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James Tavernier joined Rangers from Wigan in 2015 for a reported fee of just £225,000 and has gone on to enjoy a sublime career in Scotland to date.

The right-back began his career in England with Newcastle and spent time with Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan, amongst others, before finally settling down and finding a home at Ibrox.

As of today (2 October), Tavernier has amassed 301 appearances for Rangers, scoring 66 goals and setting up a further 94.

Players experience peaks and troughs throughout their careers and Tavernier was no exception. His market value on Transfermarkt rose from £360k in 2015 to £5.4m in February 2020, steadily climbing over the five years in between as he became a regular at Rangers.

He then experienced a low point as his form dipped and his value followed. In April 2020, his price dropped down to £4.35m – the lowest it had been since January 2019 (£1.80m).

In the 2019/20 campaign, Tavernier played 10 games in the Europa League for Rangers and was only able to provide one assist, with zero goals, from right-back. He was also dribbled past once per game, whilst only making 0.5 interceptions per match, and lost 50% of his duels. This suggests that he was not strong enough to dominate opposition players, whilst he also gave the ball away 240 times in those 10 matches, which may have contributed to his value dropping to £4.35m that season.

His form in the competition improved in the following season. He played seven times in the 2020/21 Europa League and provided two goals and one assist. Tavernier won 54% of his duels and made 1.3 interceptions per game, whilst only being dribbled past 0.6 times per match, losing the ball 17.6 times per game instead of 24.

Meanwhile, Tavernier’s Premiership form was outstanding in the 2020/21 campaign. He averaged a sensational SofaScore rating of 7.70 as he managed 12 goals and nine assists from right-back, showcasing the quality he can provide from defence.

Steven Gerrard was able to use his man management skills and coaching to improve Tavernier’s game and get him playing his best football after a difficult period. It could have been easy for the head coach to discard the defender after that rough patch in 2020 and sign a replacement in the summer transfer window to take his spot.

Instead, he kept faith in Tavernier and now he is being rewarded by the 29-year-old. As of the start of October, Transfermarkt value him at £7.2m. This is a 33.3% increase from February 2020, showing how Gerrard has been able to help the right-back soar in the space of less than two years, bouncing back quickly from his poor form. It has been a masterclass in management from Gerrard, and hopefully Tavernier will continue to perform on the pitch.

In other news: Concerning claim made on “lightning-quick” Rangers gem, fans would be worried

Liverpool are in talks with various companies over a new big-money kit deal at Anfield, according to reliable journalist James Pearce.

The Lowdown: Current deal expiring

The Reds are in a superb moment currently, still battling on all fronts for what would be an unprecedented quadruple this season.

Jurgen Klopp’s men currently don a Standard Chartered-sponsored kit but their current deal is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2022/23 season.

At that point, there could be a scramble to be Liverpool’s next sponsor, especially given their recent dominance, with a fresh update from Pearce bringing positive news on that front.

The Latest: Pearce makes new claim

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Pearce confirmed that there are interested parties in becoming the Reds’ new kit sponsors, sharing an article written by The Athletic‘s David Ornstein:

“Standard Chartered’s £40m a year shirt sponsorship deal with LFC runs out at the end of next season. No guarantees at this stage they will renew. Talks with a number of companies ongoing.”

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The Verdict: Thriving on and off the pitch

There was a point when Liverpool simply didn’t have the worldwide appeal they do today, with big companies not as interested in sponsoring the club even despite the large fan base across the globe.

Jurgen Klopp has transformed the Reds as a whole, however, and they are now one of the most appealing and valuable sporting teams in the world to be a part of.

For that reason, Liverpool’s next sponsor is sure to be a big hitter, if Standard Chartered don’t renew, which can only be positive in a financial sense, in terms of signing new players and continuing the impressive training ground and stadium renovations.

In other news, one Liverpool player has been backed to leave this summer. Find out who it is here.

Glasgow Rangers centre-forward Jermain Defoe could be on his way out of Ibrox.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Frank McAvennie, who suggested in a recent interview with Football Insider that, following his removal from Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s coaching staff at Rangers, the 39-year-old’s time at the Premiership side could be coming to an end.

Speaking about the former England international’s future, McAvennie said: “The manager doesn’t know Defoe, so he can’t have any complaints. He’s bringing in his own team and he needs people he can trust. Defoe will know that as well so I can’t imagine he’s too annoyed. I think his time is up at Rangers now.

“He’s got a few months left on his deal so I can see him hanging around Ibrox until the end of the season. He’s always there as an option and what an option to have, he’s still so clinical. We know he’s a popular boy as well, the players all like him by the sounds of it and he’s a fan favourite. Short-term, he can help, but I don’t see a long-term future there.”

