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According to 90min.com, Glasgow Rangers are interested in signing Hatayspor forward Aaron Boupendza.

Rangers eye Boupendza

Rangers are said to be eager to sign Boupendza, who currently plays in the Turkish Super Lig. However, there could well be plenty of competition to capture him, with eight English Premier League clubs also interested, as well as Celtic and Fenerbahce.

Hatayspor are said to be looking for a fee of around £8.5m to part ways with the Gabon international.

In form

Boupendza, an international teammate of Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, is enjoying a fantastic season in Turkey. In 28 games in all competitions, he has managed 18 goals (Transfermarkt), and he is actually the league’s top goalscorer above the likes of Vincent Aboubakar and Cyle Larin (ESPN).

Of course, £8.5m would be a lot for the Gers to pay to sign Boupendza – they have only twice spent more than that on new signings, and not since the 2001/02 season (Transfermarkt).

However, Alfredo Morelos has recently revealed he dreams of playing in the Premier League (Radio Caracol) – the Gers would likely bring in a considerable fee if he were to depart Ibrox this summer, and they would need to reinvest in another forward capable of finding the back of the net on a regular basis. Given his form this term, Boupendza could just be that man.

In other news, many Rangers fans slam this Union Bears statement.

Despite the scoreline of the game, Alex Iwobi let Carlo Ancelotti down as Everton beat Leeds United 2-1 on Wednesday night.

The Nigerian continued his run of opening the action for the Toffees from the right-flank at Elland Road, having established himself in the role over the festive period in the absence of James Rodriguez whilst the Colombian was sidelined with a calf injury.

Iwobi had impressed greatly from the right-wing during Everton’s 2-1 victory over Wolves last month by providing much of the Blues’ creativity and forward threat, but he was unable to replicate his Molineux exploits in West Yorkshire.

Iwobi initially looked powerful whilst enjoying pockets of space in Leeds territory as Everton controlled much of the early stages, keeping his head up to offer an attacking outlet.

Yet, the more the game wore on, the less involved Iwobi found himself, and ultimately he left Mason Holgate woefully exposed at right-back during a dogged defensive period in the second half, which saw Robin Olsen turn in an inspired display between the sticks to keep the Toffees ahead.

Holgate had been caught out by the Whites when his failed clearance ultimately led to Raphinha pulling one back for the hosts, with his precise strike halving the deficit created by goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Raphinha offering Leeds a route back into the game turned the tide in Leeds’ favour as it triggered a heavy flow of traffic only heading in one way – toward Olsen’s net – that on another day, could easily have seen Everton let a two-goal lead only result in a point.

Iwobi rarely played his part in thwarting Leeds’ efforts and he was fortunate to stay on the field until the 87th-minute when Ancelotti opted to replace the £23m-rated forward to hand Deadline Day arrival Joshua King his Toffees debut.

Iwobi was one of only two outfield Everton players who started at Elland Road to fail at registering a single tackle attempted, along with Sigurdsson. But unlike the goalscoring Iceland international, the former Arsenal attacker also failed to record an interception, per WhoScored.

It marks the third-straight Premier League fixture in which Iwobi has failed to register a single tackle, interception or clearance, while also committing his first foul since Everton’s 2-1 win at Wolves on January 12.

The 24-year-old has averaged at least 1.4 tackles attempted a game in the top-flight this term, and further lagged behind his usual standards with only one successful dribble from two attempts having boasted a 70.8% success rate this season for 1.7 from 2.4 attempts.

Iwobi further registered his only shot of the game in the final minutes of the first half, and offered his only key pass just after the half-hour mark. Goalkeeper Olsen also played a higher total number of passes (32) than the Nigerian (23).

Given Everton’s dominant first half and the volume of defending the Toffees were later forced into, Ancelotti will have expected to see far more from Iwobi at Elland Road at both ends of the pitch.

