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Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left fuming as some early team news emerged on Ryan Jack ahead of their game at home to Hearts on Saturday.

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match at Ibrox, Steven Gerrard has now revealed that Jack ‘will be back in a couple of weeks’, meaning that he is going to miss yet another fixture.

These are words all too familiar to Light Blues supporters with regards to the midfielder, of whom Gerrard claimed was a ‘couple of weeks’ way from being integrated back into the group last month.

Jack is an important player for the Teddy Bears, making 19 appearances in the Scottish Premiership on their way to the title last term, scoring two goals and supplying one assist (Transfermarkt).

Thus, it is understandable to see several Gers growing more impatient with regards to when exactly he will back.

Rangers Fans on Jack Team News

These RFC fans fumed as the Team News from Gerrard regarding Jack was shared on Twitter:

“Friday ruined”

Credit: @smithy_1872

“Jack has been a couple of weeks away for the last 3 months”

Credit: @Ross_Herkes1

“Feel like I’ve heard this sentence for 3 months”

Credit: @JacobMcArthur18

“Jack back “in a couple of weeks” – that seems to be the update every time.”

Credit: @Ggoggsie

“Said it many times…. Horrendous decision to waste a Europa squad space on him! Rossiteresque”

Credit: @bluedougie

“Swear Jack has been a few weeks away from returning for about 6 months. The new Jordan Rossiter.”

Credit: @Shanksy1872

In other news, find out what club update has Gers gushing here!

Tottenham Hotspur begin their quest for glory in Europe with a trip to Nuno Santo’s home country to face Liga Primeira outfit Pacos de Ferreira in a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier later this evening.

In order to make the group stage of the competition, the north Londoners must see off the Portuguese outfit over two legs, with the return fixture scheduled for next week.

Pacos, who are nicknamed ‘The Beavers’, played as recently as Monday when they recorded their first defeat of the season. Meanwhile, Spurs got off to the perfect start, defeating defending Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.

However, none of the 11 that started the 1-0 victory are expected to start at the Estadio Capital do Movel Stadium, as the Lilywhites head coach confirmed during his pre-game press conference. He’ll also be without Harry Kane, who continues to ramp up his preparations following his late return to training.

In fact, Spurs are expected to travel with a relatively young crop of players and with some that are lacking game time. It leaves the 47-year-old with some interesting thoughts over his team selection but there’s one name he must start – to benefit the squad on the night, and for the remainder of the 20201/22 campaign.

Summer signing Cristian Romero made his brief debut from the bench on Sunday, replacing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the final minute of the game to help shore up the defence to guarantee three points.

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In the absence of Joe Rodon, who is out through injury, and of course, the expected exclusion of Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier, who started at the weekend, Nuno will need someone to step up in defence and lead the side.

After all, that’s kind of why the Argentina international has been brought in. A lack of cohesion and individual mistakes let the club down last season, so they cannot afford to continue that trend in a competition that could be there for the taking.

Romero led the Serie A for interceptions per game (3.1) in 2020/21, whilst his overall performance on the pitch saw him clinch the ‘Defender of the Year’ award in the competition.

“He has been phenomenal as he won the MVP award for the best defender in Serie A,” claimed Italian football expert Conor Clancy to This is Futbol. “When he has the ball, his distribution and passing is so, so good. Romero can pick out a 50-yard pass onto the foot of a striker perfectly but it’s something that goes a little bit unnoticed because his defensive work is so good and he is a top, top defender.”

A further game average of 3.6 aerial duels won, two tackles and a 86.2% passing accuracy, via WhoScored, makes the £31.5m-rated colossus a scary prospect for any side and this time on the pitch could be valuable towards his chances of becoming Nuno’s regular starter in the coming weeks.

Furthermore, the 6 foot 1 beast’s presence alone should be enough to strike fear into the Pacos frontline, one that has found the net six times in their last two home outings.

The 23-year-old must be unleashed from the off this evening. It could be the difference-maker for Spurs, who should be targeting silverware in this very tournament.

AND in other news, Spurs make “complete” £36m-rated beast their “top” target, Nuno would love him…

A number of West Ham supporters have been hailing a host of Hammers youngsters after they played against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League.

David Moyes’ side faced a dead rubber contest in Europe on Thursday evening, having already secured qualification into the knockout stages.

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It afforded Moyes the luxury of naming a much-changed starting lineup at the London Stadium but it was one that had more meaning to it than normal.

