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Renee Slegers' side were in real trouble of losing ground in the race for Champions League football until a remarkable second half turnaround

Arsenal scored three goals in six second half minutes to come from 3-1 down and beat West Ham on Sunday, cancelling out some concerning frailties in defence with real fight and desire in attack to be on the right end of a 4-3 thriller. It looked like the Hammers were going to pick up three unexpected points when Shekiera Martinez raced clear and restored their two-goal cushion shortly after half time but the Gunners never gave up and produced an incredible flurry of goals to put themselves into the lead for the first time just before the hour, a lead they never let slip.

Renee Slegers' side went into the match outside the Champions League places, after Manchester City's win over Tottenham earlier in the day, and their chances of staying there increased dramatically when Amber Tysiak scored from two corners inside the first 12 minutes. Chloe Kelly's strike just before the break, her first for Arsenal in 2,829 days after returning to the club in January, seemed to give the Gunners the momentum they needed to turn things around, only for Martinez to catch the hosts on the break and make the scoreline more comfortable for West Ham again.

However, that goal only served to spark Arsenal into life. Five minutes later, Katie McCabe punished Kinga Szemik's poor positioning and beat the goalkeeper from a wide position, then Leah Williamson made up for some poor defending with a brilliant header and Mariona Caldentey's penalty, awarded due to Kirsty Smith's handball, had the Gunners in front just 11 minutes after West Ham had made it 3-1. The home side still had to survive an extremely late goal-mouth scramble in which Daphne van Domselaar came up with a match-winning save, allowing them to leapfrog Man City back into the Women's Super League's top three.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Meadow Park…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Daphne van Domselaar (6/10):

  Needed to do better with the second goal, after parrying the ball right into Tysiak's path, but came up with a match-winning save in the dying moments.

  Emily Fox (5/10):

  While good going forward, she and Williamson seemed to lack understanding at times at the back when West Ham caught them on the break.

  Leah Williamson (6/10):

  Decision to step in to try and intervene in the build-up to both West Ham's first and third goals left space in behind which was exploited, though she did make amends with a huge goal at the other end and a fantastic tackle to deny Martinez later on.

  Steph Catley (5/10):

  Was beaten far too easily for West Ham's third goal and often found herself too far away from Williamson, but that did at least change for the better in the second half.

  Katie McCabe (7/10):

  Was consistently good at both ends of the pitch, despite it being a tough game for the Gunners.

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• Midfield

  Kim Little (6/10):

  Worked hard in the middle of the park and made some big defensive contributions. One of few decent performers while Arsenal were losing.

  Lia Walti (5/10):

  Was marking Tysiak for her opening goal and did very little to thwart her. Was not the only time she failed to track a runner effectively, though she can feel hard done by not to have won a foul to disallow the Hammers' second goal.

  Frida Maanum (6/10):

  Showed good movement off the ball and kept possession well while also regularly testing goalkeeper Szemik. A surprise to see her subbed off at the break but was more about Slegers getting Blackstenius on than getting Maanum off.

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  Attack

  Chloe Kelly (7/10):

  Looked lively from the start and caused problems when she got on the ball, with it little surprise that she scored Arsenal's first goal as a result.

  Alessia Russo (6/10):

  On it from the first whistle, pouncing onto loose balls to cause West Ham problems in behind, but spurned her chances – including a huge one-v-one.

  Mariona Caldentey (7/10):

  Always seemed likely to provide the moment of magic to get Arsenal back into the game and it was her superb cross that Kelly converted to make it 2-1, as well as her clinical penalty which won the game.

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  Subs & Manager

  Stina Blackstenius (6/10):

  On at the break and almost made an immediate impact, only to be offside when she found the back of the net. Gave West Ham something else to think about and created space for others as a result, even if she didn't get on the scoresheet.

  Caitlin Foord (7/10):

  An early second half sub, her desire to run at defenders consistently put West Ham on the back foot and helped Arsenal pile on the pressure that led to their comeback.

  Kyra Cooney-Cross (7/10):

  Brought great composure and tidy passing to the middle of the park.

  Amanda Ilestedt (N/A):

  Helped Arsenal see the win out as a late sub.

