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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

West Ham fans will be concerned about Declan Rice’s future this summer given that he really stepped up in the last 12 months and looks set to start for England at the European Championships, however Barry Fry does not believe that the club will sell their star midfielder.

Rice had a fantastic season playing every minute of every game he was available for in the Premier League, which saw him earn a nomination for young player of the year. The prize was ultimately won by Phil Foden who only started 17 league games.

The now England regular has seen himself linked with a move to Manchester United specifically with reports even suggesting that he had been talking to Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Dean Henderson during international breaks this season about a potential switch to Old Trafford.

Next season is one where West Ham have a solid base and could push on to become regular top-six contenders, and Fry believes that Rice will be part of that squad challenging next season as he spoke exclusively to Football FanCast:

“To be quite honest, knowing David Moyes and knowing the two Davids, Gold and Sullivan, they won’t sell him.

“No matter what comes up, if it’s £100 million or £125 million, they won’t sell him. Moyes has done a brilliant job considering last year they were relegation candidates and now they’re getting into Europe so what a turnaround in 12 months.”

Over the last 12 months, Moyes has managed to build a solid spine of a starting lineup with the likes of Craig Dawson, Tomas Soucek, Rice, Jesse Lingard and Michail Antonio so it would be a huge blow for Hammers fans to lose Rice this summer as he would be near impossible to replace.

Even before West Ham potentially lose Rice, Moyes will know that he must improve his squad and not just the starting lineup, otherwise, they will struggle to cope with the added Europa League games.

Steven Gerrard will have a huge decision to make at Rangers in the coming weeks, as with Nathan Patterson continuing to excel at Ibrox, there may well be no place in the team for talismanic captain James Tavernier, who recently made his return from injury.

The 29-year-old was back on the bench as Rangers beat their Old Firm rivals 2-0 in the Scottish Cup on Sunday but could only watch on as his teenage teammate produced another exceptional display in what was his first start in the derby.

Tavernier has been sidelined since February through injury, which has allowed Patterson to establish himself as the first-choice right-back in Gerrard’s side, as he has now made 13 appearances in all competitions this season, also contributing goals against Royal Antwerp and Cove Rangers.

During Premier Sports’ coverage of the game on Sunday, pundit David Weir was full of praise for the young defender after a rampant first half in which he regularly got past Celtic left-back Diego Laxalt, suggesting that he was having an “outstanding” game and was “playing with no fear”.

The Athletic’s Rangers correspondent Jordan Campbell was also complimentary of his performance after the game, saying:

“Nathan Patterson was terrific again. A first Old Firm start can be daunting but he played with such confidence and authority.”

Therefore, you could argue that Patterson’s recent displays mean that he should keep his place in the side, despite Tavernier being so instrumental in the title win this season.

Certainly, it is a nice headache for Gerrard to have and whilst it would be difficult to keep the club captain on the bench for upcoming fixtures, Patterson will surely want to keep his current form going, as he surely warrants a place in Scotland’s squad for the Euros this summer based on recent performances.

If we compare their average ratings in the league this season, then there is only one winner, as Tavernier’s incredible 7.76 average rating comfortably outscores Patterson’s 6.78 average, however, the 19-year-old is seemingly getting better with every game he plays and will be full of confidence at the moment.

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Therefore, Gerrard has a big decision to make when it comes to deciding who to play at right-back in upcoming fixtures as both Patterson and Tavernier have been exceptional at times this season.

And, in other news… Rangers suffer huge blow to “phenomenal” gem, Gerrard will be devastated

Newcastle United have reportedly opened talks with Rangers over the potential signing of youngster Alex Lowry this summer.

According to Football Insider, the Magpies have held talks over signing the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, with current employers Rangers keen to extend the exciting prospect’s deal.

The Scotsman is currently contracted to the Scottish Premiership champions until 2024 and it is understood that Lowry has recently been offered an improved deal at £5,000 per week.

As the North East club prepare for their first summer transfer window under the ownership of PIF, it is expected that the Tyneside outfit are to spend big in an attempt to completely reform the look of the current squad.

