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Rangers are looking to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to five matches as they host Aberdeen at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership.

The Gers are have not lost a competitive match in October, with their last defeat coming at the end of September against Sparta Prague in the Europa League.

Their last game was a 2-1 win over St Mirren away from home on Sunday, with Steven Gerrard’s side coming from 1-0 down to secure the three points.

One change Gerrard should make to the team ahead of the clash with Aberdeen is bringing Glen Kamara into the side ahead of John Lundstram. The Finland international watched on from the bench on Sunday and must now be unleashed at Ibrox to take on the Dons.

Lundstram struggled against St. Mirren at the weekend and was partly to blame for the opening goal. He was caught out in the midfield and too easily shrugged off, with Connor Ronan then firing the ball into the top corner from distance.

As per SofaScore, he failed to make a single tackle in the match as he made one interception and lost two of his three ground duels.

This suggests that he was not strong enough to compete in the middle of the park and that is why Gerrard should forget about starting him and, instead, unleash Kamara.

Neil McCann, his former manager at Dundee United, once hailed him as being “made of iron”. He said of Kamara: “He isn’t a big, physical lad but he’s made of iron and really strong. I knew immediately that he could handle the ball under pressure and not give it away, so he was perfect.

McCann added: “He’s a special talent. He’s lightning-quick but he doesn’t show it. He’s a player who takes instruction well.”

He has shown off these qualities for the Gers in the Premiership. Last season, the £6.2k-per-week beast averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 6.99 in 33 appearances, winning 59% of his duels over the course of the campaign and making 2.0 tackles and interceptions combined per game.

Therefore, he could provide the midfield stability Rangers need to control the game.

He is able to win the ball back off the opposition and come out on top in the majority of his individual battles, which is why he should start ahead of Lundstram tonight.

AND in other news, Gerrard must ruthlessly axe £18k-p/w Rangers dud v Aberdeen, he was shocking on Sunday…

The Birmingham Mail’s Patrick Rowe has suggested that Aston Villa star Anwar El Ghazi could leave the club amid the competition for places at Villa Park.

What’s the story?

During a discussion for The Birmingham Mail about the winger’s future, Rowe said: “If he wanted regular football each week I can see him moving on as I’m not even sure we can offer that to the wingers ahead of him currently given the system we are playing.”

Time’s up for El Ghazi

Amid all the marquee signings Villa made during the summer, not cashing in on El Ghazi may be one of the only blotches in their copy-book from their transfer window work.

Reports had actually indicated that the Midlands club were hoping to receive around £17m for him, with Serie A side AS Roma very interested in taking him to Italy.

In the end, Villa chose not to let El Ghazi go, and having also signed the likes of Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia who predominantly play out wide, the Dutchman now faces far more competition for places at Villa Park.

If they had recouped some of that outlay from selling El Ghazi, Villa could potentially have reinvested the money into a more pressing need, like central midfield.

The fact he’s played just the three times in the Premier League this season, and all three of those appearances being at the start of the campaign, has been an indication of how far he’s fallen down the pecking order at Villa Park.

He’s remained an unused substitute for the last five top-flight games, even with the injuries to both Bailey and Bertrand Traore, and it appears Smith has made his mind up on him.

While he may be seen as a “cracking servant” by Ashley Preece, the Dutchman’s time just looks to be up at Villa Park, with the club moving on to bigger and better things with the likes of Bailey.

It’s exactly why moving him on might just please the Villa fans.

Meanwhile, Villa are interested in signing this Scottish ace…

Everton have now been backed to sign Nathan Patterson before the summer transfer window ends, providing that one condition is met.

The Lowdown: Patterson bid

As per The Daily Mirror, the Goodison Park faithful have made a £5m bid to try and sign Patterson from Glasgow Rangers.

As cited by The Scottish Sun, Steven Gerrard labelled the reported offer as ‘a joke’ when asked about it.

The Latest: Whelan on Patterson

Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds United and Coventry City striker now pundit Whelan has backed the Merseyside club to sign Patterson before the window shuts, so long as they can up that offer ‘significantly’:

“They are obviously testing the water but Gerrard knows Patterson’s worth because he works with him every day.

