian and the Argentinian’s strengths include key passes, dribbling and long-shots, so it seems clear that they have a similar style of play, and this goal-scoring threat from midfield is certainly something the Reds have arguably lacked since Coutinho joined Barcelona.

De Paul’s former manager Julio Velasquez was full of praise for the 26-year-old, saying:

“He lacks absolutely nothing, he could play in any club in the world. He has also improved on the defensive level and in attack, he improves the team.”

Therefore, with the midfielder reportedly available for £30 million, Michael Edwards must swoop for the Udinese ace, as he could add something completely different to Klopp’s midfield.

And, in other news… Klopp can amend key issue by signing 6 ft 2 monster who’s a beast in the air

Mike Ashley could land Newcastle United their next Allan Saint-Maximin by signing Independiente sensation Alan Velasco in the January transfer window.

What’s the word?

According to El Intransigente, the Magpies are one of a number of potential suitors monitoring Velasco’s situation in the mid-season market, with Parma and Club America providing worldwide competition for the 18-year-old.

Parma are intent on striking a winter deal for the left-winger, as they consider the Argentina U17 international as a weapon who can aid their efforts in securing European qualification after re-establishing themselves as a Serie A side.

Velasco is seen to be one of Argentina’s great jewels after proving his enormous potential at a tender age, having become a staple of Lucas Pusineri’s side in 2020, though Independiente accept it is only a matter of time before he leaves the Estadio Libertadores de America.

Independiente would prefer to retain the diminutive 5 ft 5 forward, who is protected by a $23.5m (£17.5m) release clause, but accept that his sale would help solve several issues with the club facing Fifa-imposed lawsuits for non-compliance with transfer payments.

Velasco provided each of his career three goals and three assists in senior football last year, while Independiente never lost when the Quilmes-born attacker influenced the scoreline.

Bruce’s next Saint-Maximin

Mike Ashley providing the funds needed for Independiente to consider selling Velasco in the January market could see the Newcastle owner hand Steve Bruce the Toon’s next Saint-Maximin, having seen the St. James’ Park natives struggle without the Frenchman.

Saint-Maximin has not featured for United since November after testing positive for coronavirus and remains some weeks away from a return, much to Bruce’s frustration.

“We’re missing him at the moment. He’s had an up and down time, he needs to find that consistency like we all do, if he really wants to hit the heights. When he is on song there is no better sight is there? He gets you on the edge of your seat,” Bruce told the Chronicle.

Velasco could be the one to bring the same level of excitement to St. James’ Park if signed, having proved a creative wonder in South America to warrant vivid transfer interest from Europe.

The youth international made seven of his appearances in the 2020 Copa Sudamericana, in which he also contributed one of his three goals and two of his assists thanks to creating an average 2.9 chances a game with 1.5 shots and 1.4 key passes, per SofaScore.

He additionally offered 15.8 of his 19.9 total passes a game in the opponent’s half, plus 1.1 successful tackles, 1.0 interceptions, 3.0 successful dribbles and wining 5.3 ground duels, with opponents forced into committing 1.1 fouls a game.

Velasco may be small and relatively unknown in England, but may prove the old cliché of the best things coming in small packages true with a successful move to St. James’ Park this winter.

AND in other news, Steve Bruce is keen to sign a “fantastic” £15.5m-rated brute for Newcastle United.

Glasgow Rangers have had to deal with more than their fair share of injuries this season as Steven Gerrard’s side bid to stop Celtic from winning ten in a row. Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun have both been beset by injury problems in recent months whilst Nikola Katic remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament rupture – the latter has already missed more than three months of action with the Light Blues.

Gerrard was struck by another potential blow as Steven Davis appeared to be struggling with severe cramp during the final stages of the Euro 2020 play-off final but the Ibrox boss has been handed a huge boost ahead of the Europa League rematch with Benfica if recent reports are to be believed.

Rangers News have reported that the 35-year-old has survived unscathed after he was spotted in Northern Ireland training.

A huge injury boost for Rangers

Despite his age, Davis has arguably been one of Rangers’ best players in recent weeks. The Gers spoilt a strong performance against Benfica as they threw away a three-goal lead as the Portuguese giants staged a remarkable comeback in the second half before the international break. However, the Northern Irish international was the real standout in the thrilling 3-3 draw in Lisbon.

