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Daily Record journalist Fraser Wilson believes Glasgow Rangers made a huge mistake in not signing Lyndon Dykes this summer.

Rangers’ Dykes interest

The former Livingston striker was linked with a potential £2m move across Scotland to Ibrox during the summer. He even spoke about playing for the 54-time Scottish champions but in the end he made the move to English Championship outfit QPR for the aforementioned fee.

Wilson believes that Steven Gerrard made a big mistake in not signing the 25-year-old. He wrote:

“For Rangers supporters there must be a lingering feeling of ‘what if’ every time they see the hitman ruffing up defenders in the dark blue of Scotland.

“While Rangers boss Steven Gerrard must be content with the striking options he has after bringing in Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten to challenge Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe, it’s fair to say the new guys have still to find top gear.

“Dykes was ready made for the battle which lies ahead in a season like no other for the Ibrox club – yet there are still critics who reckon he’s nothing more than a battering ram.”

Itten, Roofe and Morelos can do the job

Dykes has already started to prove his worth since moving south of the border. He has scored twice in his first four games in the English second tier, whilst he has two goals in five Scotland caps this term. So far, he is looking like a clever acquisition for ex-‘Gers boss Mark Warburton at Loftus Road.

However, it is not as if Rangers have a lack of attacking options at Ibrox. Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten both joined in the summer and Alfredo Morelos stayed put despite reportedly agreeing personal terms with Lille. So far, the trio have managed nine goals between them – there is still room for improvement, but it is not the worst start.

Dykes could have offered something different, but as Wilson says, Rangers are likely to be happy with their striking options for now.

‘Gers fans, were you disappointed to miss out on Dykes? Let us know what you think by commenting below!

Sunderland face competition from Swindon Town in the race to sign Jerry Yates after it was confirmed they would be making an official offer in the next 24 hours.

With the League One season now officially over, Black Cats boss Phil Parkinson will be preparing for a third successive campaign in England’s third tier, having failed to gain a play-off place.

Transfer rumours are coming in thick and fast ahead of the summer transfer window and a link to former Swindon Town loanee Yates emerged.

The 23-year-old striker scored 13 goals in 31 games on loan with the Robins in League Two before returning to parent club Rotherham.

With Sunderland interested, Yates’ former club Swindon have now confirmed that they will be making an offer in the next 48 hours but that they know of another club who have already submitted a transfer bid.

“Rotherham have received a bid from another club,” Robins’ boss Richie Wellens told BBC Radio Wiltshire as quoted by Sunderland Echo.“We will put a bid in over the next couple of days but the only problem is that it won’t be as much as the other club has offered.”Yates was expected to leave Rotherham due to his contract expiry in June but Rotherham opted to activate the option to extend by a further year, thus allowing to sell him on for a price.

Sunderland need to find some goal scoring options ahead of next year and Yates showed at the County Ground last season that he knows where the back of the net is.

With just one year left on his Millers contract and a Transfermarkt value of £90,000, he would surely be well worth a punt from the Black Cats, especially given he is still only 23-years-old.

If they aren’t the club Wellens suggested had already made a bid, they should definitely look to make an offer sooner rather than later, otherwise they will miss out on a potential bargain.

Do you think Sunderland should make an offer for Yates? Let us know in the comments section below…

The dust may still be settling on the 2019/20 Premier League season, but this summer’s unusually quick turnaround means the new campaign is now only 36 days away.

Liverpool will be desperate to defend their title as they look to build on a season of top-flight domination, but the early transfer business from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City suggests there could be some serious competition in the 2020/21 season.

Chelsea have already sealed the signings of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner while City have added Ferran Torres and Nathan Ake to their ranks this week, but summer transfer business is just one of the many factors set to dictate how next season plays out.

The emergence of fresh youth stars is another element which could easily change of next term, with the Premier League’s abundance of rich wealth and impressive academy set-ups making the league a real hot bed for promising talent.

Here, we use Transfermarkt’s valuations to rank the 15 most valuable footballers under the age of 21 who are playing in England’s top flight at present…

15. Pedro Neto

Neto has made a positive impression since joining Wolves on a permanent deal from Braga last summer, with the 20-year-old having scored three goals and registered three assists as he helped his side to a seventh-placed finish.

The Molineux outfit rated Neto highly enough to hand him a five-year contract upon his arrival at the club, and his market value currently stands at £13.5million following his maiden Premier League campaign.

14. Eric Garcia

Garcia first arrived at Manchester City in 2017 when he completed a switch from the Barcelona youth set-up, but the 2019/20 season truly represented the 19-year-old’s breakthrough season at the club as he made 13 Premier League appearances.

The centre-back’s excellent decision making and strong passing ability are just some of the qualities which have helped his market value climb to £14.4million following the completion of the campaign.