  Beth Mead (N/A):

  Made her return from a slight injury in the closing stages.

  Renee Slegers (8/10):

  Decisions to bring Little and Kelly into the line-up paid off as the pair were among Arsenal's best performers, even when the score wasn't going their way. Was proactive with her subs, too, and seemed to address at least some of the issues in defence at the break.

Glasgow Rangers are a club in turmoil. At the start of the week, the club’s finances over the previous 12 months were announced, stating that the Light Blues had suffered losses of around £17m.

This comes despite selling several players over the summer and releasing a few high earners off their wage bill during the summer, too. While this news comes as somewhat of a shock, it wasn’t the most harrowing aspect of the previous few days, as that came against Aberdeen.

Jimmy Thelin’s men had been the form team of the campaign heading into the clash against the Gers. With Philippe Clement under pressure, a win over the Dons would have alleviated this, maybe even leading to a resurgence in form over the coming weeks.

Aberdeen played Clement’s men off the park, resulting in the away side managing just one shot on target in the second half as they chased all three points

The circle appears to be never-ending. In 2021, Steven Gerrard left, and a year later, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked. Last year, Michael Beale was removed at the start of October, and now it looks like the Belgian’s head is next on the chopping board.

Philippe Clement’s future at Rangers looks bleak

How has it come to this? When the 50-year-old arrived at Ibrox in October 2023, his change was immense. A few months later, Clement had not only led the club to the top of their Europa League group but also secured the League Cup, defeating Aberdeen 1-0 at Hampden.

At the start of March, the Gers were even neck and neck with Celtic at the summit of the Premiership table, having made an astonishing comeback from eight points behind a few months prior.

Rangers still ended up failing to win the league or the Scottish Cup, losing out to Celtic on both occasions, but hopes were high that the 2024/25 campaign could be a promising one for the club.

At the time of writing, however, the Light Blues have won just six of their ten fixtures thus far, trailing the Parkhead side and Aberdeen by nine points already.

It is not just the results either. The performances were underwhelming, as Clement’s side showed no tactical philosophy, resorting to long balls regularly, and failing to play to the strengths of several players.

After the midweek defeat, it looks more and more likely that the Belgian will not be in charge much longer. The question is, who will come in to replace him? As the job isn’t exactly the most enticing project in the world.

Although Clement is bearing the brunt of frustration from the supporters with regard to the performances and results this season, the players should also be evaluated, some more than others.

One first-team star who was arguably the Gers’ finest performer last year has become one of the biggest underperformers of the current campaign – James Tavernier.

James Tavernier attracted interest in the summer

The 33-year-old looked like he was on his way out of Ibrox during the summer transfer window, as a few teams were showing some interest in the defender.

Steven Gerrard was aiming to bring the Rangers captain to the Middle East in what may have been a lucrative offer for Clement, yet nothing materialised in the end.

Gerrard wasn’t the only former Gers boss who wanted Tavernier, however. Giovanni van Bronckhorst began to show interest at the start of June, having taken over the reins at Besiktas. Weeks rumbled on without as much as an offer, and it became clear that the Englishman was going to remain at the club for the 2024/25 campaign.

So far, it hasn’t been the best decision.

James Tavernier’s stats this season

The £30k-per-week right back was incredible in the final third last term. Not only did he score 24 goals throughout the entire season, but Tavernier also notched 12 assists across all competitions.

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Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

This total of 36 goal contributions was five more than the next highest player on the list – Cyriel Dessers with 31 – which shows that the captain was in fine form with his involvement at the top end of the pitch.

In the top flight, Tavernier has succeeded with just 31% of his dribble attempts, averages a 79% pass success rate, and has lost possession 20.5 times per game on average. It looks like he has lost his sharpness on the ball, failing to offer as much going forward as he has done in the past.

Former footballer turned BBC Pundit Rory Loy stated earlier this season that Tavernier’s time with the club could be coming to an end, saying: “It just feels like it’s come to a natural conclusion. If Rangers were to hold on to him, they’re risking that toxic energy persisting.

“I don’t think he’s been particularly consistent this season and that’s a worry. I don’t think his body language looks the same as it has done in previous years. He just strikes you as a different character.