AND in other news, Carlo Ancelotti faces a continued problem in a £9m man after Everton’s January transfer failings…

Whether it was their time as a Premier League force, or the years spent toiling away trying to get out of the Championship, Leeds United have seen a lot of players come through the door.

Some carved out legendary careers and etched themselves into folklore, whilst others…well, it’s probably better left unsaid.

FootballFanCast have created a bumper quiz designed to test the knowledge of those die-hard Leeds fans who have been following the club week-in and week-out over the years.

Sure, faces like Mark Viduka and Ian Harte are recognisable to absolutely everyone. But how about those players who barely played a minute of football in a Leeds shirt, or those who came and went without a whisper?

See if you can put a name to these obscure faces, and truly prove once and for all that you’re the biggest Leeds fan going around!

Completed it? Why not share it with your friends and family and find out who the real Leeds United fans are!

Meanwhile, Leeds could find their Pablo Hernandez successor in this Scottish gem.

According to The Athletic’s Adam Leventhal, Sheffield Wednesday have approached Vladimir Ivic over the vacant managerial role at Hillsborough Stadium.

It’s claimed that representatives from the Owls made an enquiry to the unemployed 43-year-old boss at the end of December, around the time in which Tony Pulis was sacked after only 45 days at the helm.

The Serbian has been out of work since being fired himself at Championship rivals, Watford, though it is thought that he has remained in the UK, instead of returning to his home in Greece.

It is also thought that several teams have approached him across England and the Middle East, and Ivic is merely waiting for the right opportunity.

His short time at the Hornets should tell Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri all he needs to know about why this is a move that should be left at that approach.

Do not pursue him any more.

Ivic was described as “hard as nails, ruthless and a tough nut” upon his arrival at Vicarage Road in the summer, but that evidently didn’t correlate into results on the pitch.

He won nine of 20 matches, leaving them in fifth place but if the hierarchy at Watford didn’t think he was capable of leading them to glory with one of the most expensive squads in the division, then what’s to say he’d be fit for a relegation dogfight?

‘His overly defensive tactics have been unpopular with Watford fans, though, and the team’s style of play has not been easy on the eye,’ wrote the Guardian after his sacking.

Chansiri’s history with appointments should also provide clues into why Ivic should be avoided. Yes, there was a successful stint with Carlos Carvalhal, where the Owls finished in the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns, but his successor Jos Luhukay was some sort of antichrist to that.

Under the Dutchman, they finished in their lowest position in four seasons in 15th, and before the same could be repeated, he was sacked by Christmas.

What the Owls need is someone experienced not only this level, but in keeping teams up. 20 games at Watford isn’t going to be enough to convince you otherwise.

When there are candidates like Paul Cook out there, a man who would have achieved back-to-back survival bids at Wigan but for a points deduction, then names like Ivic shouldn’t be considered.

It’s heading down an all too familiar and dangerous path.

If Chansiri is to listen to his advisors on this one, then Wednesday are on the verge of disaster.

AND in other news, 31 y/o “midfield enforcer” could be a game-changer for Sheffield Wednesday

Marcel Brands must not entertain Paris Saint-Germain targeting a second loan spell for Everton striker Moise Kean this summer.

What’s the word?

According to ESPN, PSG Sporting Director Leonardo is expected to target free agents and loan deals during the next off-season with funds likely to be tight at Le Parc des Princes.

The Ligue 1 giants have been hit as hard as any other club by the coronavirus pandemic, and will pursue deals for soon-to-be free-agents such as Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, Olympique Lyonnais striker Memphis Depay and Bayern Munich defender David Alaba.

PSG also hope to strike a deal with Everton to retain Kean beyond his season-long loan, but could be forced to push for a second temporary spell which this time features an option to buy.

Kean moved to the French capital in October in a deal that does not include any purchase clauses, optional or obligatory, and Everton are expected to demand around £70m to part with the former Juventus forward at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

The striker endured a troubled debut year at Goodison Park having only managed to score two goals in 33 games across all competitions, while also being the subject of Marco Silva’s wrath after arriving late for a team meeting.

