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According to CalcioMercato, Glasgow Rangers are still interested in signing long-term target Lovro Majer from Dinamo Zagreb.

What’s the word?

Reports at the start of the year revealed that the Light Blues were tracking the Croatia U21 international back in January. But Steven Gerrard’s side ended up signing Ianis Hagi initially on loan instead, before he impressed in his short spell at Ibrox before the Scottish Premiership was suspended in March.

And Rangers signed the Romania international on a permanent deal from Genk in the summer as he was described by Gerrard as a “pleasure to coach.”

It’s claimed that the Gers remain in the race to sign Majer in the winter transfer window but will face stiff competition from some of Europe’s top clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, Fiorentina, Sevilla and Valencia, whilst Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United are also closely monitoring the situation. But Ross Wilson must sanction a swoop for the £2m-rated ace, otherwise he may never get another opportunity.

Better than Kranjcar?

Croatia has become a scouting ground for the Gers in recent years, having signed both Borna Barisic and Nikola Katic since Steven Gerrard first took charge at the Ibrox outfit.

For every Nikica Jelavic or Dado Prso, there has been a Niko Kranjcar, so Ross Wilson may want to tread very carefully indeed.

This season, Majer has made one appearance in the Europa League, whilst he has averaged one shot, three key passes and three dribbles per game, via WhoScored. In comparison, Hagi has only managed one key pass per game, as per WhoScored.

The 22-year-old has scored three goals and supplied two assists in six games in the Croatian top flight, otherwise known as the 1.HNL, after bagging a brace against NK Lokomotiva at the start of the season, via Transfermarkt.

On the other hand, Kranjcar could only manage to score one goal and supply one assist in sixteen appearances in the Scottish Premiership, via Transfermarkt. The veteran was 31 at the time of his arrival and was plagued by constant injury setbacks over the course of his career, so he was undoubtedly past his peak, whereas Majer, who plays in a similar position, has stayed unscathed so far.

Despite his young age, Majer has already been compared to Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric. Hagi has also been tipped for greatness, with his father Gheorghe Hagi recently insisting that his son has a similar playing style to current Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane. Even so, he has copped a fair amount of criticism so far, as well.

Whilst it’s too early to tell whether or not Majer will be better than Kranjcar, it’s fair to say that, unlike his countryman, the youngster remains a relatively risk-free signing. One thing’s for sure, he’s certainly on the right track if his record is anything to go by.

Gerrard has shown he can get the best out of young players, as he has worked wonders with both Hagi and Calvin Bassey. So, he could take his game to the next level if he moves to Ibrox, as he’d almost certainly be guaranteed games. Get it done, Gers, before it’s too late!

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers striker Kemar Roofe steals the show against Standard Liege…

Everton could make a serious statement of intent with an audacious swoop for one of the most exciting players in the Premier League this summer…

What’s the word?

Back in March, The Sun reported that Carlo Ancelotti was a keen admirer of Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin after watching him tear it up in their FA Cup tie against West Brom.

And their chances of signing him have surely received a boost in recent days after reports linked the Magpies with a move for Lyon wide man Bertrand Traore, who Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol claims the Toffees are also keen on.

Streets ahead of Iwobi

Everton’s midfield has been one of the poorest areas amongst the Italian’s squad – both centrally and out wide. His wingers have only combined for a total of six goals, some twenty short of what Richarlison and Dominic-Calvert Lewin have produced this term.

Last summer’s marquee addition, Alex Iwobi, has failed to set the ground alight in his maiden season at Goodison Park notching just one goal – disappointing considering he cost Marcel Brands a whopping £34m.

Saint-Maximin, on the other hand, has been an absolute steal for Steve Bruce at £16m – aside from contributing to seven goals, he averaged 4.7 dribbles, 1.8 shots and 1.3 key passes per game, via WhoScored. All numbers leagues above Iwobi.

His exciting playing style often draws fouls – 1.8x per appearance to be precise. The Nigerian, however, rarely wins a free-kick at all suggesting that he’s quite easily beaten.

The 23-year-old’s form has earned high praise indeed from Graeme Souness calling him a “top, top player” to Jamie Redknapp believing that he has a “big future” in the top-flight.

It remains to be seen how much the enigmatic Frenchman may command or if the Magpies would be open into selling, though Transfermarkt currently value him at just £25.2m.