Defoe must go

While it is indeed true that Defoe is something of a fan favourite at Ibrox, considering the fact that the veteran striker is currently taking home a whopping £15k-per-week in wages, it would seem a very wise move for Van Bronckhorst to move the 39-year-old onto pastures new in January.

With Defoe now back to being contracted solely as part of the playing staff at Ibrox, his worth to the club is ultimately reflected by his returns on the pitch – something that does not make pretty reading so far this season.

Indeed, the former Tottenham Hotspur centre-forward has played a grand total of nine minutes for Gers in the current campaign, being left out of every single matchday squad, be that in the league, domestic cups or in Europe, apart from the two fixtures in which he has made an appearance.

As such, it simply cannot be argued that Defoe is worth the extremely hefty weekly wage the Light Blues are currently paying him, particularly with it being reported that Rangers’ finances are far from healthy at present.

So, while it may be sad to see him go, the sensible move for Van Bronckhorst would certainly be to thank the 39-year-old for all he has done for the club before allowing him to find a new side in the January transfer window.

In other news: Wilson may repeat his huge 2017 “mistake” by signing £15m flop, Rangers fans will fume

Liverpool remain interested in signing Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma but a deal won’t happen in January, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Reds linked with Danjuma move

The Reds had a quiet summer transfer window and there may have been a feeling that an attacking signing was needed in order to add more depth in the final third.

Danjuma is one player who has been linked with a move to Anfield since then, having ended up staying put at Villarreal in the summer.

The 24-year-old has scored five goals and registered two assists in La Liga this season, making 10 starts in the division to date. He also found the net four times in six Champions League group stage appearances, making an impression in Europe’s premier club competition.

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The Latest: Romano provides Danjuma update

Taking to Twitter on Christmas Day, Romano provided an update on the situation, confirming that Liverpool still see him as a potential transfer target but quashing any prospects of a move in next month’s transfer window.

He tweeted: “Danjuma will not leave Villarreal in January. Liverpool are among top clubs monitoring him for the future but there are no talks for January – he’s staying.”

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The Verdict: Strong squad option

Danujma is the perfect type of signing that Liverpool should be looking to make moving forward – someone already performing at a high level but who could become even more of a force under Jurgen Klopp.

The Dutchman has been hailed as ‘exceptional’ by Jonathan Woodgate following a two-year spell at Bournemouth, and two goals in five caps for Netherlands is a promising return.

Danjuma could come in and be a strong backup for the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane – at 24, he would also be a long-term signing, much in the same way that Liverpool’s African superstars were when they first came to Anfield.

In other news, some Liverpool fans have fumed at an update regarding one player. Find out who it is here.

Newcastle United are ‘likely’ to sign two players this week, according to The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards. 

The lowdown

Last weekend, Newcastle played host to relegation rivals Watford, who sit just above the bottom three. The Magpies took the lead through Allan Saint-Maximin, only for Joao Pedro to snatch a point for the Hornets three minutes from time.

The draw leaves Eddie Howe’s men 19th in the table with just one win and 12 points from their first 20 matches.

Their next match sees them travel to 15th-placed Leeds United on Saturday, with the Whites putting daylight between themselves and the danger zone with back-to-back wins in the league, so it’s fair to say that the pressure is on for the Magpies.

The latest

Edwards took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to write that Sevilla centre-back Diego Carlos is ‘edging closer’ to joining, and while his arrival is yet to be confirmed, senior club officials have been hard at  work trying to bolster the squad before the weekend trip to Elland Road.

The journalist is currently unsure about the identity of the second player who’s likely to join, as he tweeted: “Diego Carlos is edging closer to a #nufc move but still not confirmed yet. Told senior club officials have been working round the clock to secure targets and boost squad before Leeds. They have encountered resistance at every turn but 2 players (I can’t get other name) are likely”.

The verdict

Carlos’ impending arrival should be a significant boost given the Magpies’ defensive struggles. They have the worst record for expected goals against in the Premier League, but the hope will be that the 2019/20 Europa League winner with Sevilla shores them up at the back.

Who could the mystery second man be? Perhaps it’s Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata, for whom Newcastle have reportedly made an offer, and the Colombian marksman is believed to be open to joining.

If the Magpies agree to meet Atalanta’s €45m (£37.6m) asking price, that may be a deal they can get done in the next five days.

In other news, Newcastle have made an approach for this serial winner

Dean Windass, while speaking exclusively with Football FanCast, has urged Everton to sign Real Madrid dynamo Isco in the upcoming January transfer window.