13. Joe Willock

Willock had only been granted a total of 17 appearances for Arsenal prior to the 2019/20 season, but he has established himself a much more important member of the Gunners’ squad this term which has seen him feature 43 times in total.

The 20-year-old has been regularly used by both Unai Emery and new boss Mikel Arteta in all competitions this term, and he is now valued at £14.4million as a result of his strong passing ability and forward-thinking mentality.

12. Max Aarons

The Norwich right-back makes it on to the list despite the fact his side suffered relegation from the Premier League this season, with Aarons having been one of the stand-out performers in an otherwise disappointing Canaries side.

Aarons’ athleticism and attacking intelligence have caught the eye of Bayern Munich in recent weeks, according to Sky Sports Austria, and Transfermarkt suggests the 20-year-old is currently valued at £18million following relegation.

11. Reece James

James is one of the several Chelsea youth prospects who have been elevated into the first team by Frank Lampard this season, with the 20-year-old having been a key figure on the Blues’ right flank during their road to sealing fourth spot in the top flight.

The full-back has made 36 appearances since making his first-team debut in September following his return from injury, and his displays have seen him earn a suggested market value of £20.25million at present.

10. William Saliba

Saliba is yet to make his debut for Arsenal following the completion of his permanent move last summer, but the centre-back qualifies for the list given he is now officially back in north London after ending his loan spell with Saint Etienne.

The 19-year-old’s 2019/20 season was hampered by two injuries in addition to the fact the Ligue 1 season was cut short, but Saliba still delivered some very promising displays for Claude Puel’s side to see him register a market value of £20.25million.

9. Moise Kean

Everton caught the eye by completing an audacious swoop for Kean last summer, but the talented striker has struggled to settle in English football after having only managed to score two goals since his reported £27.5million move from Juventus.

The 20-year-old only made six league starts for the Toffees as they finished 12th in the top-flight standings, but Kean’s market value still stands at a respectable £22.5million according to Transfermarkt.

8. Gabriel Martinelli

There are plenty of positives for Arsenal to take from the season despite their modest eighth-placed finish, and Martinelli is definitely one of them after he netted three goals in his 14 league appearances following his move from Ituano last summer.

The 19-year-old saw his second half of the campaign overshadowed by a knee injury, but his strong start to life at the Emirates Stadium means he now has a strong market value of £22.5million.

7. Ryan Sessegnon

Sessegnon has struggled to cement himself at Tottenham following his deadline-day move from Fulham last summer, with the promising 20-year-old having only registered six Premier League appearances for the north Londoners this season.

The England Under-21 international is still valued at £22.5million according to Transfermarkt, but this has figure taken a hit as result of Spurs boss Jose Mourinho restricting Sessegnon to just one top-flight outing since the turn of the year.

6. Dwight McNeil

McNeil is the only player on this list to have featured in every one of his side’s matches during the 2019/20 season, with the winger having also been named in all 38 of Sean Dyche’s starting line-ups as Burnley finished in 10th spot.

The former Manchester United academy player netted twice and registered six assists as he was largely deployed on the left flank, and the 20-year-old’s first full Premier League campaign has seen his market value now rise to £22.5million.

5. Callum Hudson-Odoi

It has been a mixed season for Hudson-Odoi which only saw him start seven Premier League matches due to a combination of injury problems and competition for places, but he also made a further 15 appearances from the bench for the Blues.

However, it is perhaps easy to forget that the winger is still only 19 as he continues to find his feet in the professional game, and his current market value of £28.35million indicates how he has already made a very strong impression since his 2018 debut.

4. Bukayo Saka

Saka has been nothing short of revelation since establishing himself in Arsenal’s first team back in September, with the 18-year-old having netted four goals and registered 11 assists during his breakthrough campaign at the Emirates.

The Hale End academy product has recently signed a new long-term contract as a result of his excellent form for the Gunners, with these exciting and mature performances having seen him earn a valuation of £31.5million.

3. Phil Foden

Foden’s inclusion on the list should not come as a surprise given he has been showing his quality in the Manchester City first team since his 2017 debut, but his incredible recent displays have seen him cement his spot in Pep Guardiola’s congested midfield.

The England Under-21 international made 23 Premier League appearances in the 2019/20 season, but his imperious form after the restart saw him feature in all but one of City’s last 10 games, and this has seen his value climb to £36million.

2. Ferran Torres

The City winger does not yet have a Premier League appearance to his name having only sealed his move from Valencia earlier this summer, but Torres’ fine form in Spain suggests he looks set to become one of the brightest talents in the league next term.

The 20-year-old possesses an abundance of technical quality in addition to his incisive attacking play, with his 34 league appearances for Valencia last season having helped his market value rise to £40.5million.

1. Mason Greenwood

Greenwood is recognised by Transfermarkt as the most valuable under-21 player in the Premier League at present, with the clinical 18-year-old currently valued on par with new City recruit Torres at £40.5million.