However, the future definitely has to be considered and, in Lowry, the Toon Army could save millions on a prospect that’s rapidly gathering attention.

Imagine him & Bruno

Granted, given Lowry’s lack of game time in the Rangers first team the 18-year-old would be initially included in Newcastle’s U23s.

The attacking midfielder made his Premiership debut in January, playing the entire 90 minutes in a 1-0 win at home to Livingston whilst also scoring on his debut against Dumbarton in the Scottish Challenge Cup.

Moreover, Lowry has also netted in the 4-0 Scottish Cup victory against Stirling Albion and was an unused substitute in the 2-1 extra-time victory against fierce rivals Celtic that booked Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side’s place in the final.

As for where the youngster would fit in on Tyneside, Newcastle’s U23s have had a decent campaign, with the young Geordies sat seventh in the second division of Premier League 2 and would undoubtedly be able to accommodate a player with an abundance of potential.

Lowry’s former academy coach Graeme Murty claimed that the 18-year-old is “unlike any other player” at Rangers and has “a remarkable degree of self-confidence.”

When it comes to the first-team picture, Eddie Howe’s attacking midfield options are somewhat limited.

Just Joelinton and Miguel Almiron are the Magpies’ only recognised attacking midfielders, with the duo scoring a combined tally of just three goals this term; there’s certainly room for improvement in that area.

However, January signing Bruno Guimaraes has already proved to be a nuisance in the box, scoring three goals already for the Toon Army.

With the box-to-box ability of the Brazilian alongside Lowry’s forward-thinking play, Newcastle could one day unearth an electric partnership in the middle of the park.

AND in other news: Howe and PIF are now heading for their first big NUFC error, it would be a disaster

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie believes the Hoops would be a ‘joy to watch’ if they were to bring in Eddie Howe as their new manager.

McAvennie, who spent four years with the club across two spells, was asked by Football Insider what he made of reports that Celtic had reached out to Howe.

“I would be delighted,” he said. “He plays the right brand of football and that is very important.

“We are renowned for our style of football. When I was at Celtic big Billy McNeill told me it is not just about winning, it is about the way that you win. There has to be a bit of cavalier, a bit of style to it.

“I think Eddie Howe would bring that. The brand of football he brought to Bournemouth was a joy to watch.”

Why might Celtic be keen on Howe?

Howe is lining up his next managerial project after leaving Bournemouth following their relegation from the Premier League. The Englishman remarkably led the Cherries from the bottom of League Two to the top flight, where they remained for five years (Transfermarkt).

Howe espoused a progressive philosophy at the Vitality Stadium, reluctant to employ the conservative tactics traditionally favoured by promoted/lower mid-table sides.

Celtic, who relinquished to the title to their arch-rivals Rangers at the weekend, are poised to appoint Neil Lennon’s long-term replacement this summer.

Transfer Tavern verdict

Relegation was a slightly sorry end to Howe’s otherwise sensational tenure at Bournemouth, but this appointment could rightly excite Celtic fans.

His 29.8% win rate in the Premier League doesn’t even tell close to the full story. Howe genuinely worked magic with limited resources and, judging by his five-year top-flight tenure with the Cherries, seems more than capable of taking the fight to Steven Gerrard’s Gers.

The 43-year-old may have initially anticipated that he would fill a Premier League vacancy, but Celtic retain a considerable pull and he could build his reputation further at Parkhead.

In other news, John Kennedy issued an emphatic warning over one Celtic player targeted by a Premier League club.

Carlton Palmer has told The Transfer Tavern that he doesn’t think that Leeds wouldn’t sell Raphinha for anything less than £30m.

The Brazilian winger enjoyed an impressive first campaign in the Premier League and has been attracting interest from Manchester United and Liverpool, who’ll both be trying to close the gap on Manchester City next season.

Raphinha scored six times and chipped in with nine assists as Leeds marked their first season back in the top-flight by finishing 9th, with the former Rennes attacker a key part of the recent success under Marcelo Bielsa.

He has still has four years remaining on the long-term deal he signed 12 months ago, meaning either of the North West sides would have to dig into their pockets to be able to prize Raphinha away from Elland Road this summer.