But he has turned things around in Paris, netting 15 times and providing one assist in 27 appearances, while Mauricio Pochettino has lauded the 20-year-old by noting: “We are very happy with everything he does.”

Should Everton loan Kean to PSG again?

If Leonardo cannot afford to match Everton’s demands for the sale of Kean to Paris Saint-Germain this summer, Brands cannot entertain the Ligue 1 giants request for a second season on loan if the deal will only include an option to purchase in 2022.

Kean – who Silva described as a “clever boy” – is proving in France the threat that he can offer to Carlo Ancelotti back at Goodison Park next season, having hit goals against top and bottom tier opposition including FC Barcelona in the Champions League and OGC Nice in Ligue 1.

If those efforts still have not impressed Ancelotti, who oversaw both of Kean’s two Blues goals last season, then Everton must use his rejuvenated form to sell while the £53,000-per-week forward’s stock is at its highest and make profit on the £25m rising to £27.5m paid to Juventus.

The Toffees will likely need to reinvest any profit made from the Italy internationals’ departure to strengthen Ancelotti’s options in the off-season, with goals from centre-forwards other than top-scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin thin and far between this term.

Joshua King is yet to score in royal blue after four appearances following his deadline day arrival, and needs to impress if the Merseyside club are to take up their option to keep the summer free-agent on a longer-term deal.

Only two of Richarlison’s 10 goals in all competitions this term have come through the centre, as well, with the Brazilian most lethal when fielded on the wing and able to cut inside onto his favoured right-foot.

Cenk Tosun may have scored twice since re-joining Besiktas on loan last month, but only hit home once in seven outings for Everton this term following cruciate ligament surgery and is currently sidelined with a knee injury.

Ancelotti cannot rely on King or Tosun, in particular, providing Calvert-Lewin with competition next term. So, if Kean is not the answer, Everton must sell or guarantee funds for the forward this summer.

AND in other news, Everton are likely to sell a £6.5m-rated dud this summer after pricing him out of a January move…

Aston Villa enjoyed another weekend off from Premier League action after their Friday night encounter with Newcastle United was postponed amid an outbreak in Steve Bruce’s Toon camp.

The pause in the campaign afforded Dean Smith the chance to rest some of his weary legs and set about putting together a game plan he hopes will see the Villans beat West Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers when his side next take to the field.

One name the Villa boss must ensure is on the coach to Molineux come Saturday is teen wonder Jacob Ramsey, with Smith rarely opting to unleash the young star who Academy Manager Sean Kimberley believes boasts “undoubted technical ability”.

Ramsey has not been seen on the field for a Premier League fixture in three months having played the sole 13 minutes of his 2020/21 campaign as a late substitute in Villa’s 3-0 win over Fulham on September 28.

Smith recalled the 19-year-old to the bench for last Monday’s defeat at West Ham United but opted against handing the attacking midfielder his latest senior outing, following a frequent role in the Villans’ EFL Cup efforts.

Ramsey started all three Carabao Cup ties as the Villa Park natives progressed through to the Fourth Round before losing at home to Championship side Stoke, yet offered glimpses of his potential with an assist away to Bristol City days before making his Premier League debut at Craven Cottage.

Ramsey’s progression through to the senior fold has seen him rarely turn out in the junior ranks, with just two appearances in the EFL Trophy and no outings in the Premier League 2 thus far this term.

Villa have high hopes for the England U20 international’s future in Birmingham and Smith has placed him firmly in the first-team fold to help realise that potential, with the Villans boss and his coaching team casting a careful eye over Ramsey in training.

But despite considering him to be a first-team figure now, Smith is yet to truly unleash Ramsey and must start doing so with Villa’s form nose diving from the early promise that took them to second place in the table with four wins from four.

The Villans have claimed just one win in the five league games that followed October’s narrow 1-0 win over Leicester and the 7-2 victory at home to Liverpool is now a memory looking all the more remarkable.