“He’s not been contributing goals this season so far. He doesn’t look happy. Sometimes, you just need to accept that maybe it is time.”

His contract expires in May 2026. Did the club miss the boat during the summer with regard to selling him on for a decent fee? As come January, the defender only has 18 months left on his current deal, which could deter any potential suitors from making a big bid for him.

There is no doubt his form has dropped off a cliff this season, as shown by his declining statistics, and he should bear some of the brunt from the supporters due to his poor performances in recent months.

Therefore, Rangers must ruthlessly bin Tavernier from the club alongside Clement if they decide that they need to go in a new direction moving forward.

Fewer touches than Butland: Clement must now ditch 6-pass Rangers flop

Rangers suffered yet another league defeat on Wednesday evening

By
Ross Kilvington

Oct 31, 2024

Looking to land a player dubbed the next Xabi Alonso, Liverpool officials are now reportedly making regular checks to hijack Real Madrid’s pursuit and get one over on their European rivals off the pitch.

Liverpool transfer news

Liverpool’s season couldn’t have gone much better than it has done so far. Although Arne Slot is often quick to remind reporters of his side’s one defeat against Nottingham Forest, even he will be satisfied with a place at the top of the Premier League and Champions League. His players have continued their form in the international break too, with Curtis Jones scoring an audacious debut goal for England in a standout performance against Greece.

In arguably their strongest position to win the Premier League since their victory in the 2019/20 season, the Reds could be in a perfect position to welcome further reinforcements in both the January transfer window and next summer to take Slot’s side up yet another level.

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Liverpool officials are now making regular checks on Javi Guerra and are looking to hijack Real Madrid’s move to sign the Valencia midfielder in 2025. The Spanish giants have been linked with the 21-year-old in the last year but could now lose out courtesy of the Reds.

Liverpool willing to ditch Tsimikas in shock swap deal for "great" £40m ace

The Reds are after a significant upgrade…

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 16, 2024

A player likened to Alonso and tipped to succeed his role for Spain in the future, Guerra will seemingly get the chance to pick between two of the Spaniard’s former clubs in an attempt to take a similar path to the midfield legend.

It would represent quite the statement of intent if Liverpool sealed glory in the current campaign and then beat Real Madrid in pursuit of a midfield reinforcement next summer.

"Intelligent" Guerra can follow Alonso path

One of the best midfielders of his generation, Alonso first swapped La Liga for the chance to join Liverpool in 2004 in what was truly the beginning of an incredible rise full of moments to savour. Now, Guerra can take a similar path. Like Alonso swapped Real Sociedad for Merseyside, the young midfielder can swap Valencia for a chance to reach Anfield stardom.

Still just 21 years old, the Valencia star has quite the decision to make, that’s for sure. Of course, not many would be shocked by such a big move for Guerra, who was described as “intelligent” by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig earlier this year.

After Liverpool missed out on Martin Zubimendi last summer, Guerra could take the opportunity that the Sociedad star decided to reject next summer by completing Slot’s midfield once and for all. Amid such high interest, the Spaniard will be one to watch when 2025 arrives and Liverpool set their sights on reinforcements.

Harry Kane has admitted he's lost track of how many goals he's bagged this season after scoring in Bayern's Champions League win over Leverkusen.

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• Kane stars as Bayern beat Leverkusen
• England captain losing track of record for the season
• Bayern to play Inter in quarter-finals

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bayern cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday by beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 to secure a 5-0 aggregate victory over the defending Bundesliga champions. Kane was on target again for Vincent Kompany's side, and bagged an assist, to ensure he adds another record to his collection. Kane is now the highest-scoring English player in a single Champions League campaign with 10 goals.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Only Barcelona star Raphinha has scored more goals than Kane in this season's Champions League as the England captain continues to enjoy another prolific campaign. Kane is currently top of the Bundesliga goalscoring charts with 21 from just 23 games played, five clear of nearest challenger Patrik Schick. In total, Kane has 32 in all competitions for Bayern this season, but does admit he's struggling to keep track of his ever-increasing tally.

