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Glasgow Rangers are reportedly now eyeing up a move for Scottish centre-forward Jacob Brown in the summer.

The Lowdown: Contract expiring

Brown’s contract at Stoke City expires in 2023, so he and the Potters have a decision to make over the summer as to whether he should be sold now for a fee, signed to fresh terms or allowed to leave for free next year.

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They are reportedly planning to open up talks over a new deal, but it is not guaranteed that he will sign.

The Latest: Rangers interest

As per Football League World, the Ibrox faithful are now interested in signing Brown this summer, as well as West Ham United, Brentford and Burnley.

While Stoke are keen to give him an extension, a tempting offer may be too hard for him to turn down.

The Verdict: Sign

Given that his contract is running down, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team may be able to get Brown on the cheap, and so snapping him up in the summer seems like a no-brainer.

Described as a player with an ‘incredible’ work rate and having ‘fantastic energy’ by his manager Michael O’Neill, he is one that should quickly become a favourite with the supporters, added to the 13 goals and five assists that he has managed in total over all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt).

Brown even recently went viral after being involved in a rather bizarre scuffle with Bristol City player David Bentley, showing the type of passion the Ibrox faithful would love to get behind.

In other news, find out what big transfer twist this Gers insider has now dropped here!

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that the Villans have considered loaning out striker Keinan Davis on more than one occasion.

Davis helped Villa turn things around against Fulham earlier this month after he came off the bench to assist Trezeguet’s second goal of the game which made it 2-1, before Ollie Watkins finally put the nail in the coffin.

Undoubtedly, it was a match where Davis showed his quality and what he has to offer, perhaps giving manager Dean Smith something to think about going forward.

Things, however, could have ended so differently, with Hendrie revealing that the 23-year-old has had opportunities to go out on loan.

On Davis, the ex-Villa player told FFC:

“I know they like him. I know they like him, hence they’ve kept hold of him. He could have gone out on loan a few times and they’ve kept hold of him. I know the striker situation has been a bit of an issue there, but when he’s come on he hasn’t let the team down.”

There is probably a long way to go until Davis can start to really stake a claim for a starting spot in Villa’s XI, with top scorer Watkins currently standing in his way.

However, as he showed against Fulham, the Englishman can certainly have an impact off the bench.

Many Everton fans have been left to laud a transfer update on Philippe Coutinho as Tz (via Marca) have reported that they are interested in signing him.As per the news outlet, the Goodison Park faithful are willing to make an offer of €40m (£34.8m), and the current financial pressures at FC Barcelona at the moment may mean that they will be forced to sell.Of course, the deal would have its own complications, given that Coutinho used to play for the Merseyside club’s local rivals Liverpool, but given how he excelled with the Reds, with whom he scored no fewer than 54 goals and made a further 45 assists in 201 games in total over all competitions across six consecutive seasons at Anfield (Transfermarkt), it would be one that several Toffees supporters would welcome with open arms. Everton fans on Coutinho transfer update

These Blues lauded the transfer update on Coutinho after it was shared on Twitter, with supporters saying ‘buy buy buy’ and another joking that the Brazilian would certainly be an upgrade on Fabian Delph.

“Give me Coutinho this instant omg”Credit: @Yaboiholo”Buy buy buy!”Credit: @miltyt”Take him any day of the week”Credit: @TiarnanEFC32″Should snap him up. Creativity we need”Credit: @JimMcCaffery6″Love this! Get him in!”Credit: @TalkBackEverton”All over this!!!.. we watched Delph come on at the weekend…..surely we can’t be saying no to this?”Credit: @fayemac_xIn other news, find out what EFC loanee was hailed for a recent display here!

Gio van Bronckhorst’s Rangers side were left frustrated as they failed to pick up all three points on their return to Premiership action this month.

The Gers were held to a 1-1 draw by Aberdeen in their first match after the winter break, with Lewis Ferguson’s second-half penalty canceling out Ianis Hagi’s goal in the first half.

Forget Goldson

One player who struggled in the match was central defender Connor Goldson, who received a SofaScore rating of 6.6 for his performance. He only completed 59% of his attempted passes and lost 100% of his ground duels as he failed to impress.

Elsewhere in the Premiership on the same night, Ibrox-bound defender John Souttar caught the eye with an excellent showing for Hearts. Rangers have agreed a deal to sign the centre-back at the end of the season when his contract at his current club officially expires and he is continuing to show off his superb form.

It has been reported that the Gers would be interested in bringing him to Glasgow this month instead of waiting until the summer and this latest display, coupled with Goldson’s unimpressive one, highlights exactly why they need to do it.

Souttar was given a SofaScore rating of 7.6 for his display against St. Johnstone, with the colossus winning 70% of his duels and completing 84% of his passes. He also completed 100% of his two dribble attempts and made one block, one interception and two tackles – as per SofaScore.

This shows the level of quality he can provide at this level and these are the kind of performances he could bring to Rangers, potentially replacing Goldson.

Gers sporting director Ross Wilson hailed the beast upon the announcement of the deal to sign him on a pre-contract earlier this month, saying:

“We are really looking forward to John joining Rangers and continuing his development under Gio, our coaching and support staff.