Smith has not been helped by his midfielders being unable to offer a consistent level of creativity, with John McGinn offering no key balls in defeat to Leeds, Bertrand Traore uncreative in defeat to Southampton and Trezeguet without a key pass in the victory over Arsenal as Ross Barkley penned six only to get injured during the defeat to Brighton.

McGinn again failed to provide a key ball in defeat at West Ham as Conor Hourihane similarly struggled before being replaced by Traore, who took just 18 touches but could only achieve one successful dribble as a point of merit.

The struggles of Smith’s more favoured options should ensure a place in his matchday squad is reserved for Ramsey come Saturday and allow the youngster of “undoubted” talent the chance to prove himself, even just from the bench.

AND in other news, Johan Lange and Aston Villa must bite the bullet on one-time £40k-p/w Dean Smith favourite.

After a momentary blip, Glasgow Rangers seem to be back on track to stopping Celtic from winning ten in a row.

Steven Gerrard’s side have now won three games on the trot including a victory over Premiership rivals Hibernian at home.

With the transfer market set to open its doors in a matter of days, Rangers have set themselves up nicely to strengthen their squad, as they currently sit at the top of the table, 14 points clear of Neil Lennon’s side.

What’s the word?

But their newfound momentum has largely failed to cover up the cracks and in January, Ross Wilson needs to iron out their issues once and for all.

He will need to look no further than their shortage of wide options with Ryan Kent heavily linked with a move to Leeds United in the summer. Although a move never materialised in the end, that has done little to dampen the transfer rumours amid rife speculation about his future at Ibrox.

It’s no secret Rangers need a new left-winger and they may have found their answer already playing in the lower leagues of French football.

According to FootMercato, the Gers are interested in signing Billal Brahimi from Stade Reims and the Ligue 1 side are open to offloading the former France U19 international.

However, they will face stiff competition from the Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1, amid interest from Lens and Stuttgart.

Gerrard’s plan B

The 20-year-old has been in prolific form on loan at Le Mans this season, providing six goals and two assists in 12 appearances, via Transfermarkt.

Gerrard will be under no illusions that he needs to improve his quality in the wide areas as both Brandon Barker and Jordan Jones simply aren’t up to scratch.

Wilson may be best served sanctioning a move for Brahimi as not only would he be an adequate backup for the Oldham-born winger, but he’d also offer an alternative threat in attack as well, as he can also play on the right wing or in the midfield.

Having left Middlesbrough for Reims, Brahimi is finally starting to show signs of living up to his obvious potential – six goals in 16 outings is certainly nothing to sniff at, while he has become known for his electrifying pace off the left wing in the French lower leagues.

He has even insisted he has modelled his game on the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Leroy Sane and Gareth Bale.

The Frenchman previously told FootMercato “If I work hard and well, I hope to be able to play in the Premier League one day. I have three models – Riyad Mahrez, Leroy Sane and Gareth Bale.”

If Kent does depart Ibrox in the not too distant future, it’s fair to say that Brahimi could help to fill the void.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers left-winger Ryan Kent was far from his very best against Hibernian…

Loads of Everton fans have been reacting to former West Ham United, Chelsea and England international goalkeeper Rob Green’s view on Robin Olsen and what it means for Jordan Pickford.

Writing in his column for BBC, Green thinks that Pickford should not be threatened by the arrival of Olsen, who joined the Merseyside club on loan on transfer deadline day.

However, he did say that Olsen could provide some competition to Pickford and may even replace him as the number one in between the sticks at Goodison Park should he impress Carlo Ancelotti in training.

Pickford was guilty of an error that lead to a goal for Neal Maupay’s strike for Brighton last weekend in the Premier League, which luckily did not prove costly as the Toffees ran out 4-2 winners in the end.

Olsen made zero errors leading to goals while playing in Serie A last term and so is perhaps a more reliable option than Pickford in this sense, but Green believes that the Sweden international has not been bought to replace the 26-year old as the number one for the Blues.