• WHAT KANE SAID

  Kane was quizzed on his goalscoring record this season and told TNT Sports: "I know I've got 10 in the Champions League now, a nice number to have, but hopefully a few more to go."

  The Bayern talisman added to reporters: "To beat this team 5-0 over two legs shows the type of team that we are. We're in the quarterfinal now where Bayern Munich should be and we want to keep pushing. We just want to enjoy this because it's not easy. Especially when you play your domestic rivals, there's a lot of pressure, there's a lot of intensity that goes into it."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kane is also now the second Englishman with 50 or more goals and assists Champions League history (39 goals, 11 assists). He joins former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger David Beckham (16 goals, 36 assists).

Ange Postecoglou was left fuming after Tottenham's defeat at Fulham, clashing with a fan as he went down the tunnel.

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• Postecoglou clashed with Spurs fan after Fulham loss
• Fulham beat Spurs 2-0
• Dropped to the 14th position in the Premier League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Tottenham's misery continued in the 2024-25 campaign as they suffered their 15th league defeat at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon were on target as Fulham comfortably beat the north London outfit 2-0. After the match, as Postecoglou walked into the tunnel, he had a verbal altercation with a Spurs fan, who kept screaming 'What was that?!' at the Australian coach. Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel came in between and had to act as a peacemaker.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

  @metrosportuk

  Ange was NOT happy with this fan 😟 Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou confronted a Fulham fan after he asked ‘What the f*** was that?’ following Spurs’ 15th loss of the Premier League season in a 2-0 loss at Craven Cottage. It’s not the first time he’s stopped to challenge fans though, whether that be his own or the oppositions, to let his feelings known! 🎥 / X – teddybeerlover #ange #angepostecoglou #postecoglou #tottenham #tottenhamhotspur #spurs #thfc #coys #fulham #fulhamfc #ffc #fulhamvstottenham #premierleague #premierleaguefootball #epl #eplfootball #footballfan #cravencottage #football #footballtiktok #footballnews #metro #metrosport #metrosportuk

  ♬ original sound – Metro Sport

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Postecoglou's future at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium remains uncertain as the defeat saw the club drop to 14th position in the table. Back in January, reports emerged that the club were not planning to part ways with the 59-year-old manager amid a huge injury crisis in the squad. However, things could change by the end of the season as the head coach has clearly lost some of the supporters' trust after Sunday's heated incident.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?

  The Lilywhites will be back in action after the international break on April 3 as they face Chelsea in a difficult Premier League away fixture.

Newcastle United haven’t ramped up to full gear yet this season, though perhaps that proves that there is plenty to look forward to on Tyneside over the coming months.

Every club has its problems but Newcastle had too many to overcome last year, injuries putting an insurmountable barrier in front of a top-four finish, though things are starting to look up now.

Eddie Howe still needs another player to complete his frontline though, and is eager to sign a Premier League star this winter.

Newcastle want to sign Premier League forward

As per a report relayed by the Daily Mail, Newcastle are set to tussle with Liverpool for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, with Magpies boss Eddie Howe deemed to view the Cameroonian star as a top target for January.

Mbeumo, valued at £50m, has been one of the most prolific players in the Premier League this term, and with a principally right-flanking role, seems like the perfect fit to sit on the alternate wing to Anthony Gordon at St. James’ Park.

Just imagine the impact this could have on Alexander Isak.

Imagine Bryan Mbeumo & Alexander Isak

Analyst Ben Mattinson has remarked that “Gordon, Isak and Mbeumo would be one of the best attacks in the league.”

Isak is one of the most exciting and potent goalscorers in Europe, whereas Gordon’s movements and dynamism make him a tough adversary for any top-performing defender.

Mbeumo would just inject that last bit of deadliness into what is a formidable and well-coached attack. After all, only Erling Haaland boasts more goals than him in the English top flight this season.

Gordon is the most creative member of this prospective attacking trio, but Isak is not just a sharpshooter at number nine, ranking among the top 18% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and progressive passes and the top 9% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

This would play right into Mbeumo’s strength as a traditional force, driving into the final third and arcing inwards to find space from where he can unleash his fine strikes. Isak has pace for days and is capable of starting from deep himself, as evidenced by his progressive passing.

