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Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been slamming the display of Alfredo Morelos in their game at home to Hearts in the Premiership this afternoon.

It was not the Colombia international’s best day as he was guilty of missing several decent chances to make the match more comfortable for Steven Gerrard’s men, after John Lundstram had given his team the lead late in the first half at Ibrox.

The striker was also guilty of giving the ball away far too cheaply and far too often throughout the match in an overall performance which would have disappointed his manager considering what Morelos can produce.

Nonetheless, he must now put this performance behind him and try to make amends in the Europa League in midweek.

Rangers fans on Morelos display

These Rangers fans slammed Morelos’ performance on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that he was ‘rotten’:

“Morelos looks miles off it. Again.”

Credit: @BMCRangersRants

“Not alone. Morelos has been rotten”

Credit: @Grove1969

“Announce the 2019/20 Morelos please”

Credit: @johnbucky81

“Get that Morelos off!!!!”

Credit: @RFC5572

“Hook Morelos. Please”

Credit: @FinlayV3

“If Morelos could finish game would be over”

Credit: @Dp1973Dp

In other news, find out what Michael Stewart comments have left these Gers fans raging

Fulham are interested in a deal to bring Bruno Paz to Craven Cottage this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Portuguese media outlet Record (via The 72), who claim that the Sporting Lisbon defensive midfielder has emerged on the radar of Marco Silva, who could be planning for life after Jean-Michael Seri, with the 30-year-old being linked with a move away from west London this summer.

The report goes on to state that Sporting may be willing to allow the 23-year-old to leave the club for nothing in the summer transfer window, however, they are hoping to insert a €2.5m (£2.1m) buy-back clause into any potential deal, in addition to a further sell-on clause.

Bye-bye Seri

While Paz has struggled to establish himself in the Sporting first-team after graduating from the club’s youth system, making just one senior appearance so far in his career, it would nevertheless appear the midfielder is a player with a significant amount of potential.

Indeed, the £518k-rated man has featured for every Portugal age group from U15 to the U21 team, while the 23-year-old has also racked up 47 appearances for the Sporting U19, U23 and B-team sides – with Portugal Resident journalist Skip Bandele dubbing the Paz a “promising” talent.

And, with the youngster having been stuck behind the likes of William Carvalho, Joao Palhinha, Manuel Ugarte and Idrissa Doumbia for the defensive midfield role during his time at Sporting, perhaps his failure to break into the first team is less a reflection of his own talent, but more so that the Leoes have been blessed with a number of exceptional players in the position in recent years.

Furthermore, considering the player looks to be available on a free transfer, as well as his salary not even being listed by Capology, should Silva go on to sanction the sale of the £65k-per-week Seri this summer, Paz would not only seem to be a replacement with a much higher ceiling than the Ivory Coast international, but also a substantially more cost-effective player.

As such, it would appear highly advisable for Tony Khan to take something of a risk-free gamble on the Sporting starlet this summer, as the bargain signing of Paz could turn out to be something of a masterclass by the Fulham director of football.

In other news: Silva drops claim on “important” hardly-seen Fulham gem that’ll leave fans buzzing

Newcastle United have been given fresh hope in their transfer pursuit of Ousmane Dembele.

The Lowdown: Newcastle ‘in pole’

Mundo Deportivo reported last week (via Sport Witness) that the St James’ Park outfit are ‘in pole position’ to sign Dembele and are ‘pushing very hard’ to sign the winger from Barcelona.

They have reportedly offered an ‘astronomical proposal’ worth €15m (£12.7m) per season and a signing-on bonus of €15m (£12.7m), and his agent would also get a generous commission.

It will no doubt be interesting to see whether Dembele’s head will be turned by the money, given that the Magpies currently find themselves in a relegation battle.

The Latest: Deadline set

As per Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), Xavi has now set a deadline of December 15 for Dembele’s future to be resolved at Camp Nou.

His delay in accepting their contract offer is ‘giving hope’ to Newcastle, as well as Manchester United, as they look to potentially sign him on a free transfer next summer.

The Verdict: Depends on relegation

If the Magpies end up relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season, then they will surely have no chance in capturing a player of the calibre of Dembele.