During the night, a total of eight academy graduates took to the field, while there were also five full debutants and two debutants, as highlighted by an official club post.

It was further proof that West Ham are going in the right direction both on and off the pitch, despite the 1-0 defeat, as the latest batch of Hammers youngsters look to mark their mark.

West Ham fans hail youngsters

These fans took to Twitter to react to their efforts.

“My club”

Credit: @darrenpasley79

“Wow what a picture!”

Credit: @jackcoyi1

“Future is bright”

Credit: @deskamiya

“Massive”

Credit: @Razek_76

“Proud of the boys, COYI”

Credit: @MarcinPochojka

“Brilliant display from majority of them tonight so proud”

Credit: @RyanHil98488904

In other news, a reliable reporter has made a transfer claim regarding one West Ham target. Find out who it is here.

With Everton currently enduring a seven-game winless run, speculation surrounding the future of new manager Rafa Benitez has already begun to circulate.

What’s the story?

Previously reports suggested that Nuno Espirito Santo was the frontrunner to replace the under-pressure 61-year-old, but now there appears to be a new candidate at the front of the queue.

According to journalist Colin Walker, former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is the ‘favourite’ to succeed Benitez at Goodison Park following a string of below-par results.

In a concise six-word update, he tweeted: “Frank Lampard – Favourite for Everton job.”

Everton fans should be excited

Benitez only arrived on Merseyside in the summer after Carlo Ancelotti returned to La Liga giants Real Madrid, and things got off to a good start for the experienced tactician.

A run of just one defeat in Everton’s opening seven Premier League fixtures sparked hope of a push for European football after years of midtable obscurity, but multiple injuries to key players sparked a dreadful downturn in performances.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina and Abdoulaye Doucoure have all faced extensive spells on the sidelines due to fitness concerns, although Benitez will be disappointed with how his side have coped in their absence.

The Blues have picked up only two points from a possible 21 in recent weeks, scoring just four goals and conceding a whopping 13 times, dropping them down to 14th position in the top-flight table.

As a result, potential replacements are now being lined up for Benitez, a former Champions League-winning coach, and Lampard is believed to be the first-choice candidate.

Although the 43-year-old is relatively inexperienced, he has illustrated his potential to become a top-class manager during spells at Derby County and Chelsea, achieving a 50% win rate from his 141 games in the dugout.

The retired England midfielder also cultivated an enviable reputation for blooding young stars, overseeing the development of Mason Mount, Reece James and Tammy Abraham, while also playing an attractive style of football.

For those reasons, Everton supporters should be excited at the prospect of Lampard joining the club, potentially providing new life into a campaign that is quickly becoming a nightmare.

And, in other news…Rafa could solve major EFC issue with “sensational” 18y/o gem whose “future is bright”

Former Rangers player Michael Ball believes that whilst Gary Cahill would be a good addition to Rangers, he wouldn’t necessarily walk straight into the side.

Cahill is a free agent after his contract expired at Crystal Palace and, according to The Sun, the veteran defender is being considered by the Scottish Premiership champions.

Rangers were solid defensively last season, conceding just 13 goals on their way to the Scottish Premiership title, and began the new campaign with a 3-0 success against Livingston at the weekend.

With his experience, Cahill could be a good addition to the team, but he wouldn’t necessarily get a starting berth from the off, according to Michael Ball.

“You want guys who are going to be hungry and improve the squad and I think Gary Cahill would.

“He’s got that type of character, he’s a leader and would help Steven Gerrard and the Rangers team like Jermain Defoe did with his experience, but would it be a given he actually walk straight in the side? I’m not so sure, I think centre-half is a strong one for Rangers right now,” Ball exclusively told Football FanCast.

Rangers were beaten by Malmo on Tuesday in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, a trophy which Gary Cahill lifted with Chelsea in the 2011/2012 season, and will be looking to bounce back from that loss and progress in the second leg at Ibrox next week.

Writing on Twitter, journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Athletic has shared big news coming of Tottenham Hotspur involving Son Heung-min’s mooted new deal.

The Lowdown: Son committing?

Tottenham have long been touted to extend Son’s stay in north London with reports as far back as October last year detailing a bumper contract offer was on the table (Football Insider).

However, amid the coronavirus pandemic and all the financial complications which accompany the crisis, Spurs put new deal talks with the 28-year-old on hold until they were in a more stable position (Evening Standard).