Mbeumo needs only to build an understanding with the Swede to translate his form into Newcastle colours. It really could be the start of something special.

Described as an “output machine” by football producer Michael Johnston, Mbeumo has what it takes to become a major player on Tyneside, perhaps blending with Isak to ensure that Howe’s team ascend to the next level and step into Europe’s elite club competition once again.

Almiron axed for incredible £50m star in Newcastle's dream XI after January

Newcastle could make a host of changes in January, with a £50m Premier League star touted to replace Almiron.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 20, 2024

Arsenal hold a “massive excitement” over one unseen teenager in their ranks, alongside fellow rising stars Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, who are making most of the headlines in north London right now.

Ethan Nwaneri scores for Arsenal against Nottingham Forest

Both Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri are enjoying breakthrough campaigns at N5, with manager Mikel Arteta handing both teenagers minutes amid an early season which has been plagued by injuries to first-team stars.

Edu replacement set to decide on "dream" Arsenal signing for Mikel Arteta

He’d be a stellar addition to the squad.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 26, 2024

Lewis-Skelly, 18, has made six first-team appearances in all competitions – mostly filling in at left-back – with the cameos including one full start against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.

“He can play in three positions – as a left-back, as a six, as an eight,” said Arteta on Lewis-Skelly’s versatility earlier this season.

“He’s very adaptable, I think that’s a good thing about Myles. He’s very intelligent, very thorough. And he has a competitive edge that I think is demanded at this level. He really wants it, and we’re going to use him in different positions.

“He’s a competitor, you look at him in every duel … the way he reacts with his teammates, you speak to him and it’s constantly eye contact, he’s asking questions … it’s a special character.”

While Lewis-Skelly is attracting praise from Arteta, the same can definitely be said for Nwaneri, who’s bagged four goals in nine appearances across all competitions this term.

He scored his first Premier League goal on Saturday, during Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, and the 17-year-old appears to be establishing himself as Hale End’s latest Gunners sensation.

“The first thing he does is take a touch, run forward, run past two players and put it inches away from the post,” said Arteta on Nwaneri’s attacking threat.

“I understand that, I am responsible for him, and you have to do that brick by brick. Today he put in another brick, now we have to put the cement, make sure that it doesn’t get dry, so that he can put in another one and another one and that one is going to stick. Then we put one more layer, we want to put five in a row. Believe me, it won’t work, and we have to manage that with his expectations and his load as well, which is really important.”

Nwaneri has already been called Arsenal’s next £100m star in the making, but the English gem may have some competition already.

Arsenal hold "massive excitement" over Max Dowman

According to Football Transfers, yet another teenager could be about to burst through the youth ranks. Arsenal apparently hold “massive excitement” over young midfielder Max Dowman. The 14-year-old, who turns 15 next month, is already being compared to AC Milan legend Kaka within the club, and he’s set to play alongside senior players in a behind-closed-doors friendly.

The match is being organised in two weeks’ time, and it is specifically being arranged to assess Dowman, Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri.

Dowman recently became the youngest-ever Arsenal player to feature for the Under-18s, with FT sources describing the Englishman as an “insane” footballer.

Chelsea have made a decision regarding the future of Enzo Fernandez amid Real Madrid transfer links, according to a report.

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• Chelsea spent £106 million in January 2023 for Enzo
• Real Madrid are allegedly monitoring the Argentine
• Chelsea adamant to hold on to him

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Argentine midfielder, who arrived at Stamford Bridge for a club-record fee of £106 million ($138m) in January 2023, has been linked with a move away from West London in the next transfer window. However, according to Chelsea remain firm on holding onto Fernandez, shutting down any possibility of a transfer amid growing interest from Real Madrid.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fernandez has hit top form for Chelsea, producing some of his best performances since joining from Benfica. Maresca sees Fernandez as a crucial part of his system and his importance to the squad has only increased as Chelsea aim for Champions League qualification and European success.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  This season, Fernandez has accumulated nearly 2,500 minutes of game time, making him one of Chelsea’s most-used players. Among his teammates, only Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, and Cole Palmer have played more minutes across all competitions. His goal contributions have also reached new heights, with the midfielder scoring five times and assisting nine in 33 appearances – which have been the best figures during his stint with the Blues.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR FERNANDEZ?