“Let’s be honest, £5 million for a player of Patterson’s quality is a joke in this day and age. I would agree with Gerrard in that respect. It’s a bit disrespectful to put in an offer like that.

“If the money is right though, I think a deal could be struck there. One thing is for sure though, Everton are way off the mark right now so they will have to up their bid significantly if they want to sign him.”

The Verdict: Sign

Seamus Coleman struggled a bit with injuries in the 2020/21 season, and at 32 years of age, he is not getting any younger.

Thus, Rafa Benitez’s team need to think about signing a long-term replacement for him, and Patterson may well fit the bill.

At just 19, he has already shown his potential by getting called up to the senior Scotland squad for Euro 2020, playing in two games in total under Steve Clarke (Transfermarkt).

The right-back has already played in a total of 17 games in over all competitions for the Light Blues, including an appearance in the Scottish League Cup this season, in which he bagged two goals (Transfermarkt). He could look at the likes of Kieran Tierney as players who have made the step up to the Premier League from the SPL.

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Nonetheless, Patterson would be a smart investment for the future, should the Toffees be able to secure his signature.

In other news, find out whose display against Huddersfield Town was slammed here!

Aston Villa are set to battle it out with ‘a lot of really big clubs’ for the signing of Boubacar Kamara ahead of the 2022 summer transfer window. 

That’s according to journalist Luke Hatfield, who was speaking to Give Me Sport.

The lowdown

The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported at the beginning of this week that Kamara, who can play as a defensive midfielder and as a centre-back, has decided to leave Olympique de Marseille on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Manchester United were said to be monitoring the 22-year-old’s situation, while German giants Bayern Munich and Spanish marquee FC Barcelona were named as strong admirers.

Kamara is yet to make his senior debut for the French national team but has featured nine times for Les Bleus at Under-21 level.

The latest

Hatfield picked out Kamara when he was asked about possible transfer targets for Steven Gerrard, but warned that there is doubt over Villa’s chances of landing the Frenchman.

“There is a lot of talk around Boubacar Kamara and Marseille,” he said.

“He’s going on a free in the summer but I think there’ll be a lot of really big clubs after him”

The verdict

Kamara is a precise passer and an effective shield for a defence, data from FBRef shows. In fact, he boasts a similar profile to Barcelona’s highly-decorated midfielder Sergio Busquets, and perhaps they view him as a successor.

Indeed, former team-mate Rolando has dubbed him a ‘phenomenon’, suggesting he can go right to the very top.

Do Villa have a shot? Well, it’s a matter of convincing the player rather than the club.

A healthy upgrade on his £46,000-per-week salary should be achievable for Villa, and then it’s down to Gerrard to make the project as attractive as possible.

In other news, fans react to this cruel injury blow.

Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly interested in signing Dutch winger Sylla Sow as their busy summer transfer window potentially continues.

The Lowdown: Owls enjoy productive summer

The Owls have been very productive in recent weeks, bringing in a host of new signings as they look to return to the Championship.

A total of 12 new faces have come in, either permanently or on loan, giving manager Darren Moore plenty of options moving forward.

The Latest: Sow linked with move

According to The Sheffield Star, Wednesday are now eyeing up a move for Sow, who is without a club after leaving Eredivise side RKC Waalwijk.

The 25-year-old has a total of 49 appearances to his name in the Dutch top flight, scoring seven goals and registering four assists in that time.

It is stated that Sow likely has ‘plenty of options’ from other clubs, though, so it could be hard to acquire his signature.

The Verdict: Another shrewd signing?

Sow could be another exciting signing if the Owls manage to get a deal over the line, with his pedigree speaking for itself in terms of his Eredivisie experience.

Wednesday still arguably look a little light in wide areas following the exit of Adam Reach, so the Dutchman would bring depth and quality to that position.

Indeed, he showcased his ability to beat players routinely by completing 2.7 dribbles per Eredivisie match in 2019/20. For comparison, only three Owls players had more than one per game in last season’s Championship, so Sow would add greatly to Wednesday’s repertoire in this department.

At 25, he is also young enough to keep improving, but old enough to have plenty of experience at a good level. He seems the ideal player for Moore to bring in if a deal can be struck.

In other news, Sheff Wed reportedly have their eye on another signing – find out who it is here.