The Manchester United frontman was in dazzling form following the season restart as he netted five goals during his side’s final nine league matches, with this taking Greenwood’s tally up to 18 goals in all competitions this campaign.

Arsenal need to make it their priority at the moment to sign up David Luiz as ESPN have reported that the north London club are yet to trigger an extension to his contract which expires this summer, leaving his future thrown into doubt.

As per the outlet, Luiz left Chelsea last summer for £8 million on an initial one-year deal with an option for a second season.

Sources have told ESPN that the Gunners want to stress that no final decision has been taken, but allowing Luiz’s deal to run this close to expiry is an indication of the financial pressures the Emirates outfit were working under even before the global pandemic.

Mikel Arteta is understood to be keen on retaining Luiz, and this would perhaps not come to all much of a surprise to some AFC fans as the central defender has been the Spanish coach’s most used player so far under his reign this campaign alongside Granit Xhaka, having made 14 appearances in all competitions under him, according to Transfermarkt.

Being 33 years of age now and already having the experience in the Premier League, Luiz is arguably vital to AFC’s back line, especially with 19-year old William Saliba due to return from his current loan spell at Saint-Etienne in time for next term.

He is also a serial winner, exemplified by being the only member in the senior squad to have won an English top flight title, providing a winning attitude needed if Arsenal are to at least qualify for the UEFA Champions League once again.

The Gunners need to prioritize signing Luiz up for now with everything that is going on at the moment elsewhere.

Gooners, what have you made of Luiz so far this season? Comment below!

According to Le10Sport, Tottenham are interested in signing Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves this summer.

What’s the word?

With the north London side heading into their first summer transfer window with Jose Mourinho in charge, all eyes will be on who the Spurs boss looks to bring in to reinforce his squad ahead of next season.

And according to French publication Le10Sport, Mourinho is eyeing up a move for Neves, claiming that the Lilywhites appear “only as the preferred track” for the midfielder.

Is it Mido or Pedro Mendes? This Spurs quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…

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The Portugal international had been linked with a move to Manchester United back in January, but it now seems as though Mourinho is keen to beat his former club to the punch this time around.

Midfield maestro

Spurs’ interest in Neves is completely understandable, especially given that Mourinho sang his praises even when he was manager at United.

Speaking after a 1-1 draw with Wolves, he said of both him and Joao Moutinho: “They press in midfield, these two Portuguese boys, they are both the kind of player that likes to bite, that likes to short distance, to press, they don’t give long time for you to have the ball, to turn, one touch, two touches, you don’t have much of that.”

The 23-year-old has fully settled into life in English football and the Premier League, and has the kind of overall package that would fit in well at Spurs. As per Whoscored, he has averaged 1.6 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 1.6 shots per game, and it points to someone who is capable of affecting the game at both ends of the pitch.

Perhaps other than Moussa Sissoko, the north London side don’t have the kind of midfielder who is capable of breaking up play inside his own half, before becoming a major threat at the other end. It’s no surprise that Luis Castro, former manager at Porto reserves, said: “Neves has extraordinary mental qualities, to go along with technical and tactical skills. He is a player who has the ability to read and understand the game, and then react.”

With Christian Eriksen departing for Inter earlier this year, Spurs lost a player who could turn a game on its head with a moment of magic. According to Understat, from the 2014/2015 season, out of the total 44 times he has found the back of the net, the Denmark international has racked up a staggering 20 goals from 0utside the box.

Neves is built in that similar mould of finding something out of the top drawer, with four out of his six Premier League goals coming from outside the area. Having someone who can unlock the tightest of defences by unleashing an effort from long-range can prove to be the difference-maker. It’s exactly why Spurs would be so smart in bringing him to the club this summer.

According to a report by French media outlet Foot Mercato, via Sport Witness, Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho and chairman Daniel Levy disagree over the future of club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Foot Mercato suggest that Paris Saint-Germain have added the former Lyon midfielder to their summer transfer wish-list, and they are ready to compete with another reported suitor in Barcelona for the 23-year-old’s signature.

The report says that PSG manager Leonardo has already been in contact with the Frenchman’s entourage, with further talks with his representatives expected to be held in the coming weeks.

The story adds that there are doubts over the £53.8m man’s future in north London because of Mourinho, who publicly criticised Ndombele following the draw against Burnley earlier this month.

However, the report adds that Levy doesn’t agree with the man he appointed as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor in December, believing the midfielder can still come good in the future.

Cameo Clubs: Which obscure teams did these football legends play for?

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Who wins this battle?

It will certainly be an interesting discussion between the Tottenham duo this summer if a sizeable bid does arrive for Ndombele.

Based on what Mourinho has seen so far, it would be no surprise at all if he was willing to accept a fair bid for the 23-year-old, but it appears as though Levy feels he deserves longer in the capital to make an impact.