These Everton supporters reacted to Green’s claim on Twitter:

Evertonians, would you drop Pickford for Olsen? Comment below with your views!

Writing on Twitter, reliable Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold heaped praise on midfielder Tanguy Ndombele as the one ‘real ray of light’ after his first-half performance against West Brom at the Hawthorns.Â

Ndombele, who impressed during a somewhat lacklustre first 45 minutes, made two key passes over that time whilst standing out above the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Gareth Bale – with that front trio tipped to take the game by storm.

Ndombele praise

However, during the first period, one man who really stood out for Gold was Ndombele – and the journalist called him a ‘real ray of light’ for his brilliant showing after he has seemingly been rejuvenated under Jose Mourinho.

Spurs went through a scare with the star man going down in a lot of pain at one stage, and was substituted soon after, with supporters potentially hoping it isn’t serious.

A report by Get French Football News earlier in the summer claimed both the Frenchman and Mourinho had a behind the scenes bust-up, with his future looking severely in doubt at one stage.

Transfer Tavern take

Signed for a club-record £53.8 million, a significant investment by chairman Daniel Levy, Spurs supporters could now be glad they’re currently seeing the very best of Ndombele after a brief spell of tension at the club.

Indeed, the ‘phenomenal’ 23-year-old has shone in a role more further forward recently in central attacking midfield, arguably a tactical masterclass by Mourinho which has allowed him to express his ability in a less shackled role.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Moussa Sissoko, the enforcers sitting just behind Ndombele, give license for the player to wreak havoc with his boundless energy and creativity.

After his first-half showing, as Gold says, it’s safe to assume Spurs won’t want to lose him.

In other news: Fans were in full reaction after Mourinho’s comments, find out more here.Â

Tottenham Hotspur have been tipped as a perfect landing spot for one Premier League star this week – and he’s been linked with a move to the club before…

What’s the word?

Speaking on talkSPORT’s ‘White and Jordan‘ show on Monday afternoon, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan claimed that Spurs would be the ideal destination for Eagles winger Wilfried Zaha to elevate his game.

He said:

“It hasn’t been a great season for Wilfried Zaha. Palace have a valuation for him I think is based on his talent. Some of the output he has given for Palace this season would not necessarily demand the same figure.

If you could get £60 million last year, you’re going to really struggle to get that now because his form hasn’t been what it was. He does want to go but I’m not entirely sure there’s a queue of clubs that will buy him.

I think, as much as it galls me, Tottenham is a place that would do Wilfried well.”

Two birds with one stone?

In the past, the north Londoners were mooted with interest in the 27-year-old, which includes a reported £12m bid back in 2016 and according to Steve Parish, who took over from Jordan, Zaha was a player Mauricio Pochettino was hugely keen on.

So much so that the former Spurs boss believed the Eagles sensation could be “the next Ronaldo”.

Zaha has since failed with moves to the likes of arch-rivals Arsenal as well as Everton due to the whopping £80m asking price and this summer, he has made it clear in his intentions to depart Selhurst Park.

The Sun now believe he could be available for just £30m, which should have Daniel Levy ready to pull the trigger as he’d solve a couple of issues at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Despite a below-par campaign, Zaha still contributed to seven goals whilst averaging a career-best 4.3 dribbles and 1.6 shots per game, via WhoScored.

His ability to play centrally as well as out wide should hint towards him being the perfect foil for Harry Kane whilst also being a genuine upgrade to Erik Lamela on the wing.

In the three previous seasons, the Eagles star had a part to play in at least 12 goals each term, which is substantially better than anything the Argentine has ever managed at Spurs.

It’s no wonder Roy Hodgson believes he’s a “game-changer” whilst Mikel Arteta dubbed Zaha “phenomenal” ahead of their meeting last term.

Spurs could have signed him 17 years ago aged ten, now they mustn’t pass up this opportunity as it’ll aid Jose Mourinho a lot during this hectic season.

AND in other news, Eight-figure swoop is already looking like shrewd business by Daniel Levy…