Brands and Ancelotti should push for him at all costs if they are to improve their wing options.

AND in other news, Ancelotti could finally replace Gueye as they edge closer to fresh signing…

Speaking to talkSPORT, pundit Jason Cundy believes that Chelsea ‘could do’ with signing RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano – especially after the Frenchman impressed during his side’s 2-1 Champions League victory over La Liga giants Atletico Madrid last week. 

Upamecano is currently one of the most sought-after defensive assets in Europe, with both Manchester United and Arsenal ‘monitoring his situation’ according to Goal – and it’s little wonder given his impressive performances over the 2019/20 season.

Described as “powerful” and a defender who “has everything”, tags that retired German ace Marvin Compper bestowed upon the player in an interview with the Bundesliga’s official website as far back as three years ago, his market value has now skyrocketed to £40.5m, as per Transfermarkt.

According to WhoScored, when compared to Frank Lampard’s men at the back, only Chelsea centre-back Kurt Zouma averaged more clearances per match in the league last term (4) than the 21-year-old, with Upamecano also making a superior number of tackles (1.9) in that time over the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

Against Atletico, the 6 ft 1 colossus displayed exactly why he is being dubbed ‘the next Varane’, earning the best SofaScore match rating (7.9) out of any RB Leipzig player. Over the quarter-final tie, Upamecano won an impressive six out of seven ground duels and three of his four aerial battles against ex-Chelsea forward Diego Costa,giving the Spaniard a torrid time (SofaScore).

Pundit, presenter and ex-Blues defender Cundy believes that Lampard’s side would do well to acquire Upamecano’s services.

“Largely, you look at the two squads, they went into [the quarter-final] as second-favourites, especially losing Timo Werner as well,” Cundy explained on talkSPORT.

“You’ve got some big names, some household names in football in the Atleti team but I have to say, the boy at the back, Upamecano, what a performance.

“I was looking at him thinking, as the game was developing, ‘this was the first time I’ve had a close look at your game’ and I was watching him and he was just immense.

“I was thinking: ‘Chelsea could do with him’.”

Whether or not the club and sporting director Marina Granovskaia decide to snap up Upamecano in this transfer window remains to be seen, but judging by Cundy’s analysis, he may well be an option worth considering.

Chelsea fans, do you share Cundy’s views on Upamecano? Give us your thoughts in the comments below!

Name: Anthony Gordon

Club: Everton

Date of Birth: 24 February 2001

Position: Attacking midfield/Centre-forward/Winger

Anthony Gordon – his career so far

Anthony Gordon has been a part of Everton for the majority of his life and footballing career. He was first scouted back when he was still plying his trade at Frameline Juniors FC as a very young lad, and shortly after, aged only 11, he was scooped up by the Blues and brought into the academy for further grooming and developing.

And it didn’t really take Gordon too long at all to start showcasing his talent and rapidly progressing through the ranks, eventually even being called up for the senior team despite being so young at that time.

But first, he had to warrant that honour by impressing at both Everton’s U18 and U23 squads, which he has done with style. The now 19-year-old prodigy recorded 31 appearances for the former team, bagging 16 goals and assisting further five on the side as well.

For the latter, he managed to score eight goals and claim four assists under his belt in the process, recording those stats in just 27 games spent with the team. But his first big break was just around the corner, back in December of 2017.

Not only did he end up featuring on a huge stage in the Blues’ Europa League group stage win over Apollon Limassol but he also became the sixth youngest man to play for Everton’s first team as he was aged only 16 years and 286 days back then.

Needless to say, that was a truly amazing experience but also a great sign for the youngster’s future. He would end up tallying four senior appearances in total with the following three after the debut all coming in 2019/20 – one in the EFL Cup and two in the Premier League.

Of course, the outside circumstances have made it impossible for him to register more appearances for the Toffees in the ongoing campaign but the early signs are more than just positive.

More things are bound to come from Gordon in the near future.

Transfer latest

In some big Everton news back in early 2019, Gordon had signed a new deal tying him to Goodison Park for at least the following four years and will be valid until 2023. And while that was mostly due to the fact they had to ensure his talents are groomed as part of the Blues’ squad, it was also a reaction to some of the interest from other teams.

According to some recent transfer news, Celtic were among the teams who were quite interested in the youngster and could even return for him once the summer transfer window opens soon.