Given Spurs’ transfer budget reportedly could be reduced to £50m should they miss out on Champions League qualification – if and when the Premier League season resumes – so perhaps Levy’s views could change if they fail to do that.

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Potentially recouping around £50m would allow Mourinho to offload a player he doesn’t appear to be keen on – even if he did describe his performance as “absolutely phenomenal” in December – according to this latest report, and strengthen his squad in other areas which could help Tottenham in the long run.

Levy is a known tough negotiator though, so while that may make relative sense, the former Manchester United and Chelsea boss may need to be at his best to convince his chairman that letting Ndombele go for the right money is the correct call.

In other Tottenham news, Spurs fans have identified the 6 ft 4 colossus they want if Harry Kane leaves the club following his latest comments…

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard played during a period full of absolute legends of the game.

In fact, he played with some of them at Liverpool as he lined up alongside the likes of Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso, whilst he also faced the likes of Paulo Maldini, Alessandro del Piero and Kaka as well.

Picking an XI of players who have played during his lifetime would be tough, but he has given it a go after being asked to do so by Sky Sports. Not only that, he couldn’t name two players from the same country, whilst no two players can have played for the same club. Talk about difficult.

In the end, his XI consisted of: Jan Oblak, Cafu, Vincent Kompany, Kalidou Koulibaly, Andrew Robertson, Toni Kroos, Roy Keane, Kylian Mbappe, Alessandro del Piero, Lionel Messi and Didier Drogba.

The Gers’ official Twitter account decided to share the side, and it has led to plenty of responses from the club’s supporters. They have taken to the social media platform to share their thoughts, any you can see some of the best comments below.

What do you make of Gerrard’s team? Let us know below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Santi Cazorla has insisted that Arsenal can thrive under Unai Emery while speaking about his former club to The Independent.

What did he say?

Cazorla, who won Arsenal’s Player of the Year for the 2006/07 season, was discussing the fortunes of his former club which he has come to “miss everything about”.

The Spaniard played a total of 180 games for the Gunners, scoring 29 goals and adding 45 assists throughout his career in red and white.

Now, looking at the club from the outside in, having moved to Villarreal in 2018, Santi Cazorla has insisted they can thrive under their current manager, as reported by The Independent.

“Unai Emery is a good coach and it’s a very good team, I watch them play often, but he needs time, it’s a new generation and it’s very difficult to compete against teams like Man City and Liverpool.

“It’s difficult to know [why the club has stalled]. They have the players, they have the fans, the stadium, they have everything to do it but they have to believe it.”

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Overcoming struggles

This message comes while Arsenal are enduring a run of five games without a win in all competitions, which includes draws against Crystal Palace and Vitoria de Guimaraes.

It is also a time where Emery is under severe pressure, with plenty of fans, and even some former players, claiming it is time for the Spaniard to go.

However, it seems as though the former Sevilla boss will be staying firmly put, which angered fans, so he will likely be thankful for the support of a popular figure like Cazorla.

With fans now able to put high levels of pressure on figures at Arsenal, Emery can use all the support available to him.

Arsenal’s next four Premier League games come against Southampton, Brighton & Hove Albion, Norwich City and West Ham United, who are all in the bottom half of the table, so this is arguably Emery’s best possible chance to turn things around.

Dejan Lovren was strongly linked with a move away from Liverpool during the summer transfer window.

And he did not actually make his first Premier League appearance of the season until the clash with Leicester City at the start of October.

Joel Matip’s injury has opened the door for the Croatia international, though, and the centre-back has now started and finished Liverpool’s last four league matches.

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All four of those appearances have ended in wins – Liverpool dispatching Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Crystal Palace.

It has been some turnaround for a player who looked destined to leave Anfield over the summer, and many of the Merseyside club’s supporters have been keen to pay tribute to the 2018 World Cup finalist for his recent form.

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It remains to be seen what happens when Matip returns to fitness, but Lovren’s performances in recent weeks have impressed the Liverpool supporters.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Tottenham’s transfer list reportedly has another addition with Gremio’s Everton Soares now on the club’s radar, according to Sky Sports News.

The 23-year-old can play on either flank, much like his compatriot Lucas Moura, and he is quite a similar player to the Spurs forward, specialising in taking the ball past opponents.

This season he has averaged 3.1 successful dribbles per game in the Brazilian League, but has been more clinical than Moura, with 12 goals and six assists in 32 games.

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Some fans like what they see and think he could be a good alternative to Paulo Dybala, whose possible move to north London may have been put to bed once and for all as he begins to start for Juventus, scoring twice for them in the Champions League on Tuesday.

However, not everyone is convinced due to doubts about the level he is playing at, whilst also believing that if he was capable of improving their squad then he would have been signed by another club already.

Here is some of the mixed reaction from Spurs fans to the transfer news.