“John is a full Scotland international and has so much potential ahead for the coming years. I have really enjoyed getting to know John across all of our conversations so far and I can see how excited he and his family are to be joining Rangers. We are equally excited to welcome John to Ibrox.”

The Glasgow giants are evidently keen to see him playing for the club next season and now need to do all they can to bring him in during the current window. Goldson’s contract is up at the end of the campaign and the Gers cannot afford to allow performances like the one against Aberdeen to become common-place as he begins to think about where he will be playing next term.

Therefore, Wilson must strike an instant deal to get Souttar playing for Rangers this month instead of waiting until the summer.

AND in other news, 7 duels won: “Brilliant” Rangers gem with 100% dribble success was Gvb’s shining light…

Kemar Roofe’s strike for Glasgow Rangers against Standard Liege has received the Europa League’s Goal of the Season award.

The Lowdown: Roofe scores stunning strike

The Gers were 1-0 up against Belgian outfit Liege in their Europa League group stage match going into the final minute.

Then, Roofe produced a moment of magic, scoring a remarkable lob from his own half after skipping past a couple of players.

The Latest: Roofe wins Goal of the Season

As such, Roofe has won the Goal of the Tournament from UEFA.

He beat the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Dele Alli to the accolade – Alli’s stunning bicycle kick against Wolfsburg was only good enough for second place.

The Verdict: Deserved

It is hard to argue with the outcome of the award, no matter who you support. It was a truly wonderful moment from the £5.4m-valued 28-year-old (Transfermarkt), and it displayed the ability and skill the former Leeds United forward possesses. He will likely never score a better goal.

It was the icing on the cake for what has been a successful first season for Roofe at Ibrox. He netted 18 goals in 36 games in all competitions (Transfermarkt), helping the Gers win the Premiership along the way. He will be hoping for plenty more memorable European strikes as the 55-time Scottish champions embark on a Champions League campaign next time out.

In other news, Rangers are interested in this striker.

Football Insider pundit Kevin Campbell has been having his say on Celtic and Arsenal’s interest in goalkeeper Mat Ryan.  

The Lowdown: Celtic readying contract

Reports from Football Insider last week suggested that the Hoops are hoping to beat the Gunners in the race for the Brighton ‘keeper.

Ange Postecoglou’s appointment as Celtic boss provided a twist that could work in the Hoops’ favour, with the Scottish giants putting together a contract package.

The Seagulls are happy for Ryan to leave this summer, and Celtic have already picked out a specific shirt number – one.

The Latest: Campbell reacts

The 51-year-old, formerly of Arsenal, was asked if Ryan would be a welcome addition in Glasgow.

Campbell appeared desperate for his former side to win the race for the shot-stopper, who he described as ‘quality’.

“No, no, no, he’s coming to Arsenal.

“Of course, he would be a great signing for Celtic because he is a quality, reliable goalkeeper.

“I think Arsenal seriously need him and will go the extra mile to get him.

“They need to keep him because he has proven he can do the business. Beggars cannot be choosers at Arsenal, let me tell you.

“Arsenal have struggled in that department for some time. Ryan is a player that they have to get this summer.”

The Verdict: It could be a real coup

It seems as if Campbell would be upset if Celtic pipped Arsenal for Ryan’s services, so that just shows it could be a real coup for Postecoglou and the Hoops.

Vasilis Barkas, Scott Bain and Conor Hazard all failed to make themselves first choice after receiving chances last season, so a new goalkeeper could be a priority for Postecoglou.

He knows Ryan well during his time as Australia manager, making the 29-year-old his number one at the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Asia Cup, so bringing him to Scotland could help the 55-year-old put together a solid defensive base with an experienced player he already trusts.

In other news: ‘Have made a bid’ – Reliable reporter drops transfer development involving Celtic, find out more here. 

Leeds United are interested in signing Barcelona defender Junior Firpo this summer as their search for a new left-back continues.

The Lowdown: Leeds look for new left-back

Marcelo Bielsa will be eyeing up reinforcements throughout his squad in the summer transfer window, but left-back could be a priority position for the manager.

With Ezgjan Alioski’s future very much up in the air, additions in that area could be essential as Leeds look to continue their current rise.

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The Latest: Whites interested in signing Firpo

According to The Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth, the Whites are keen on bringing Firpo to the club, with the Spaniard being described as a ‘strong candidate’ at left-back. A number of other clubs are also interested in signing the 24-year-old, though, with Napoli mentioned in the report.

Firpo made just seven appearances for Barca in La Liga last season, struggling to oust first-choice left-back Jordi Alba from the starting lineup (Transfermarkt).

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The Verdict: Exciting left-back option

Firpo seems to be an ideal option for Leeds, given his age and style of play, with his peak years not likely to arrive for a while.

The Spaniard enjoyed an 89.7& pass completion rate in the league last season, which suggest that he could thrive in Bielsa’s possession-based system. Admittedly he wasn’t always tested defensively at Barca – he only averaged 0.1 tackles per game – but his tally of 1.8 for Real Betis in 2018/19 suggests he can thrive in that area when required.