The same transfer rumour stated the Scottish giants have been watching Gordon during his U18 and U23 ventures and he has impressed them enough to put him on the list of their potential targets once again.

But seeing how he was already praised by the likes of Carlo Ancelotti in the past, it still remains to be seen what Everton decide to do with their bright young talent.

Player profile

Gordon has now been training with the first team on a regular basis but he’s also been forced to be patient for his opportunities with the seniors. Still, that doesn’t really take anything away from skill, which is already at a high enough level to be turning heads in the upper hierarchy of Everton.

The youngster is extremely versatile in his approach and can basically be deployed anywhere across the final third of the pitch and even in deeper areas. He works best as the no.10 or the attacking midfielder, just behind the striker.

From there, he can use his pace and technical ability to help break down defences and wreak havoc in the opposition’s defensive line. But that particular skill set also makes him deadly from the wider areas and especially inside the box as he has a keen eye for goal.

Gordon has also been played in deeper positions as the team’s wide central midfielder, either on the left or on the right side, but he seems to be more effective the closer he is deployed to the opposition’s goal.

Liverpool have finally rounded off their most successful Premier League season to date after after bring crowned champions for the first time.

After a runaway 2019/20 campaign, Jurgen Klopp chose a weakened side to see out their final match of the term. It looked like it would be an upset on the road for the champions, but a typical Liverpool-style comeback saw them finish the season on 99 points.

Although Dwight Gayle put his side ahead inside the first minute, the Reds pulled three back to secure the win at St James’ Park. Goal-scorers Virgil van Dijk, Divock Origi and Sadio Mane stood out, but one man in particular went under the radar despite his strong performance.

James Milner started his first match since March as he wore the captain’s armband against the Toon. He wasn’t directly involved in any of the goals, but his play-making was some of the best on the field. According to FotMob, the 34-year-old made two key passes and and completed 8/9 accurate long balls.

Milner also won the most duels out of the whole match, winning eight of his nine attempted. Additionally, he was the most fouled payer on the pitch, proving his attacking flair was too much for Newcastle’s defence to handle. His 100% dribble success rate will have also caused the Magpies some problems, completing 2/2 attempted – more than teammate Naby Keita with 1/1.

As a veteran of the game, the former Leeds man has taken more of a backseat this season to allow Klopp to field his strongest midfield. However, Milner has still made 37 appearances across all competitions for Liverpool and has scored four goals and added four assists to his tally as well (via Transfermarkt).

There’s still life in the old boy yet.

How would you describe James Milner’s contribution this season, Reds? Have your say in the comments below!

Many Leeds United fans have reacted to a tweet from journalist Phil Hay on the decision to turn the South Stand of Elland Road into a home end.

With football at a standstill due to the recent pandemic, football fans have been engaging with each other via social media, and journalists have also been discussing various club topics.

Hay, who is a Leeds United writer for The Athletic, is the latest to engage with fans, discussing the atmosphere at Elland Road, complimenting the club on the decision to change the South Stand from an away section back to a home section.

The South Stand sits 1,710 fans, and away fans will now be moving to an area of the West Stand.

Leeds sit first in the Championship and are on the verge of a return to the Premier League after 16 years away from England’s top flight (BBC Sport). Marcelo Bielsa’s side have been excellent this term, bouncing back after losing in the play-off semi-final last season to Derby County.

Reacting to Hay’s tweet, fans gave their opinion on the atmosphere at Elland Road:

Missing football!? There’s still plenty of Leeds discussion going on in the Vital Leeds Forum! Click here to get involved!

Former Everton star Tim Cahill believes the Toffees are on their way to securing Champions League football in two years. 

The Aussie recently spoke to Jamie Carragher through Instagram Live (via Liverpool ECHO), and reflected on the current Everton side under Carlo Ancelotti compared to Marco Silva’s reign.

“I just didn’t get anything from him [Silva]. I got no excitement. No emotion,” the ex-Aussie international said about the former Blues boss.

Silva was given the boot in December before Duncan Ferguson stepped in as caretaker manager, followed by Carlo and Davide Ancelotti. The progress under the new hierarchy has been astonishing.

“Now we have Carlo Ancelotti and I feel like he can attract a player,” Cahill continued. “I feel like this could be the turning point for Everton. I feel like next season we can target top six or Champions League places.”