Leeds United have been dealt a blow in their attempts to bring Nahitan Nandez to Elland Road this summer, with Inter Milan showing an interest in snapping up the midfielder.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Nandez move

Marcelo Bielsa has been linked with signing a host of players this summer, as he looks to take his Whites squad up another level.

One individual who has been tipped to make the move to Leeds is Cagliari favourite Nandez, who chipped in with two goals and assists apiece in Serie A last season.

Midfield is an area that Bielsa could be looking to improve in, with arguably too much pressure on Kalvin Phillips to perform at times, leading to interest in Nandez.

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The Latest: Inter emerge as rivals

According to Il Giorno [via Sport Witness], Inter are keen on acquiring the Uruguay international’s signature, despite Leeds’ interest.

The Serie A champions are reportedly willing to include Radja Nainggolan and Andrea Pinamont in a deal to sign the 25-year-old.

The report claims they are trying to ‘snatch’ the midfielder from the ‘clutches’ of the Elland Road outfit.

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The Verdict: Potential big blow for Leeds

Although no bid has been made by Inter, this is a worrying update, considering their standing in the current game, having just been crowned Italian champions and with Champions League football to offer next term.

The situation could end up being similar to Rodrigo de Paul, who is expected to join Atletico Madrid, with a bigger club usurping the Whites in a deal for a top player.

It would be a big blow to miss out on Nandez, considering the defensive quality he has – he averaged 1.8 tackles and 1.5 clearances per game in the league last season.

Bielsa needs adequate support for Phillips after winning just two of the nine fixtures he missed in the Premier League last season.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly eyeing up a move for a player currently impressing at Copa America. Find out who it is here.

Lots of Wolves fans have been left reacting to a sly dig made by Marcal towards Tottenham Hotspur boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

When asked about what it is like working under Bruno Lage, the Brazilian told the official website of the Midlands club: “Bruno came to the club with a very different work approach to the previous manager. With Bruno, I think he knows how he wants the team to play and he can pass that on quite clearly to us during training.”

Of course, the ‘previous manager’ in question is Nuno, who is now the coach at Tottenham Hotspur, and reading between the lines, it can be suggested that Marcal did not think that Nuno knew what he wanted from the team when he was there, and could not pass on his instructions clearly in training, unlike Lage.

Nonetheless, a lot of members of the Molineux faithful seemed to be taken back by his comments, and seemed to agree with him, given that they finished in a disappointing 13th place in the Premier League table last season under Nuno’s management.

Wolves fans on Marcal comments

These WWFC supporters gave their reactions to the comments as they were shared on Twitter:

“Wow!! The knife really has gone into Nuno”

Credit: @Moppy632

“Yikes”

Credit: @metalliam

“Shots fired!!!!”

Credit: @similes79

“Sounds like we weren’t the only ones fed up with Nuno”

Credit: @Matt_Garrett16

“Sounds like he is saying Nuno didn’t really know how he wanted us to play last year”

Credit: @pweaver88

“Sounds like the players weren’t happy with Nuno solutions”

Credit: @Dan__Vincent

In other news, find out what training footage has left Wanderers wowed here!

Sheffield United have been dealt a potential blow regarding Robin Olsen ahead of their upcoming Championship clash.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by The Star, Slavisa Jokanovic revealed that the on-loan AS Roma goalkeeper is unlikely to be available for the Blades’ fixture against Peterborough United on Saturday following the 31-year-old’s return from international duty with Sweden.

The 53-year-old claimed that he is yet to work with the shot-stopper in training, and that rules regarding the ongoing global pandemic and Brexit make it uncertain as to whether Olsen will be available for selection today.

Jokanovic said: “We have not had the opportunity to start working with Robin – new rules, [the pandemic], Brexit I cannot give you answer if I can use him immediately, I may have to wait a bit more before I can use him.”

Jokanovic will be gutted

With Jokanovic undoubtedly being desperate for Sheffield United to pick up their first win of the 2021/22 Championship campaign against Peterborough on Saturday, the Serbian is bound to be gutted that he will not be able to call upon Olsen for the visit of Posh.

Indeed, following the sale of Aaron Ramsdale, neither Wes Foderingham nor Michael Verrips have exactly demonstrated that they would be capable of being the club’s number one this season, with the 30-year-old conceding more goals than he made saves in the 2-1 loss to Huddersfield Town and the Dutchman making an error which led to one of the four goals he conceded against West Bromwich Albion.

