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Glasgow Rangers were reportedly ready to raid two Scottish Premiership rivals in the summer as Steven Gerrard bids to stop Celtic from winning an unprecedented 10th league title in a row.

According to a report from The Sun at the time, Gerrard had identified then-Livingston striker Lyndon Dykes and Aberdeen midfielder Lewis Ferguson as his top priorities in the transfer market. However, a move for either player failed to materialise, with the Ibrox boss focusing instead on signing Cedric Itten and Kemar Roofe on four-year-deals.

The in-demand striker wasn’t short of suitors in the summer, as the 25-year-old had scored 9 goals and supplied 8 assists in 25 games in the Scottish Premiership last season, amid interest from English Championship clubs Barnsley, Middlesbrough and Stoke City, with Barnsley having two bids rejected by Livi.

In the end, Dykes signed for Queens Park Rangers instead, after the Scottish Premiership side accepted a bid for the Australian-born forward in August, which is believed to be somewhere in the region of £1.98m.

Indeed, Ross Wilson decided to look elsewhere instead, with Daily Record columnist Fraser Wilson saying they weren’t willing to pay as much as QPR.

The Rs paid just shy of a £2m fee for the striker, which isn’t a crazy amount, especially when you consider the fact that Wilson paid more than that for Itten and Roofe.

Since then, the 6-cap Scotland international hasn’t stopped scoring for his new club and his country, as he has already scored three goals in nine appearances in the Championship so far this season. Even Jermain Defoe has only managed to score twice so far.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but if the Light Blues had bit the bullet, he could’ve been their starting striker for years to come if they had brought him to Ibrox and he was able to hit the ground running. His stats show that he would’ve been able to do this, given his impressive goal return for Livi, as he has shown that he can score goals on a regular basis at a decent level in a similar vein to Dado Prso.

Standing at 1,88m tall, Dykes is exactly the same height as the legendary Gers striker and surely would have been the perfect foil for Alfredo Morelos. The comparisons with Prso don’t stop there either, as the Croatian scored 26 times in 96 appearances for the Gers. By comparison, the Scotsman bagged 14 goals in 36 games in all competitions for Livi.

Anyone who watched Scotland’s historic shootout victory over Serbia will know he put in a tremendous shift, but he offers so much more than just that, as QPR manager Mark Warburton hailed him as a “fantastic” beast, whilst Gerrard once described him as a “dangerous” threat. These aren’t just your Average Joes, these are genuinely some of the best managers in the game who admire the former Livingston forward.

The Gers weren’t willing to part ways with a meagre fee for him in the summer, which now looks like a rather stupid decision several months later, as he has already been tipped as a Scotland legend in the making.

AND in other news, Gerrard could unearth the next Ryan Jack in Glasgow Rangers loanee Stephen Kelly…

Last season Manchester United had a good campaign in the Premier League as they finished third, and this means they will be back in the Champions League.

They also reached three semi-finals and will be looking to improve on this in the 2020/21 season. To do this they need their best players, and it looks like one of their key men is ready to commit his future to the club following the latest news.

According to Jason Burt, who is a writer for The Telegraph, and reposted on Twitter by utdreport, midfielder and World Cup winner Paul Pogba is prepared to sign a new contract at United and initial talks have already taken place with his agent Mino Raiola.

This will be very good news for supporters of the club to hear, as the Frenchman can have a big attacking influence during matches.

He was injured for a large part of the 2019/20 season, so only managed to play 16 games, but in these games, he averaged 1.4 shots, 1.9 key passes, and 1.7 successful dribbles per game, per WhoScored. Comparing these to the squad, he completed the second-most dribbles and key passes per game, whilst he was sixth when it came to shots.

For someone who has played in central midfield in a lot of his appearances this season, these stats show how good he is at frustrating the opposition from the middle of the pitch and he is someone who can turn defence into attack very quickly.

Here is what fans said following the news:

Man United fans, what are your thoughts on this news? Comment below!

Aston Villa have been told how much they’ll have to pay for one of their mooted summer targets this week, and Dean Smith would be wise to get the wallet out if he is to land a potential upgrade…

What’s the word?

According to Goal, Liverpool are aiming to offload up to ten fringe players as Jurgen Klopp looks to trim his first-team squad for the new campaign, one of which is Marko Grujic, who the Reds want around £20m for.

The same source revealed Villa’s interest last month, claiming the Midlands outfit ‘have discussed the possibility of a deal’ but at the time, Bournemouth’s Philip Billing was the more likely option.

Grujic’s recent loan club Hertha Berlin are also keen to bring him back to Germany after featuring over 50 times during across two seasons.

Anchor upgrade

The Villans would be wise to stump up those eight-figures to clinch the Serbian international as it’s evident that he’d be an instant upgrade to the defensive midfield department.

Smith currently has Douglas Luiz and Marvelous Nakamba in the role, but neither player performed as well as Grujic last season and that was amongst a considerably better Hertha side.