And whilst he’s only valued at £22.5m by Transfermarket, Palmer exclusively told The Transfer Tavern that the 24-year-old is worth plenty more in the current market:

“I certainly don’t think Leeds would entertain an offer for him less than £30m the way the Premier League is at the moment.”

Bielsa’s men will be looking to build on their top-half finish by mounting a challenge for the European places next season, but will need to keep all of their best players, so they’ll be hoping the Brazilian’s head doesn’t get turned should either Liverpool or United come calling.

Southampton are once again being linked with Arsenal ace Ainsley Maitland-Niles this summer and given his versatility, he could be a superb addition to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

According to the Mirror, Arsenal are willing to let the 23-year-old leave the Emirates this summer, which has put both Southampton and Watford on high alert.

The report claims that Arsenal are tempted to cash in on the academy graduate as they look to fund some expensive summer moves, and Southampton could make an official approach for the England international as early as next week.

Would he be a good signing?

Southampton were heavily linked with a loan move for the youngster in the winter transfer window, so he is clearly a player who is on Hasenhuttl’s radar.

After Maitland-Niles made it clear that he sees his future as a midfielder rather than a full-back, where Southampton were perhaps keen to deploy him as back-up to Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Bertrand, he would end up joining West Brom on loan instead.

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During his time at the Hawthorns, he would make 15 appearances in the Premier League, managing no goals and one assist, earning a less than impressive 6.48 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He would show his class in impressive back-to-back wins against Chelsea and Southampton earlier in the season where he made a combined eight tackles and three interceptions. That certainly helped West Brom to improve in the second half of the campaign but was ultimately unable to save them from relegation.

However, the £14.4m-rated Englishman has plenty of experience in the Premier League, would be able to add to Hasenhuttl’s depth at full-back and in midfield, and also has plenty of time to improve, so he could prove to be a shrewd signing by the South Coast club this summer.

Given his versatility, he certainly seems like the sort of player Hasenhuttl would love to have in his squad next season, so whilst he would likely cost more than the £10m limit the Austrian set for Southampton ahead of the transfer window, CEO Martin Semmens should definitely explore the possibility of bringing him to St Mary’s.

And, in other news… Hasenhuttl suffers fresh setback with “incredible” Southampton beast, Saints fans will be worried

Numerous fans of West Ham United have been reacting to a post on Twitter in which the Hammers shared an image of Declan Rice in action for England with the caption of “classy” and two hand-clap emojis.

So far this season, Rice has highly impressed over his 29 Premier League appearances for David Moyes’ side, with the defensive midfielder scoring one goal and providing one assist, as well as making an average of two interceptions, 1.9 tackles and 1.2 clearances per game, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 7.09. That ranks him as the Hammers’ fourth-best performer in the top flight.

The 22-year-old has also impressed while on international duty with England, most recently during the 2-0 win over Albania in World Cup qualifying on Sunday, a game in which Rice made five interceptions, two tackles and three clearances, earning a SofaScore match rating of 7.8.

After West Ham shared an image of Rice in action for England on Twitter, many fans of the Hammers flocked to have their say on the matter, with plenty heaping a considerable amount of praise on the midfielder. One Irons fan even dubbed the 22-year-old a “Rolls Royce of a footballer”.

So, what exactly did these West Ham United fans have to say in reaction to the image of Declan Rice?

“England’s best player plays for West Ham. What a world.”

@AndrewKane221

“My captain.”

@notorious1324

“Always is and always will be.”

@bazza123whu

“England’s best DM, no debate.”

@mattw00druf

“Rolls Royce of a footballer.”

@joehalford1990

“We are so lucky man.”

@_ghzst

“I don’t want him to leave West Ham but if I’m Man City, I’m getting him in as a long term replacement for Fernandinho. He is outstanding. Such a class act.”

@Jayoconnor8

In other news: This West Ham summer target dropped a big hint on his future – find out more here!

Leeds United transfer target Boubakary Soumare would represent a major upgrade for Marcelo Bielsa amid reports linking him with a move to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the story?