As such, it would very much seem as if United could use a pair of safe hands between the sticks going forwards, but with Olsen highly unlikely to be available against Posh, Jokanovic may well have to make do with either Foderingham or Verrips for one more game.

In other news: Jokanovic must avoid January transfer disaster as reports emerge on SUFC “leader”

Fill a hat with a long list of available managers and it’s likely that one of them will have been linked to Everton in the past fortnight!

The Toffees seemingly have plenty of names they’re willing to consider as they patiently plan their future without Carlo Ancelotti.

What’s the latest?

The last few days have been a hectic affair in terms of Everton’s hunt for a new manager.

They have been in talks with Nuno Santo and have also made an informal approach to West Ham boss David Moyes.

However, the freshest name on their minds is ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.

The Telegraph reported on Wednesday evening that the Toffees were considering a shock move for the 61-year-old who is currently out of a job.

Benitez lives on Merseyside and is very keen on returning to the Premier League, with Farhad Moshiri now viewing him as a genuine option.

Contact has been made with the Spaniard but advanced talks are far away.

A solid alternative

The Everton chairman is particularly keen on luring two of the club’s former managers to Goodison Park this summer.

One of which is Roberto Martinez, someone who guided them to a fifth-place finish, and the other is Moyes.

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The Scot enjoyed over a decade in Merseyside and is the last head coach to take Everton to a place in the elusive Champions League.

That being said, if they can’t agree on a deal for Moyes to return, Benitez would be one of their next best bets.

Their experience levels are the same but it’s the Spanish coach who comes out on top in terms of a trophy haul.

Benitez won the Champions League with Everton’s city rivals and won La Liga on two occasions with Valencia. He also has a Europa League winner’s medal to his name with Chelsea and has won a domestic cup in England and in Italy.

His stock may have fallen since a largely unsuccessful spell at Newcastle but given the right budget, as he wasn’t at St James’ Park, he could thrive.

Everton haven’t been afraid to spend in recent years but never got to feel the full force of Ancelotti’s lure.

Benitez has his own appeal to players around the globe and has a large book of contacts he could use to his advantage.

Described as “fantastic” by Jurgen Klopp, the managerial veteran is flexible tactically and an avid user of analytics on the training ground. His meticulous attention to detail could finally lift Everton from their mid-table obscurity.

AND in other news, Worse than Nuno: Moshiri risks more mediocrity if Everton hire “stubborn” 47 y/o boss…

Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Leander Dendoncker might have to leave the club this summer according to insider Pete O’Rourke.

What’s the latest?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, O’Rourke said that if the club end up keeping Bruno Neves and Joao Moutinho then Dendoncker “might have to move on.”

This is due to the fact that in the past it has been suggested that in order to buy new players Wolves have had to sell first. Whilst there has been a lot of interest in Neves, there has also been interest in Dendoncker from Italy.

As we reported last week, according to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (via Inside Futbol), Serie A side Lazio are interested in signing the midfielder who rated at £27m.

Supporters will be gutted

We urged the club not to sell Dendoncker because he has been a key player in the side this season, and if he does end up leaving, supporters will be gutted as well.

In an ideal world they would be able to keep hold of all three players and still add to their squad, however this is looking increasingly less possible. Over the past few seasons they have built a side capable of challenging for Europe, and if they are to keep in the mix for those place they will need Dendoncker.

The Belgium international joined the club permanently from Anderlecht in 2019 for £12.4m after having spent the previous season on loan at Molineux. His value has since more than doubled as he has become key since the arrival of manager Bruno Lage.

He has the highest pass completion rate in the Wolves squad out of any midfielder that has completed more than two full games this season, which proves that he is good in possession and a key link between defence and attack.

Dendoncker also ranks in the top 3% for blocks made in comparison to other Premier League midfielders this season. He may not be a flashy or entertaining player but he is crucial to the teams performance.

If he leaves then the club do have cover in the form of youngster Luke Cundle, but it would still be a huge loss and it would likely see them struggle to finish in a European spot next season.

IN other news: Fewer touches than Sa: Wolves “hindrance” who made just 7 passes let Lage down…