Per WhoScored, the 24-year-old averaged more aerials won (3.4), clearances (2.3), tackles (1.9), shots (1.2) and dribbles (1) per game in the Bundesliga than either defensive midfielder managed for Smith last season.

Grujic has been compared to fellow countryman Nemanja Matic in the past, but more recently a link to Bayern’s Leon Goretzka has emerged as the midfielder is “tall, rangy, comfortable on the ball and with a good range of passing.”

Ex-Hertha coach Pal Dardai described the Reds ace as “by far the best midfielder I’ve seen in my time at the club” – he was there for over 22 years – whilst Jurgen Klopp labelled him “outstanding” before tipping him for a “big future,” so perhaps it’s a surprise not to see him break into the first-team at Anfield.

At just £20m, this move simply seems like a no-brainer and one that Smith should absolutely pull the trigger on.

AND in other news, Aston Villa could land some much-needed creativity in Championship target…

Following a nine-year spell as Bournemouth manager in the 1980s and early 1990s, Harry Redknapp really established his reputation as a manager at the very top level with West Ham United.

Arriving at the start of the 1994/95 season the former Hammers midfielder spent seven seasons at the club, achieving plenty of success before moving onto Portsmouth, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, among other clubs.

Giving debuts to the likes of Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole, Redknapp oversaw the development of a number of talented young players, as well as bringing some established names.

Having allowed the club to establish themselves as a Premier League force, Redknapp left the club in 2001 after his relationship with chairman Terry Brown deteriorated during negotiations over a new deal.

With the Premier League finally returning last weekend after a three-month hiatus, here is a look back into the archives with 10 questions about Redknapp’s spell as the boss at Upton Park…

Everton summer target Gabriel Magalhaes has attracted even more attention after his agent reportedly met up with Manchester United.

According to RMC Sport reporter Mohamed Bouhafsi (relayed via @TheGwladysSt), four clubs are now in pursuit of the Brazilian. No concrete offers have been made from the Red Devils, but discussions are underway. United join Everton and Napoli plus another unnamed party in the long line of clubs looking to secure a deal.

Previous reports claimed that the Toffees had offered €30million (£27.1m) for Gabriel as they eye up options to bolster their defence ahead of next season. With a club like Man United seriously interested in striking a deal, Everton may fall to a side with stronger financial backing.

It seems fans are also aware of this and have taken to Twitter to express their frustrations. One Blue in particular has said that ‘[Marcel] Brands need sacking’ if the deal doesn’t go ahead, as Everton have been monitoring Gabriel for months.

Read more replies from the Goodison faithful here:

Do you think Brands can get the Magalhaes deal done? Join the discussion in the comments below…

Sunderland have run out of patience with Aiden McGeady and he is now training away from the first-team squad, and has been made available for transfer.

The Irishman only signed a new contract last summer but his decline in performances and poor attitude, being spotted eating McDonald’s for example, shows just how far his stock has fallen.

Parkinson admitted he hasn’t taken the decision lightly but supporters seem unsatisfied, and several are calling for his head instead.

It is a bold view to take without knowing the full details, but the fact that the midfielder won the Player of the Year last year shows his importance to the team, and just how good he can be when he’s at the top of his game – which is why some have his back.

Fans’ growing impatience with Parkinson is understandable given he has won just two out of 12 games in charge, with things not appearing to get any better on or off the pitch.

Letting an experienced player like McGeady go is a risky decision regardless of what may have happened behind-the-scenes, and the Black Cats’ boss has only added another obstacle for him to overcome by doing so.

One fan has accused Parkinson of losing the dressing room and it is possible discontent could grow if his decision backfires.

Fans have shared their view on the whole situation and some believe it reflects badly on the club, with Stewart Donald also being criticised for his running of the club.

Since seeing him arrive from Sporting CP back in the January transfer window, Manchester United fans have really taken to Bruno Fernandes.

Performances against the likes of Manchester City and Watford in particular saw fans lavish praise on their new signing, and in the nine total games that he has played so far for the club, he has scored three goals and provided four assists.

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

One thing supporter have yet to see however, is Fernandes playing alongside Paul Pogba, with the latter struggling with injuries.

Speaking in an Instagram live chat with footballer Mario Djurovski, Fernandes spoke highly of the Frenchman, and talked up the prospect of forming a midfield partnership with him.

He said: “Yes of course, I think Paul is one of the best players in Manchester and in the world. He was injured for a lot of time. The opportunity to play side to side with him is fantastic because you want to play with the best players you can.”

And after hearing about what he had to say, United fans flooded to Twitter to share their excitement.

Some United fans couldn’t hold back their excitement, with one fan insisting that they can’t wait for the Premier League to restart once more, just to see Fernandes and Pogba line up together.

With football having been postponed for over a couple of months, injured stars like Pogba have had the opportunity to rest and recuperate without missing any matches.

And with the top-flight set to resume later this month, there’s a real possibility that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will finally get to unleash both Fernandes and Pogba at the same time.