Leeds could do a lot worse than considering a move for Firpo, who may want a move to a club where he might enjoy more regular game-time.

In other news, a pundit has claimed one Leeds player could be sold this summer. Find out who it is here.

Southampton have not had a particularly good start to their 2021/22 Premier League campaign, with four draws and three defeats in their opening seven games.

One player who has yet to get his season up and running for the Saints and who Ralph Hasenhuttl should be putting in his starting XI to face Leeds United in their next Premier League match is Stuart Armstrong.

On the chalkboard

Having returned to team training prior to Southampton’s previous Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after struggling with a calf muscle issue, we feel that the Scotland international should be in the starting XI to face Marcelo Bielsa’s side next week if he is fit enough to feature for his first match of this season.

Southampton signed Armstrong back in the 2018 summer transfer window from Celtic on a four-year deal for a fee of £7m.

Since then, the 29-year-old – who is currently earning a weekly wage of £50k-per-week according to Spotrac – has made 104 appearances for the Saints across all competitions, in which he has managed to score 14 goals and provide 11 assists.

Last season saw Armstrong, who was once labelled as a “role model” by Hasenhuttl, score four goals and provide five assists in the Premier League, ultimately earning him an overall season rating of 6.82/10, making him Southampton’s sixth-highest rated player according to WhoScored.

Looking ahead to the Leeds clash, we feel that he should definitely be in Hasenhuttl’s starting XI if he’s fit enough to play. He could even provide the team with a suitable replacement for James Ward-Prowse, who was given a red card in the Chelsea game, resulting in him being given a three-match ban.

Only three players contributed to more goals for the Saints last season. One is the suspended club captain and another is Danny Ings, who is no longer at St Mary’s. Therefore, the Austrian manager would certainly be wise to call upon the Scotland international to provide a cutting edge in the final third.

If Armstrong does play a part in the Leeds game and has a positive impact on the team in terms of contributing to a goal, we feel that he could potentially be the player to keep Southampton away from the relegation zone and save their season – if he is trusted to play regularly throughout the rest of the campaign and can match or exceed his 2020/21 goal contributions return.

Nonetheless, whether or not he plays a part against the Whites, we feel that this could still be a great opportunity for Southampton to grab their first league win of the season considering that Marcelo Bielsa’s team have also had a difficult start to their campaign.

In other news: Ralph could solve big Southampton issue with £12m “special talent”, fans would love it – opinion

Wolves winger Adama Traore may not be a good fit for Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds United, says Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield.

Traore has been heavily linked with a move to Elland Road this summer, with 90min recently reporting that the Yorkshire club are considering making a bid for the player.

When it came to delivering in the final third, Traore was not at his best last season, coming up with just four goal contributions in the Premier League.

Despite that, the £27m-rated 25-year-old still looks like he can bring an attacking threat to Leeds’ side. As per WhoScored, no player in English football’s top flight managed to average more dribbles per game than he did.

For Hatfield, though, Traore does not have all the requirements needed to play in a Bielsa team. The Wolves journalist told FFC:

“I’m not too sure whether he’s a Bielsa player to be brutally honest. I think there’s always been a couple question marks over not his work rate, but his defensive nous I’d say.

“And for Leeds, although they are, you know, all-out attack a lot of the time, I’m sure Bielsa wants his players tracking back and doing some defensive dirty work as well, which is not what Traore’s really known for.”

It is something to consider, but given how strong the Traore to Leeds links have been, it would definitely not be a surprise if the Whites did end up launching a bid for the Spain international.

Premier League champions Manchester City have been linked with a shock summer move for rumoured Sheffield Wednesday transfer target Kyle Hudlin.

The Lowdown: Owls linked with Hudlin move

The Owls have had a busy summer in the transfer window, bringing in 13 new players in order to aid their League One promotion bid.

One player who hasn’t joined yet but has been linked with a move to Hillsborough in recent months is Hudlin, who is a remarkable 6 foot 9 tall and has scored 10 goals in 36 appearances for National League side Solihull Moors.

The Latest: City emerge as shock suitors

A surprise update has now emerged, with The Athletic claiming that Manchester City are considering signing the striker, who has been reported as ‘the tallest outfield professional player in Britain’.

The Premier League giants have sent representatives to watch Hudlin in action, with Middlesbrough and Cardiff City also mentioned as possible suitors.

The Verdict: Surely not?

It remains to be seen whether Wednesday’s prior interest in Hudlin remains strong, but it would be a huge shock if he went to Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side are known for their huge spending and are keen on signing Harry Kane from Tottenham, who as England captain and a renowned Premier League goalscorer is a few levels above Hudlin, with the greatest of respect to the Solihull Moors marksman.

At 21, he does represent an exciting young prospect, though, and he could be a very useful option for Wednesday, given his extraordinary height and proven scoring ability. Perhaps the Owls remain more realistic candidates than Man City despite the Premier League champions’ apparent interest.

In other news, some Sheff Wed fans have criticised an Owls player despite their win over Doncaster Rovers. Read more here.