  Fernandez will look to continue his rich vein of form when Chelsea host FC Copenhagen on Thursday for the second leg of their Conference League last-16 tie. Securing progression in Europe would be a boost for Maresca’s side, as they continue to push for silverware and a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Looking to replace Issahaku Fatawu, who is set to miss the remainder of the season through injury, Leicester City have reportedly joined the race to sign an attacking free agent for Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Leicester transfer news

Parting ways with Steve Cooper after a matter of months despite the fact that he had his side sitting outside of the Premier League relegation zone, Leicester filled their vacancy with legendary forward Van Nistelrooy, who defeated the Foxes twice during his short interim spell in charge of Manchester United.

The former striker wasted no time making his mark, guiding Leicester to a 3-1 victory over West Ham United in his first game in charge.

The new manager has arrived with the January transfer window just around the corner and the chance to leave his own stamp on the current side. Top of his wishlist should undoubtedly be to replace Fatawu, however.

The winger suffered a season-ending injury towards the end of Cooper’s reign, just when it seemed as though he was about to break into his starting side. Now without one of their most dangerous attacking threats, the Foxes have seemingly set their sights on a fresh face.

"Amazing" Leicester target keen to sign so he can play for Van Nistelrooy

Leicester have received a transfer boost ahead of January.

By
Brett Worthington

Dec 2, 2024

According to reports in Spain, Leicester are now racing to sign Ryan Kent, who is still a free agent after leaving Turkish side Fenerbahce a few months ago. However, with Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace also interested in his signature, the Foxes must act quickly if they want to land a bargain Fatawu replacement.

Ask any Rangers fan and they’ll tell you just how much of a threat Kent can be at his best. Whilst things didn’t work out at Fenerbahce, Van Nistelrooy could quickly get the best out of the Liverpool academy graduate once again.

"Fantastic" Kent could finally get Premier League chance

After failing to break through at Liverpool, Kent became a star at Rangers under Anfield legend Steven Gerrard – helping the Gers to what is a rare title win in the Scottish Premiership these days. Now without a club and desperately needing his next move to go right, the 28-year-old may finally get an opportunity to make his mark on the Premier League.

One English football legend got the best out of him, and now it could be Van Nistelrooy’s turn to achieve the same success as Gerrard. The former Rangers manager was full of praise for the winger during his time at Ibrox, telling the club’s media team in 2020 (as relayed by The Boot Room): “Ryan Kent has been top class and hasn’t let any noise affect him, he is scoring goals and looking very dangerous.

“He is really taking it to opposition teams and he’s settled and enjoying his football. Kent deserves to be Player of the Month and has been in sensational form. He has been fantastic to work with.”

A free agent who is worth taking a gamble on now that they’re without Fatawu for the season, Leicester should make their move for Kent at the first chance that they get.

Phil Parkinson has explained how Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who have “not been over for a while”, helped inspire a crucial win for Wrexham.

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• A-list chairmen continue to offer full support
• Sent message to players before Wycombe clash
• Red Dragons occupy automatic promotion spot

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Dragons have reclaimed second spot in the League One table, with a historic third successive promotion now almost within reach. They have just eight matches left to take in this season, although rivals Wycombe – who sit directly below them – do have a game in hand.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Victory over the Chairboys on March 15, secured courtesy of a stunning strike from record signing Sam Smith, has helped to keep dreams of a top-two finish alive in North Wales. It has been revealed that Hollywood co-chairmen played a part in the picking up of three priceless points at Adams Park.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Reynolds and McElhenney are regular visitors to SToK Racecourse, as they star in the club’s award-winning documentary series, but neither has headed over to the UK in some time. That means inspiration is having to be delivered from afar.

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  WHAT PHIL PARKINSON SAID

  Parkinson has told of supportive owners always being on hand for words of advice and encouragement: “Yeah, they've been great. Rob and Ryan have been brilliant, we got beat at Reading, you get those along the way and straight away next day both of them messaged me, ‘anything you need us to do, any help we can give you’. Which is great. You know when you lose as a manager you know it's like it doesn't matter where you are in the league.”