Reports earlier this year suggested that the Whites were interested in signing the Lille midfielder and it now appears that the club face significant competition in the race to land him.

According to The Daily Mail, it’s fellow Premier League side Leicester who currently find themselves in pole position to sign the French starlet, and the Foxes have opened talks over a potential £21m deal for the 22-year-old.

The report adds that Everton and Leeds both had scouts watching Lille’s game against Lens on Friday, while Newcastle have also held a long interest in him.

Big upgrade for Bielsa

When you’ve got a number of Premier League sides after you, and have even been compared to Manchester United star Paul Pogba, you know you’re a very highly-rated talent.

It’s no surprise then that Lille president Gerard Lopez has previously waxed lyrical about the 22-year-old, saying: “He’s one of the very best at his job. He’s technical, with incredible physical power and wins a great deal of possession. He’s a modern No.6 or 8. We’ll see him in the France team very soon. He’s a clear vision of where he wants to go and he’s working very hard to get there.”

And, his teammate at Lille, former Swansea ace Renato Sanches, said: “He’s a great player. He’s so young and a great talent – a happy and humble guy. I don’t know when he’s going. It’s not my business. But he will be a good player in the future. Even better than now. He’s athletic. He’s fast. He’s strong. He has technique. He’s prepared for the Premier League.”

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When you look at his stats, you can see exactly why Bielsa is keen on signing him this summer.

As per Whoscored, his averages of 1.4 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game in Ligue 1 this season is significantly better than what Mateusz Klich has produced, with the Polish ace’s interception numbers actually a quarter of what Soumare manages (0.3).

The young Frenchman also appears to be more accomplished with the ball at his feet too, boasting more passes per game and at a much higher accuracy, while he also averages more than double the amount of dribbles Klich makes per game too.

With Klich also soon to turn 31 next month, landing the 22-year-old Soumare just seems like a no-brainer for Bielsa and Leeds, both for the present and for the future.

Meanwhile, Radrizzani must avoid making an unforgivable mistake at Leeds United this summer…

Tottenham Hotspur target Weston McKennie has reportedly knocked back the chance to sign for West Ham United in favour of a move to north London this summer [Gazzetta dello Sport print edition August 26th via Hammers News].

The Lowdown: Spurs look to tie up remaining business

With the transfer window set to slam shut in England on the 31st August, Lilywhites manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be desperate to tie up any remaining business as he plots success on both domestic and European fronts this campaign.

Recruiting intelligently so far within the window, the Portuguese boss has signed three first-team – Pierluigi Gollini, Bryan Gil and Cristian Romero [Transfermarkt].

Now, Spurs could be set for a major boost in their pursuit of 22-year-old McKennie, owing to reports in Italian media circles.

The Latest: McKennie rejects West Ham move

USA international McKennie is allegedly said to have rejected a move to the London Stadium in favour of a switch to Tottenham Hotspur this summer [Gazzetta dello Sport print edition August 26th via Hammers News].

The 6 foot tall ace is said to have opened talks with Tottenham over a move, however any deal would cost somewhere in the region just under £40 million [Independent].

Axel Witsel looks to have been earmarked as a potential replacement for Mckenzie in Turin, should the American depart before the end of the window [Tuttosport].

The Verdict: McKennie addition would excite the Tottenham Hotspur support

In need of midfield reinforcements, the decision made by McKennie to reject a move to the Hammers in search of a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will no doubt excite the Lilywhites support.

Possessing the capability to dictate play in central areas, he would bring some much-needed control and stability to the Spurs line up.

In 2020/21, he excelled for his current employers, registering nine goal contributions in 46 appearances; six goals and three assists [Transfermarkt].

Patrolling the middle of the park with his impressive ball retention, McKennie managed to record a pass accuracy of 85.4% across the piece in Serie A [WhoScored].

Once labelled as ‘outstanding’ by former Schalke executive manager Christian Heidel, Tottenham should look to finalise the deal before the end of the window [Schalke 04 Official].

In other news, a Spurs ace is in line for a surprise summer window exit. Find out more here.