The Latest: Athletic reporter shares big update…

Writing on Twitter, Pitt-Brooke has now shared a big update on the situation after an off-field financial development.

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Indeed, Spurs have paid back their £175 million loan from the Bank of England through a private placement scheme organised by Bank of America (The Athletic).

Tottenham have raised £250 million through BOA, effectively ‘converting short term debt into long term refinancing’, and Pitt-Brooke believes that has now put the club ‘in position’ to confirm Son’s new deal.

“Tottenham repay £175million Bank of England loan, putting them in position to confirm new Son Heung-min contract.” he explained on social media.

The Verdict: Big news for Spurs…

Tying down superstar Son to a fresh contract is, arguably, the most crucial thing on Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici’s to-do list apart from finding a new manager.

The South Korea forward enjoyed the season of his life at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over 2020/2021 and was only second to Harry Kane in terms of importance.

As per WhoScored, he tallied a very impressive 17 goals and 10 assists for Spurs in the Premier League alone whilst averaging the most key passes per 90 (2) out of any Lilywhites player.

His fine form was rewarded with a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year ahead of some very stiff competition, beating the likes of Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.

Securing his future is certainly a non-negotiable and this update provides real encouragement.

In other news: Spurs will now swoop for £31.5m-valued ‘leader’ with Paratici calling, find out more here.

Leicester City will be hoping to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League when they host champions Manchester City this afternoon.

The Foxes pulled off an astonishing 5-2 victory over the Cityzens at the Etihad Stadium last season, as well as defeating them in last month’s Community Shield, and Brendan Rodgers may be able to repeat the trick at the King Power Stadium this time around.

After the likes of Patson Daka, Boubakary Soumare and Jannik Vestergaard arrived in the Midlands over the summer transfer window, Leicester’s recruitment got even better on deadline day when Ademola Lookman signed on a season-long loan deal from RB Leipzig.

The 23-year-old impressed with Fulham last season, bagging four goals and providing four assists in 34 top-flight appearances, and Rodgers is looking forward to working with the youngster this time around.

“I’m really excited about working with Ade. He’s a top talent. I wanted to take him to Celtic when he was at Charlton. I was aware of him when he was 15,” he said in Thursday’s press conference.

“He has all the tools; he has a great dribbling ability, how he views the game, he has an eye for a goal. My hope is that this environment will give him a chance to flourish. Hopefully, he can find a home here. I have no doubt the supporters will be excited by him.”

Lookman could get a first chance to impress his new fanbase when Pep Guardiola brings his charges to the King Power Stadium, with Rodgers confirming that the former England under-21 international is available for selection.

“He’s available. He looks fit and strong. If he doesn’t start, he may play some part in the game,” the Northern Irishman revealed.

Although Lookman prefers to be on the left wing, allowing him to cut inside on his stronger right foot and unleash efforts on goal, Harvey Barnes’ presence on that flank could see him fielded in a more unusual role.

“He can play in a number of positions. His preferred position is off the left side. He can play on the inside as well and on the right. He’s very balanced,” Rodgers admitted.

Therefore, the former Liverpool boss must take advantage of his new signing’s versatility and unleash him against Manchester City today.

With Ayoze Perez unavailable through suspension, this could be the ideal game for Lookman to get used to his new surroundings without any great pressure to perform, and he could inspire the Foxes to another memorable victory over Guardiola’s side.

In other news… Get it done: Leicester make contact over £30m wizard, he’s a “great talent” 

The work that Rafa Benitez completed in the summer transfer market was hardly going to get many Everton fans excited.

They signed five players throughout the window with an accumulative spend of just £1.7m. Finances were evidently restricted but what hasn’t helped is some diabolical expenditure over the last five or six years at Goodison Park.

During the course of the 2017/18 campaign, the Toffees spent a jaw-dropping sum of £182.88m. They followed that up in 2018/19 by thrashing out £89.82m on new players, and then in 2019/20, they took their spending to just shy of £110m.

2020/21 was a little more reserved at £67.38m but it was still a sizeable outlay, especially when you consider how little they had in their reserves over the last few months.

They had to look towards free transfers for the most part, but fortunately the only player on whom they spent any money has hit the ground running.

Demarai Gray has two goals in his first three outings and has looked in fine form with some exciting performances, but the same can’t be said for a lot of their more expensive signings.