The former Hull City and Middlesbrough striker believes Isco is the perfect blend for the side Carlo Ancelotti and Director of Football Marcel Brands are striving to build at Goodison Park.

Everton sit comfortably inside the Champions League places after 14 games having claimed a 2-1 win over Arsenal on Saturday, even without summer arrivals James Rodriguez and Allan taking to the field.

Ancelotti is thought to be targeting midfield upgrades in the mid-season market after deeming the engine room to be an area of concern, with reports touting Isco as a potential target.

That’s according to Spanish publication Sport, who claim the £18m-rated maestro’s situation at the Santiago Bernabeu is only getting worse after failing to convince head coach Zinedine Zidane to recall him to the side.

Madrid would like to get Isco’s £210,000-per-week contract off their books but will not allow him to leave for free as they did with Rodriguez, though Windass would urge Everton to strike a deal nonetheless.

He told FFC:

“He’d be Ancelotti’s sort of player. He’s had him before so yeah, great player.

“When was the last time you spoke about Everton bringing players like that into the club? That’s how much of an impact Ancelotti has made. Players want to play for managers like that.

“They probably need four or five players in January to sustain being at the top of the Premier League.”

Isco has started just three of his nine La Liga appearances this season ahead of Real Madrid facing Eibar on Sunday, and is thought to be coming to terms with his time in the Spanish capital nearing its end with Juventus, Sevilla, AC Milan, Everton and now Arsenal all considering moves.

No bids have yet been put to Los Blancos, while claims by Eurosport suggest it will take a very impressive offer for Isco to leave the Santiago Bernabeu as he may yet stay and fight for his Galacticos future.

Isco has rejected several potential exit routes in the past through his love of Real Madrid and desire to succeed with the club he joined from Malaga in 2013 during the same summer as Ancelotti was appointed head coach.

Just maybe Brands will listen to Windass’ demand.

AND in other news: “Huge blow” – Exclusive: Pundit reacts to major Everton setback…

Manchester United extended their winless run in the Premier League to four games in dramatic fashion over the weekend after they were thrashed 5-0 by fierce rivals Liverpool.

The Red Devils were picked apart by their far superior opponents during a dreadful 90 minutes, increasing the pressure on under-fire manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Naby Keita opened the scoring after just five minutes at Old Trafford after the visitors ruthlessly exposed the gaping holes in United’s defence, and it was a sign of things to come.

Before half-time, a Diogo Jota tap in and a Mohamed Salah brace had already put Jurgen Klopp’s charges out of sight, but things got even worse following the interval.

The Eygpt international completed his hat-trick on the 50-minute mark, and Paul Pogba’s red card ten minutes later rounded off a humiliating afternoon for the 20-time English champions.

It’s a result and performance that ultimately puts Solskjaer’s position in the dugout under intense scrutiny, but the players on the pitch also have to take a share of the blame.

And arguably nobody was more underwhelming on Sunday than club captain Harry Maguire. He clumsily collided with left-back Luke Shaw for the second goal – who also had a nightmare against the Reds – and was unable to prevent the onslaught as he failed to lay a glove on Liverpool’s ruthless attack.

The England international was slow to react to almost every situation throughout the 90 minutes and was outwitted by Roberto Firmino on numerous occasions.

As a result of his below-par display, Maguire was awarded a match rating of just 4.8 out of 10 by FotMob, the lowest total received by any outfield player.

And when looking at his underlying numbers, it’s easy to see why. The 28-year-old attempted just one tackle which he lost, failed to block a single shot or make an interception, and made just two clearances, highlighting his hugely ineffective performance.

Since returning from a calf injury following the international break, the usually dependable centre-back has put in three calamitous showings against Leicester City, Atalanta and Liverpool, and Solskjaer will be hoping his leader can return to form as soon as possible.

And, in other news…Forget De Gea: Man Utd liability who lost possession 13x had a shocker against LFC

The January transfer window is well underway and Newcastle United are being linked with players left, right and centre at the moment.

Eddie Howe’s squad is in desperate need of strengthening, and deals done this month could go a long way to helping them to remain in the Premier League for at least another season.

They are currently 19th in the table and have only won one league game with half of the campaign gone, highlighting the need for reinforcements.

Time to brutally axe Gayle

CBS Sports recently reported that Leicester, Newcastle and Everton are all interested in signing Morelos from Rangers this month.