Judging by the reaction of many of these United fans, it’s going to be a very exciting time.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to a new exclusive report coming from talkSPORT, Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Schalke’s 23-year-old goalkeeper, Alexander Nubel.

But the Germans should make sure their talent doesn’t leave the club just yet.

What’s the word, then?

It seems that Jose Mourinho wants a new goalkeeper in his squad and Nubel, Schalke’s young, up and coming talent, certainly looks like a juicy target for them.

This is reinforced even more with the fact that they are in serious need of another reliable man between the sticks. Hugo Lloris has been struggling with injuries and while Paulo Gazzaniga has held his own between the sticks, he simply hasn’t been as good as they would have hoped, as was explained by talkSPORT in the same report.

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Nubel, although young and very much at the beginning of his career, is already captaining his club but could be on his way out seeing how he hasn’t signed a new contract and his current one is slowly but surely running out.

And even though it makes sense for Mourinho to snatch the youngster away, for Schalke it could be disastrous.

An important piece

Needless to say, losing the captain of the ship is never really a good thing.

Schalke have been sturdy this season, having conceded just 15 goals in 12 games with Nubel between the sticks, and the 23-year-old has been a key figure in this development.

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Kevin Hatchard showered him with praise when talking to talkSPORT:

“He is the captain of Schalke and a goalkeeper in his early 20s. He is a very good goalkeeper with a [Manuel] Neuer vibe about him. He’s good with his feet, commanding, and he’s got a bit of arrogance about him which I don’t think is a terrible thing.”

Losing him now would definitely be a hugely disappointing blow for the club to take.

Schalke are currently sitting in fifth in the table, level with the team above them and just two points off second-placed Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.

And while it’s difficult actually seeing them fully contest for the crown, Nubel could play a key part in them making a mark on the Bundesliga this season already.

TalkSPORT don’t make it clear when would Spurs be hoping to snatch him away but either way, the time is not right for him to leave just yet whichever way you look at it.

They’d be wise to make his contract juicier and convince the young goalie to stay.

Meanwhile, many Spurs fans haven’t really been impressed with the club’s recent links with a young defender already plying his trade in England.

After really breaking through under Jose Mourinho, Scott McTominay has become a vital cog in the Manchester United midfield. The Scotland international made 31 appearances under the Portuguese man, but has continued to be a key performer for the Red Devils under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer too. This season, he has played 16 times across all competitions, but saw his participation in recent weeks disrupted by injury.

But after returning to the first-team line-up against Tottenham in the Premier League on Wednesday night, McTominay proved exactly why he has become an influential player for the side. As per Sofascore, the Scotland international won four total duels, made two tackles and completed three interceptions. And United fans on Twitter were quick to recognise just how important he is to the club. Many made a point of revealing that they look like a completely different outfit when he is patrolling the midfield.

Some United fans compared him to former players of the Old Trafford side, with a couple of supporters drawing comparisons from Ander Herrera, and even Red Devils legend Roy Keane for his all-action displays.

Having helped seal a victory in the first game he is back from injury, McTominay will hope that just like Keane before him, he can prove to be an inspirational figure for the side and lead them to some much-needed victories over the near future.

Meanwhile, Manchester United have been told which Premier League star would “bolster their prospects”.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to Spanish publication El Desmarque, West Ham are interested in signing Real Madrid winger Lucas Vasquez.

What’s the word?

The Spain international has fallen out of favour at the Bernabeu this season, making just eight appearances in total across all competitions, with only 275 minutes of football in La Liga under his belt.

Now, El Desmarque claim that a move away for the 28-year-old is likely, with Madrid president Florentino Perez keen to ship him out in the upcoming January transfer window.

The report adds the forward will leave for the Premier League, with West Ham currently considered the favourites to win his signature – however, aside from Manuel Pellegrini’s side, both Newcastle and Wolves are understood to be interested in making a move too.

Revival

Vasquez’s career at Madrid has been a tale of a dramatic decline. The Spaniard made an incredible 53 appearances for the club as recently as the 2017/2018 campaign in which they defeated Liverpool in the Champions League final. Despite not coming off the bench for the showpiece game, he was a prominent member of that squad during their road to a third successive European triumph, playing in ten games.

But now, even with Zinedine Zidane’s return as manager, things have turned far more bleak. Los Blancos are in somewhat of a rebuild following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2018, and the transfer window gone by saw them bring in Eden Hazard. And if that wasn’t enough to further restrict Vasquez’s chances of first-team football, younger talents like Rodrygo are stealing the limelight too – the Brazilian bagging a hat-trick in mid-week.

Joining West Ham would give Vasquez the chance to revive his career under Pellegrini, and prove Madrid wrong for wanting to force him out of the club. Whilst he is not the most prolific of wingers (he has scored just 38 times in 298 career appearances), his versatility proves he is a team player, who is willing to sacrifice his own game in order for the entire group to succeed.

He has played at right-wing, right-midfield, right-back, left-wing and left-midfield, and it’s that dedication to the cause that could see him really grab the mantle at the London Stadium were the Hammers to make a swoop for him.