With Davis covering the defence, Gerrard could opt to start Glen Kamara and Joe Aribo just behind the front three. Or he may even decide to start the veteran just behind Alfredo Morelos so he can create chances and float swinging passes over the top once again. The Gers conceded two sloppy late goals so they must get their act together at the back with a stronger defensive plan before they face Benfica at Ibrox.

The Rangers manager will be relieved to see Davis back on his feet, as he recently praised the Northern Irishman for his “incredible” run of form. Speaking to Rangers TV, Gerrard said: “I watched the game and he continues with his own standards. He’s involved in a game that’s 5-1 and it’s obviously away from them but he continues to do the right things and that sums Steven up.

“On a daily basis he has incredible standards and that comes out in your performances. The way he represents himself and this club on and off the pitch is a credit to himself and his family.”

Wherever Gerrard decides to deploy him, the ever-reliable veteran should provide some much-needed stability at the back, as well as being a useful attacking asset. The Gers are currently top of the Group D table, tied with Benfica on seven points, so it’s important that they pick up as many points as possible if they are to secure the top-seeded position and with Benfica last losing 3-2 to Braga at home, they’ve got a good chance of getting the vital win.

AND in other news, Gerrard can solve Glasgow Rangers’ glaring weakness by promoting Leon King…

Crystal Palace will be looking to cement their place in the Premier League when they welcome London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.

Having suffered back-to-back defeats to Burnley and Newcastle, Roy Hodgson’s side returned to winning ways with an emphatic victory over Premier League strugglers West Bromwich Albion, with Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha bagging a brace apiece.

Hodgson had no new injury news to speak of other than Nathan Ferguson’s latest setback, with Connor Wickham, Martin Kelly and Wayne Hennessey ruled out due to injury.

It’s unlikely he will want to make too many changes as the Eagles were back on form against the Baggies last weekend to pick up their first points in their past three games with a 5-1 win at the Hawthorns.

Here, Football FanCast have worked on a predicted starting line-up for this afternoon’s action, which sees Hodgson make three changes to the team that crushed Slaven Bilic’s side.

The Palace boss will be well aware his side will have to be at their very best if they are to beat Jose Mourinho’s side, with Spurs looking to keep hold of their spot at the top of the table at the weekend.

Vicente Guaita should be handed a start later today, having been trusted for every single Premier League game so far this season.

Even with Hodgson making a few minor tweaks, it’s hard to imagine that Gary Cahill and Cheikou Kouyate won’t be the starting centre-backs this afternoon, with Nathaniel Clyne likely to start.

Patrick van Aanholt has been a mainstay of Hodgson’s side in recent weeks after Tyrick Mitchell picked up an injury, but the 21-year-old could be given a chance to earn his stripes at left-back.

James McArthur had a night to forget in the West Midlands, so bringing the in-form Jairo Riedewald into the midfield to join Luka Milivojevic makes the most sense.

This seems like an ideal time to unleash Andros Townsend to face his former club on the right wing, having been rested for the trip to the Hawthorns, with Eberechi Eze on the left and Zaha and Benteke set to start up front, which means Jeffrey Schlupp misses out.

The Belgian striker looks certain to lead the line after he returned to form with two goals against the Baggies.

AND in other news, Nathaniel Clyne can save his Crystal Palace career amid huge update…

Many Crystal Palace fans are raving over Ian Wright following the club tweeting out a video of the forward.

It was a special occasion for Wright yesterday as he turned 57 years-old and the club posted highlights of his special moments as an Eagles star. The forward made 277 appearances in red and blue and scored 117 goals, including a brace for Palace in the 1990 FA Cup Final.

He is clearly remembered fondly by the South London side faithful, as many flooded to the tweet to rave over his career. One said: ‘He was raw & hungry for it, probably at his best, was almost unstoppable, very similar to Rooney when he came on the seen. Played with a great @CPFC side at the time’

It is understandable to see so many praise him as he averaged a goal every 2.37 games (Holmesdale.net). He also is the third top goal scorer in the history of the club.

Of course, Roy Hodgson has had some issues in the striking department in the last few years, so it is perhaps no surprise to see supporters fawning over a former great.

Here is how Palace fans reacted following the tweet:

In other Palace news, have a read of the latest club update that has the fan base very excited here!