By bringing the Colombian to St James’ Park, Howe could brutally axe Dwight Gayle from the club and sell him in the coming weeks. The former Crystal Palace man is reportedly one of the players the Magpies are willing to offload, and the prospective arrival of Morelos could allow them to cash in.

He is under contract until 2024 but has only played 27 minutes of Premier League football this season. This suggests that the £40k-per-week dud is not in Howe’s plans, so signing a replacement in the form of Morelos would mean that they can sell him without worrying about their attacking squad depth.

The Rangers marksman could come in and add plenty of goals to the Magpies. He has proven his quality for the Scottish champions over the years, with 107 goals in 211 games north of the border.

Speaking anonymously to The Athletic previously, an ex-Scottish Premiership defender lauded the striker’s strength, saying: “When he goes to shield the ball it’s so difficult. His body strength and ball control are very good, so he makes it very difficult for you. He is deceptive with his physical attributes, but what I’d say he’s best at is when the ball is played up to him. He lets you think that you can nip in front of him and then his timing to put his body in and spin you is excellent.”

Another player added: “He’s kind of dropping deep now and going out wide. That’s a nightmare for defenders because he’s your player that you’re meant to be man-marking but then you’re dragged out of position and you’ve got midfield runners taking his space.”

These testimonies highlight what Morelos could bring to Newcastle aside from his goalscoring. He has the physical strength and positional intelligence to cause constant problems for opposition defenders, which means that he could open up space for his teammates even when he is not scoring himself. Coupled with his scoring record, that is why he could be an excellent signing.

The Colombian could therefore be the perfect replacement for Gayle and improve the Magpies’ options at the top end of the pitch. It would then be down to the club to find a new employer for the 32-year-old, whether that comes this month or in the summer.

AND in other news, Craig Hope issues 10-word NUFC transfer update which will leave fans buzzing…

Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has been reacting to the club’s latest fixture change.

The Lowdown: Palace details

Jesse Marsch’s side have picked up seven points from their last three games to increase the gap to the relegation zone to eight points.

They now have just seven games remaining, one of which is a trip to Selhurst Park to take on Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace later this month.

Initially scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 23, the meeting has been put back two days to Monday, April 25 and will be shown live on Sky Sports.

The Latest: Hay reacts

Hay took to Twitter to react to the news of the changes following Leeds’ official post. He described it as an ‘awkward kick-off time’ for Marsch and co. and added that there isn’t enough notice for travelling supporters.

“An awkward kick-off time anyway but for supporters travelling to the game, this is nowhere near enough notice.”

The Verdict: Not a surprise

Plenty of Leeds fans may already have made plans for the trip to London later this month, with the fixture being rearranged just over three weeks before.

It isn’t ideal news for the Whites faithful, but it shouldn’t exactly come as a shock, with the Premier League and broadcast giants regularly changing games at late notice, consistently proving that fans are at the bottom of their agenda when making these calls.

Hopefully, fans will be making the trip south later this month with the club in a healthy position in the table, with Saturday’s trip to Watford key as Marsch looks to guide Leeds to safety.

In other news: Leeds may now lose another star alongside Raphinha and Phillips; he stunned a club employee. 

Leeds United players have taken extremely well to Jesse Marsch, according to The Daily Mail.

The Lowdown: 10 points from 12

Marsch began his tenure as Whites boss with back-to-back defeats against Leicester City and Aston Villa.

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However, Leeds have now picked up ten points over their last four games, with the 3-0 win at Watford the latest league victory.

The Whites now find themselves nine points clear of the drop with six games remaining, and it looks as if the decision to bring in Marsch for Marcelo Bielsa is paying off.

The Latest: Source reveal

The Daily Mail shared a story on Sunday evening, looking at Leeds’ recent transformation under Marsch.

A source close to the Leeds dressing room had this to say on the American and the overall feeling they’ve heard from whispers around Thorp Arch.

“It’s just a much better atmosphere at the club.

“Jesse has a more holistic approach. So everyone feels happier.”

The Verdict: Looking up

It was certainly a gamble bringing in Marsch for such a beloved figure in Bielsa, but it looks as if it has paid off following a crucial victory at the weekend.

Plenty of credit has to go to the American, especially after starting his time in charge with two defeats, worrying results which could have badly hit a coach with less confidence. He appears to be a more approachable manager to the players too, with a 20-minute discussion on the pitch with Adam Forshaw at Watford highlighting that.

It appears to be a much happier camp following some woeful form at the beginning of 2022, and hopefully, the club can build on the foundations set ahead of the summer window.

In other news: ‘Outstanding…’ – Sky Sports man stunned at confirmed Leeds news regarding Radrizzani and 49ers