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Steven Gerrard has admitted he does not know what goes on in Glasgow Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos’ head.

Morelos an issue

Morelos is not currently in the best run of form. On paper, five goals from 13 games is far from disappointing, but it is worth mentioning that he has netted in just three matches in all competitions. Against Standard Liege on Thursday, he put in a terrible display which was roundly criticised by many supporters.

Speaking ahead of the match against Livingston, Gerrard admitted:

“I don’t know what goes on in his head – I wish I did. I think you have to appreciate what Alfredo brings to the team.

“You guys in the media judge him on goals, numbers and records, which is fine. You are doing your job.

“But I judge Alfredo on what he gives the team in and out of possession. Do the players want him in the team?

“Do they feel like they need him? Does he help in different ways? Of course we all want goals and that is a big part of his job.

“But just because he’s not on the scoresheet doesn’t mean he hasn’t done the job for the team or we’re not happy with the job he has given.”

Worrying issue

At his best, Morelos is a lethal striker, as he has shown with 82 goals in 151 games for the Ibrox outfit. However, he is a livewire whose temperament often gets the better of him. He has received seven red cards in three years in Scotland, whilst he was lucky to escape punishment for slapping Scott Brown on the back of the head in the Old Firm last weekend. He was even involved in the fracas after the match against Liege, despite being substituted previously.

The £13.5m-valued Colombia international (Transfermarkt) can be a liability, and if he is not concentrated on the matter at hand he has a tendency to do stupid things. Gerrard does not say this is the issue directly, but you get the feeling he is a player about whom the manager needs to worry a lot more than others.

In other news, Borussia Dortmund and Leeds United have joined the race for this 22-year-old Gers target compared to Luka Modric. Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Mike Ashley has given an update on the proposed takeover of Newcastle United as Lee Ryder relayed comments made by Steve Bruce on what the Sports Direct chief executive had told him, his members of staff and the players.

As per the journalist, Ashley was speaking via a conference on Zoom straight after their final game of the 2019/20 season, which ended in a 3-1 loss to the Premier League champions Liverpool at St. James’ Park.

Dwight Gayle had actually opened the scoring for the hosts inside the opening 30 seconds of the match before Virgil Van Dijk equalised for the Reds, with Divock Origi and Sadio Mane making sure of the victory.

However, the attention swiftly turned to the prospective £300m deal between Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) group, as the former reiterated that the approval of the bid is still in the hands of the Premier League and it has been the same for a number of weeks now.

Indeed, it may please some members of the Toon Army that the current owner has come out and shared what he has heard with regards to the takeover at the Tyneside club, but it would perhaps be laced with more frustration as it is seemingly no further to being approved by the Premier League.

With the campaign finished now for the Magpies, coincided with the summer transfer window officially opening, a final decision from the league will surely have to be made sooner rather than later so that Newcastle can start their plans for the next term. For now, they will be made to wait longer until an official announcement is made.

Geordies, does the Premier League need to make a decision on the takeover this week? Comment below with your views!

Sunderland have missed out on the chance of signing Charlie Goode after the former Northampton Town defender completed a switch to Championship side Brentford.

Black Cats manager Phil Parkinson will address a number of areas that need improvement in his squad this summer and the 52-year-old coach has already completed the signings of two players in Bailey Wright and Aiden O’Brien.

Following those deals, interest in Goode emerged last month after the defender had an impressive season with Northampton Town.

The former Cobblers captain led his team to promotion from League Two last month via the play-off final and those performances prompted transfer interest from a whole host of Championship and League One clubs.

However, Sunderland boss Parkinson has now missed out on the chance to sign the £1m-valued defender after news emerged about his move to Brentford.

BBC Sport confirm that the 25-year-old defender has completed an undisclosed switch to the Championship outfit.

The defender has agreed a four-year contract with the Bees and the transfer fee is reported to be a club record sale for Northampton.

“He is an aggressive defender and a big aerial threat in both boxes,” head coach Thomas Frank said on Brentford’s official website.

“He has good quality on the ball which we feel we can develop further within our style of play. We are sure he will grow with us over the coming years.”

Sunderland were never going to contend with the likes of Brentford for the signature of Goode, after all the Bees were Championship play-off finalists last season and will be amongst the favourites for promotion to the Premier League in 2020/21.

With the salary cap and financial restraints causing problems on Wearside, it remains to be seen just who Phil Parkinson can lure to the club.

Do you think Goode can become a consistent performer in the Championship? Let us know in the comments section below…

Burnley could be set to lose one of nine potential opponents in the race to sign Lyle Taylor this summer as Scottish Premiership side Rangers look to Rhian Brewster.

News emerged earlier this week on Sky Sports News claiming that Sean Dyche’s side are on a list of 10 clubs that are keen to make a move for Charlton Athletic striker Taylor.