Recently dubbed ‘phenomenal’ by Barcelona’s latest signing Dani Alves, the 24-year-old has scored and set up plenty of goals at the highest level, and the World Cup with France in 2018 is just one of many high-profile trophies that he has won in the game.

Footballing great and former teammate Lionel Messi even once described Dembele as a ‘frightening’ player, which is one of the highest endorsements you can get, and there seems little doubt that he would elevate the quality in Eddie Howe’s squad.

However, Newcastle must survive the drop first of all before evaluating their options in the summer.

In other news, NUFC are also after this forward from the continent

Taking to Patreon, reliable club insider ExWHUemployee has made a transfer claim involving Wout Weghorst whilst also sharing an ‘interesting’ update.

The Lowdown: West Ham still in striker hunt…

West Ham’s hunt for a new centre-forward alternative to Michail Antonio has been ongoing since last January, when David Moyes first confirmed that offers had been made.

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Since then, their search has so far proved fruitless as they are repeatedly linked with many options, with Moyes himself going as far as to say he was ‘desperate’ for a forward signing over the summer.

The likes of Andrea Belotti, Adam Hlozek and Youssef En-Nesyri have been mentioned lately, but talk of a past summer target in Wolfsburg striker Weghorst has now resurfaced.

The Latest: Ex shares ‘interesting’ update…

Writing on his Patreon, Ex said that Weghorst continues to be a ‘definite target’ after West Ham’s public links earlier this year.

As well as this, the club insider relays an ‘interesting’ social media update, namely that the 29-year-old has now started following the club on Instagram.

He added that while you cannot read too much into his decision, it is certainly worth discussing given West Ham’s links with the player.

The Verdict: A must move?

While the towering 6 foot 6 colossus is slowly approaching the twilight phase of his career, he could be a brilliant backup option to Antonio going by his plaudits and goalscoring record.

He racked up an impressive 25 goal in all competitions last season for Wolfsburg and has even drawn comparisons to former Premier League star Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Lauded as the ‘most dangerous player in front of goal’ by his former boss Oliver Glasner, The Athletic claimed over the summer that he is valued at around €30m (£25.9m), a fee which could represent good value for money for West Ham.

In other news: ‘Christmas sorted’, ‘Announce the league’ – ExWHUemployee’s ‘fantastic news’ has many West Ham fans excited, find out more here.

An update has emerged regarding Celtic’s pursuit of Sheffield United defender George Baldock…

What’s the talk?

Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show, via Vital Football, former Hoops player Davie Provan claimed that the Glasgow club are baulking at the 28-year-old’s wages, which is causing their pursuit of the full-back to slow down.

The 65-year-old said: “George Baldock, I think, would have been a great signing for Celtic. Apparently they are baulking at the wages.

“But you know good players cost good money and Baldock is the type of player that Celtic are going to have to sign.”

Ange will be frustrated

If Baldock’s wage demands are causing an issue for Celtic, then Ange Postecoglou will be incredibly frustrated as the club would be missing out on a potentially excellent addition to their squad.

The right-back played 70 Premier League matches over the past two seasons for Sheffield United, particularly impressing in the 2019/20 campaign. He averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.79 that term, scoring twice and setting up three goals in 38 starts.

This shows that he has the quality to play in the top flight in England, suggesting that he could thrive in the Scottish Premiership for Celtic. As such, former Rangers player Barry Ferguson praised Baldock earlier this summer and backed the Hoops to sign him, stating that he would be a solid addition to their squad.

He told Go Radio: “One player that has stuck out has been George Baldock.

“He’s always been a steady Eddie on that right-hand side for Sheffield United. I can see the reasons why Celtic are interested in him.

“They’ll be getting a good, solid player, that’s for sure.”

This is why Postecoglou will be disappointed if the club’s wage structure prevents them from being able to do a deal for the Englishman. He is on £26k-per-week at Bramall Lane, whilst the Hoops’ top earner from last season was reportedly Scott Brown on £25k-per-week.

For a player of Baldock’s pedigree and quality, it could be worth shelling out slightly to ensure that Celtic are able to significantly strengthen the squad. Postecoglou needs as many good players  in his squad as possible to win back the title from Rangers, and the Sheffield United man fits the bill.