Take Alex Iwobi, for instance, a man who cost the club around £34m when he signed from Arsenal in the summer of 2019.

The Nigerian was an inconsistent player for the Gunners but had plenty of potential and was an experienced Premier League player despite his tender age.

However, the winger has been a costly mistake for the Merseyside club. Iwobi isn’t even a regular starter at Goodison Park, and due to his shoddy performances, his value has fallen by £14.2m in two years. As per Transfermarkt, he’s now rated at just £19.8m.

Marcel Brands is a keen negotiator but he will have every right to be fuming with the attacker for being such an expensive error.

Since signing for the club, the £100k-per-week earner has provided just five goals and five assists in 69 outings. That means that Iwobi has cost the club £6.8m per goal.

On that evidence, it’s hardly a surprise to see that he was described as “embarrassing” by the Liverpool Echo’s David Prentice last season.

The winger has looked a little more promising in the early weeks of 2021/22, registering an assist against Southampton, but he has still done little to prove that he deserves a regular berth in the team.

Brands should be particularly concerned with how this investment has played out over the last few years.

AND in other news, Benitez must axe £15k-p/w “horror show”, he should never play for Everton again…

Queens Park Rangers winger Albert Adomah is considering his future at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football League World, who claim that the 33-year-old is considering his options ahead of the upcoming transfer window after a disappointing campaign in west London.

The report goes on to state that a number of Championship sides, including the likes of Bristol City, Derby County, Luton Town and Birmingham City, are keeping a close eye on the situation of the Ghana international ahead of a potential summer move.

Adomah must go

While there was a great deal of fanfare surrounding Adomah’s move from Nottingham Forest to QPR back in October, due to the £900k-rated forward’s obvious affection for the club, it would be a difficult argument to make that the 33-year-old had a good season for Mark Warburton’s side.

Although Adomah went on to feature 34 times in the Championship this term, it quickly became apparent that the former Aston Villa man was not a part of Warburton’s regular starting XI, with only seven of his league appearances coming as starts.

Over these appearances, the £13k-per-week winger hardly set the world alight, scoring two goals, registering five assists and creating seven big chances for his teammates, seeing him earn a rather disappointing seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.74 – ranking him as QPR’s joint 11th-worst performer in the second tier this season.

As such, considering the fact that Adomah is the Rs’ joint highest-paid player at present, his returns do not justify his rather hefty weekly wage, leading us to believe that it would be a very wise move for Amit Bhatia to move the player whom Dean Smith claimed gives full-backs “real trouble” onto pastures new this summer.

Furthermore, with exciting youth prospects such as Ilias Chair and Chris Willock coming through at QPR – both of whom are comfortable operating from the wing – regularly playing a 33-year-old Adomah ahead of the youngsters could stunt their growth in Warburton’s side.

So, despite the romance of the winger playing for the club that he so clearly loves, a move away from the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium this summer may be the best option for all parties.

In other news: Get it done: Bhatia must sanction QPR swoop for “unplayable” 17 G/A beast this summer

Callum Wilson may not be a ‘main player’ at Newcastle United going forward, insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport. 

The lowdown

Wilson hasn’t featured for Newcastle in 2022, having sustained a calf injury in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United at the end of December.

Prior to that, he’d started every game for which he was available in the early months of the campaign.

Despite his lengthy absence, Wilson remains the Magpies’ top scorer with six goals, and he also led the way last season with 12.

The Englishman said recently that he hoped to be back in action by the end of this month, or the beginning of May.

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The latest

Jones says that Newcastle are keen to get Wilson back in the side, but raised doubts about his longevity at St James’ Park.

“They obviously want him back, but I don’t think Callum Wilson is going to be a main player in this team next season, to be honest,” he said.

The verdict

This comes as something of a surprise given Wilson’s goalscoring exploits.

Graeme Jones, who took charge of Newcastle in the brief period between Steve Bruce’s sacking and Eddie Howe’s arrival, has labelled the ‘fantastic’ no. 9 ‘the best matchday finisher’ he’s coached.

What’s more, his £25million replacement Chris Wood has struggled, scoring only one non-penalty goal across his first 14 appearances.

However, the Magpies seem to have their eyes on recruiting younger talent in the position.

They’ve been linked with 19-year-old Reims striker Hugo Ekitike and 22-year-old Benfica hitman Darwin Nunez, and these may be the kind of forwards they want to build around.

In other news, Chris Waugh has a key update on Matt Targett.