Taylor has had a good season with the Addicks so far this term, netting an impressive 11 goals in 22 games in the Championship.

Having moved to Charlton in 2018 from AFC Wimbledon, the Greenwich-born striker was key to their successful promotion from League One via the play-off final last term.

The pending return of the Championship season was expected to see Taylor play a part for Charlton as they look to hold off the threat of relegation, but the 30-year-old has refused to feature again for the club and will now leave on a free transfer this summer.

A whole host of clubs are said to have shown interest with the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Bristol City, Brentford, Turkish side Sivasspor and Scottish side Rangers.

However, Rangers are now set to leave that list of clubs as they look to the potential of bringing in Liverpool youngster Brewster instead with former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan telling Football Insider that he expects Steven Gerrard to make a move.

This piece of news for Burnley boss Dyche could be perfect as out of all the clubs said-to-be interested in Taylor, Rangers would have been a big draw given the sheer size of the club and their history, being 54-time Scottish champions.

Of course, a move for Brewster may not happen and the Gers may re-enter the race. But if Dyche is clever, he could put together an attractive offer for the 30-year-old striker in the next couple of weeks and pip their rivals to his signature.

Do you think Burnley can pull off a move for Taylor? Let us know in the comments section below…

They may have left it late, but in the end, Leeds got the job done in their clash against Swansea.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side had to wait until the 89th minute to find an opener, with substitute Pablo Hernandez proving himself to be the hero.

And whilst the Whites picked up all three points and took another step towards clinching automatic promotion this season, one man’s performance certainly left a lot to be desired.

Can you name every one of the Leeds’ top goalscorers from the past 15 seasons? It’s a tricky one…

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Patrick Bamford has found himself the target of criticism from some Leeds fans this campaign for his performances, and on Sunday afternoon, did little to prove his critics wrong.

Aside from missing a couple of glorious chances, including one from a header, Bamford just couldn’t contribute to the game in any other way either.

In 99 minutes of action, he managed just 14 total touches of the ball, making only eight passes. Whilst playing as the lone man up top can often be a thankless task, the 26-year-old never really found himself involved in the build-up, often looking isolated.

And that frustration seemed to boil over on one too many occasion, committing four fouls. With Swansea lining up in a back-three, Bamford had his work cut out to try and keep them honest, but once again struggled to impose himself.

Out of just the five total duels he contested in the game, he lost every single one of them, and once again showed why the forward may find it difficult at Premier League level to be a reliable goal-scorer for Leeds.

Had it not been for Hernandez, there may have been a real outcry to Bamford’s performance. So even the fact the Whites ended up winning, shouldn’t see Bielsa turning a blind eye to the striker’s struggles once more.

If promotion is secured, the Leeds boss surely needs to be far more ruthless with the misfiring forward. Whether that’s dropping him to the bench for someone else, or even cutting their losses on him, Bielse needs to take stand.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are ready to offer Sepp van den Berg a new contract.

What’s the story?

The 17-year-old centre-back joined the Reds from Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle during the summer for an initial fee of £1.3m, rising to a potential £4.5m.

Now, it appears that they are already preparing to give him a new deal, with Jurgen Klopp being impressed by his development since making the switch.

Forget Ben White

In recent weeks and months, the Anfield outfit have been linked with a move for Leeds defender Ben White, who is currently on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion. The 22-year-old has impressed in the Championship, being a part of the best defence in the second tier that has conceded just 10 goals.

However, it is being said that the Seagulls value his services at over £20m. Whilst he certainly has talent, as he has been showing during his 19 appearances for the Whites – he has played in every single league match – that is a large fee to pay for someone who is yet to play in the Premier League, with this being his first season in the second division as well.

Not only that, Liverpool do not need to spend that much on a new player when they have a youngster with huge potential in the same position. He may still be just 17, but he has already made two appearances for his new club, both of them in the League Cup, and he is in line to make another when the Merseyside team face Aston Villa in the semi-finals later this month.

Those matches have not been his first taste of professional football, either – he already has 21 appearances to his name in the Eredivisie, with him making his debut as a 16-year-old for his former outfit.

Much harder than you’d think… Can you name Liverpool’s top scorers for each of these 25 seasons?

Why spend money on a new signing, and such a hefty fee at that, when you have a player who could do the same job in the not so distant future? In today’s day and age, there is often the temptation to part with considerable amounts of money as soon as a decent talent begins to impress.

In regards to White, Liverpool must not be trigger-happy, and should instead look closer to home. This new deal will hopefully see them reconsider their interest in the Elland Road centre-back.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are eyeing this versatile Serie A forward.

Speaking on BT Sport (as quoted by The Express), Owen Hargreaves has insisted Jose Mourinho is “perfect” for Tottenham’s desire to win trophies.

What did he say?