BBC pundit Garth Crooks once compared him to Manchester United legend George Best, after a strike against Norwich in the Premier League. He said:

“I wasn’t sure if it was George Baldock or George Best! I thought I was seeing things when I saw Baldock drag the ball back, pirouette and strike a glorious shot past Tim Krul. The finish – not to mention the skill – was superb along with Sheffield United’s performance.”

Therefore, he could be a sublime signing for the Hoops, as he is a proven, consistent and reliable performer at right-back. He could come in and be the club’s first-choice right-back for years to come, but it appears as though his wages are going to stop that from happening, which is why Postecoglou must be frustrated.

AND in other news, Celtic closing in on deal for “very gifted” gem, he’s the perfect Frimpong replacement…

Adama Traore had a rather frustrating season for Wolves with a lot of his running and crosses coming to nothing, however teams will still be looking to take him from Wolves, according to former striker Steve Bull.

Last season, Traore managed just two goals and three assists and a lot of that could be down to not having the ever-reliable Raul Jimenez in the box to finish off the chances he usually creates.

Despite a relatively poor season, Chelsea reportedly have him on their transfer wish-list this summer and with their wealth of attacking options, Traore would have no problem racking up the assists, even if his game time was limited.

Traore often cut a frustrated figure last season and that may have triggered teams such as Chelsea to take a serious look at him this summer, with Bull expecting there to be a lot of interest in their speedy winger when he spoke exclusively to The Transfer Tavern on the topic:

“I think he’s a talented player but he is very hit and miss on the pitch, but when he’s on the hit side he’s also absolutely top drawer and I can understand why a lot of teams are interested in him, because he can either win or change a game for you.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if more clubs than just Chelsea came in for him, even if he doesn’t have a good Euros, because he’s done enough to say to teams, ‘come and get me.’ “

Wolves are reportedly looking to receive a significantly lower amount than the £70 million they were quoting clubs such as Liverpool last year with the pandemic appearing to have hit them very hard.

Bruno Lage may have a huge rebuild on his hands with the likes of Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves and Trasore all reportedly on the club’s list of players they are willing to move on.

Leicester City have made a decent start to the new campaign, picking up six points from a possible nine in the Premier League after seeing off Manchester City at Wembley Stadium to secure the Community Shield.

Although the Foxes’ performances haven’t been up to their usual high standards, victories over Wolves and newly-promoted Norwich City have come either side of a disappointing 4-1 defeat at the hands of West Ham United.

Those results have left Brendan Rodgers’ charges in a healthy position during the first international break of 2021/22, and it’s been one of the Midlands outfit’s usual suspects who’s led the way throughout August.

Despite the arrival of several exciting new acquisitions at the King Power Stadium over the summer, 34-year-old Jamie Vardy has continued to fire Leicester up the top-flight table.

As per SofaScore, the former England international has received a match rating of 7.43 out of 10 after bagging two goals and providing one assist in three league outings, the highest tally compared to his teammates.

And when looking at Vardy’s underlying numbers, it’s easy to see why he’s been awarded such a healthy score in the early stages of the season.

In his 261 minutes of Premier League action, Vardy has had five shots on target, made three key passes, won a massive eight duels and completed four of his attempted dribbles.

His impressive contribution to Leicester’s success highlights his importance to Rodgers’ side, despite the pacey striker entering the twilight years of his career.

The former Fleetwood Town gem will be aiming to pick up where he left off once the league resumes, with current champions Manchester City Vardy’s next opponent.

And, in other news…Lost possession 39x: Leicester liability badly let Rodgers down with dreadful August 

A number of Liverpool supporters are ecstatic after Jordan Henderson signed a new deal with the Reds, extending his stay at the club.

The 31-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable Liverpool career, overcoming a tough start to become arguably one of the best captains in the club’s history.

Henderson was given the huge task of replacing Steven Gerrard as skipper, but he has thrived in the role over time, making it his own.

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Not only that, but the midfielder has lifted the Premier League and Champions League trophies in recent years, cementing his place as a Liverpool great.