Earlier this season, the Toffees were fighting an uphill battle to claw their way out from under the deadly pull of the relegation zone. Now they sit 12th in the table, just six points behind sixth placed Wolves. The transformation since Ancelotti took charge has been truly inspiring and is showing glimmers of former Everton sides that pushed top six every season.

The Blues have failed to qualify for Europe for the past five seasons and have yo-yoed between a mid-table finish and just falling shy of a top six spot. That could all change after Ancelotti makes use of his first transfer window with the club, which could be the first step towards what would be a major achievement in qualifying for the Champions League.

Cahill went on to praise Farhad Moshiri and believes a strong and well-gelled hierarchy will make Everton a success once more.

“I expect Everton to finish in the top four in the next two years purely because of the owners.”

Do you agree with Cahill, Everton fans? Will the Blues be in the Champions League in a few seasons to come? Have your say in the comments below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

Following the arrival of Harry Maguire for a world-record fee for a defender back in the summer, Manchester United know they have a centre-back who is likely to be amongst the first-names on the team-sheet for a number of years. The real conundrum Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has on his hands, is who he decided to partner the former Leicester star with.

So far this season, that man has been Sweden international Victor Lindelof. The 25-year-old has played 14 times across all competitions, and was once again in the line-up for United’s clash against Sheffield United on Sunday afternoon. The Red Devils came away with a dramatic 3-3 draw at Bramall Lane, and much of the post-match criticism has revolved around Phil Jones’ horror showing.

Martin Keown hammered the England international for his role in the build-up the opening goal, and insisted he “always looked problematic” in the back-line. But whilst the former Blackburn man had a 45 minutes to forget, Lindelof should not be let off the hook for his own dismal display.

Lining up in a back-three, Lindelof was run ragged by the movement of both Lys Mousset and David McGoldrick, constantly having to deal with danger from out wide, rather than in the comfort of the central areas. As per Sofascore, he won just two of his seven aerial duels (three overall) as he also lost the physical battle against Sheffield United’s front two, and his struggles were shown by the fact he completed no tackles whatsoever over the course of the 90 minutes.

And the Swede’s time on the ball was similarly unproductive. Despite boasting 83 touches, he failed to provide a key pass into his midfielders or forwards, something Maguire was able to do. He also lost possession ten times, more than double what Jones managed (4) in his time on the pitch. The latter has been somewhat of a scapegoat, with fans of the Manchester side even criticising his error on Sunday. But whilst the focus has been on him, Lindelof has avoided much of the scrutiny – something that doesn’t make sense given his equally poor performance.

In other news, Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has fired a huge warning to the rest of the Premier League about his own potential.

Loads of Rangers fans have been reacting to a tweet from Peter Lovenkrands, who revealed that BBC Scotland are planning to broadcast the 2002 Scottish FA Cup final.

The Old Firm is one of the most intense, respected and iconic derbies in world football, and there’s nothing quite like when the age-old foes meet in a cup final.

Hilariously obscure Premier League players – Can you name them all?

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Unfortunately for Steven Gerrard, this season’s League Cup final saw their arch-rivals continue their domestic dominance, but the 2002 Scottish Cup was an entirely different story.

While the aforementioned defeat was a gritty and tight match won by a single goal from a set-piece, the Gers’ memorable 2002 triumph saw five goals, including a last minute winner from Lovenkrands, his second strike of the match.

The 40 year-old won two league titles and three league cups but the 3-2 win in 2002 was his only FA Cup success.

It will be re-broadcast on Sunday evening from 19:15, report The Daily Record, and loads of fans have reacted to Lovenkrands’ delighted tweet…

Chris Sutton’s comments have annoyed loads of Rangers fans…

Everton fans on Twitter were left surprised by Marco Silva after he opted to mix up his formation for the clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

The former Hull City boss opted to change from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-3-3, and while fans were likely to be happy with the change of tactic they didn’t seem too willing to praise Silva for making the alteration.

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Indeed, some fans asked if he was feeling ok, while others simply couldn’t believe it.

This just shows how low his stock is amongst supporters at the moment, with plenty of the Toffees faithful left stunned by the fact he was willing to mix up his tactical approach.

It remains to be seen whether or not this formation is here to stay or if it works in the long term, but there were signs against Spurs that it’s one worth pursuing.

The hosts didn’t manage to claim all three points despite fleeting signs of improvement throughout proceedings, and the pressure continues to mount on Silva as a result.

Here’s what the Goodison Park faithful have been saying on Twitter…