After parting ways with Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs turned to Mourinho as their new manager. And since taking over the reins at the club, the Portuguese boss has enjoyed a fine start, suffering his only blip in the Premier League to rivals Manchester United.

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And with the club in the last 16 of the Champions League after safely securing their passage from the group stage, Hargreaves believes Mourinho’s mentality is that he can go all the way in European football’s elite competition.

He said: “I think this is one of the reasons he picked Tottenham. He realises that with that group of players when everyone is fit and healthy that Tottenham are one of the strongest teams. He believes that with Harry Kane leading the line, Joleon (Lescott) is right, in these games Mourinho is at his absolute best.

Watch Spurs vs Brighton Live and Free with Amazon Prime on Boxing Day

“With his experience I think he will believe that he can knock any team out of the Champions League and that’s what Tottenham want. They want to win things and Mourinho is perfect for that.”

Winning mentality

Whilst it’s unfair to suggest Mourinho has a winning mentality and that Pochettino didn’t – after all the Argentine had to win big games to reach the final of the Champions League last season and reach the top four numerous times – the Portuguese man does have the added advantage of going all the way in cup competitions.

Spurs die-hards are getting 70% on this Ultimate Tottenham Quiz. Can you beat them?

Spurs have already shown that they can enjoy a fairy-tale journey in Europe, but perhaps needed just that added ruthlessness and know-how to get over the line. In Mourinho, and his pedigree of winning the Champions League with Porto and Inter, they have got a man who can provide them with exactly that.

Meanwhile, Tottenham fans have lauded this ace for his commanding display against Wolves.

Liverpool may have actually won the Champions League last year, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the final, but it was arguably their victory in the semi-final against Barcelona that was the best moment of their European run.

After the first leg, it didn’t seem the Reds had much chance of reaching the showpiece in Madrid. In the Camp Nou, they lost 3-0, with Lionel Messi leading the thumping with a brace.

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However, the return match at Anfield will go down in the club’s history. Even without both Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, the Merseyside outfit managed to win 4-0, with Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum scoring two goals apiece. Comebacks like that don’t come around too often.

Now, the club’s suppporters have been reminded of that great night following a clip shared on Barcelona’s official Twitter account. In a trailer for Rakuten TV show “Matchday”, Gerard Pique’s wife Shakira is seen reacting to Wijanldum’s second goal, which put the Reds level on aggregate.

As you would expect, the fans enjoyed watching the video. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments below.

After joining for just £15m from Championship side Swansea in the summer, Daniel James has hit the ground running at Manchester United. The Wales international’s arrival at the club was arguably overshadowed by the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire signing in deals worth more than £100m combined.

But the winger has ensured that he has not been left out of the topic of conversation, quickly establishing himself as a permanent fixture in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. He has already made 18 appearances across all competitions, and has netted three times and provided a further four assists too.

However, in Sunday afternoon’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa, the 22-year-old produced one of his worst displays in a United shirt so far. The former Swansea made struggled to get into the game, and was well marshalled by Matt Targett down the right-hand side for the Red Devils.

As per Sofascore, he lost possession 18 times over the course of the game, whilst he also appeared to be overawed by the physical contest of his battle with the Villa defence, winning just one of his ten total duels. The Welshman’s searing pace means he thrives in games where there is plenty of space to run into, but Dean Smith’s side’s compactness ensured he could not exploit that – a fact United fans felt seriously limited just how effective James could be in general.

And with reports in recent weeks and months suggesting Borussia Dortmund sensation Jadon Sancho is on the club’s radar for a potential move to Old Trafford, United fans pointed to James’ display against Villa as more reason why they desperately needed to secure the services of the England international.

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Some Red Devils fans felt James should be confined to coming off the bench and as an impact player, and felt he didn’t have the required quality to be a starting winger for the side.

With a busy schedule ahead of the January transfer window opening, it will be very interesting to see whether Solskjaer feels as strongly as some United fans in either benching James, or potentially bringing in a superstar like Sancho to take his place.

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Not bad for someone who’s playing out of position.

Nottingham Forest have had a bit of bad luck when it comes to the right-back position this season.

Tendayi Darikwa suffered a ruptured ACL during pre-season, and Carl Jenkinson has been suffering with an ankle injury for a number of weeks.

Thankfully though they have managed to get by thanks to the displays of 22-year-old Matty Cash.

A right-winger by nature, he has had to play at full-back for the majority of the games this season but has really made the position his own as demonstrated during the victory over Luton Town on the weekend.

So when the Nottingham Forest Twitter account pointed out that he made 11 tackles over the course of the game (stats provided by WhoScored), Forest fans were quick to jump to praise him not just for his display last Saturday, but for his overall performances in 2019/20.

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Although there were a couple of people who decided it was more down to the boss that he’s managed to make this work rather than Cash himself.