On Tuesday, Paul Joyce confirmed on Twitter that Henderson has signed a new contract at Anfield that will keep him at the club until 2025, news which was later announced on official club channels.

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Liverpool fans flock to Joyce’s tweet

It may not be the transfer news that some were hoping for on deadline day, but nevertheless, these Liverpool fans took to Twitter to show their love for the Reds captain in response to Joyce’s tweet.

“CMOOOOON”

Credit: @AntonioHysen

“VAAAAMOOOSSS”

Credit: @LonningLudvig

“YES! ITS LIKE A NEW SIGNING!”

Credit: @Neboneid

“Great news”

Credit: @TacticallyLfc

“This is obviously fantastic news but hilariously predictable that they would announce it today”

Credit: @ChrisMors1

“Beautiful!”

Credit: @NathanALinley

In other news, Liverpool are reportedly eyeing up a deadline day signing. Find out who it is here.

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In his two years in charge at Ewood Park so far, Tony Mowbray has led Blackburn Rovers to promotion back to the Championship and he looks to have seen them clear of relegation trouble this time around too.

However, some pressure may be building on the 55-year-old, as his side are currently in poor form – Rovers have lost each of their last four league outings. Mowbray referenced these struggles, and the associated pressures, ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Birmingham City.

What he said

As quoted by the Lancashire Telegraph, Mowbray has urged his side “to make sure they stay focused, believe in each other, and work hard.”

Who do you want to see promoted this year? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have picked their 3 favoured teams in the video below…

He also referenced the scrutiny he is currently under, stating that “the outside noise, you can’t do anything about, so from my perspective I don’t listen to it.”

He admitted that he puts himself under this kind of pressure too: “I feel an internal noise in myself that we’ve lost four games in a row, and for two years we’ve been used to winning games, and plenty of them.” He still believes he’s the right man to lead Rovers forward though, and has urged everyone at the club to “keep believing in each other, doing what we do.”

External pressures

The reference to ‘outside noise’ is particularly interesting as it highlights the fact that Mowbray may be feeling some external pressure. He could be referring to discontentment amongst the fanbase, the media or even coming from Rovers’ owners – Venky’s Ltd – themselves.

If Mowbray does feel that his position is beginning to come under threat, then he must arrest his side’s slump soon. However, frankly, he ought not to be in any such trouble. He has done a fine job since taking over at Ewood Park, and letting him go at this stage would be a huge error on the part of the club.

Everton are back in action this evening with another home clash in the Premier League, this time against Leicester City.

Heading in off the back of their 1-0 victory over Manchester United earlier in the month, Frank Lampard and the Everton fans will undoubtedly be looking to see their team secure another win this time out to move further away from the relegation zone.

Looking ahead to tonight’s showdown and their remaining league games of the campaign, it seems as though the Merseyside club have been handed a major boost over one of their key players.

What’s the news?

In a recent Twitter post from journalist Patrick Boyland relaying news from Lampard’s latest press conference, Toffees defender Yerry Mina will be in the squad to take on the Foxes.

The centre-back has been out of action since February with a hamstring injury and has only made ten league appearances for his side due to previous issues.

Great news for Lampard

With the Toffees only losing four of the ten league games that the Colombian has played in and only two of the games he completed a full 90 minutes in, having him back in the squad as another option will be a great thing for Lampard going forward.

To highlight what a useful option he will be, the 27-year-old has won nine tackles and made 14 blocks and 36 clearances in the league this season.

If he can make a return to action and continue being a tough figure at the back for his side, he could end up being the difference between Everton staying up or going down.

In terms of tonight’s showdown, it seems unlikely that the Toffees boss will immediately throw Mina back into the team considering how long he’s been out of action for.

With that in mind, if Lampard wants to have the defender available for the rest of the season, the 43-year-old will have to manage Mina’s minutes, for the time being, so he doesn’t risk getting injured again.

Also, with the centre-back pairing of Ben Godfrey and Michael Keane managing to keep a clean sheet last time out against the Red Devils, it would make sense for Lampard to stick with those two on this occasion to see if they can do the same again against Leicester.

In other news: Insider drops behind-scenes Finch Farm update that’ll leave Everton supporters furious