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Danny Welbeck would be the perfect late addition to David Moyes’ squad as West Ham United reportedly court the former England international following his release by Watford.

What’s the word?

According to Irons icon Frank McAvennie, while speaking with Football Insider, West Ham are looking into the potential of luring Welbeck to the London Stadium following the 29-year-old’s departure from Watford.

The Hornets agreed to mutually terminate Welbeck’s £100,000-per-week contract following their relegation to the second-tier through a dire need to cut their wage bill, having not written a pay reduction clause into his three-year terms.

Welbeck’s lucrative salary had made Watford’s quest for potential buyers challenging and ultimately had to pay the forward off, which could come to West Ham’s aid should the Irons indeed be interested.

“I have heard, and I am not sure whether it is true or not, that they are looking to sign Welbeck,” McAvennie has claimed.

The Irons icon is not confident that Welbeck would be the right signing, however.

“They have just let one sick note go in Jack Wilshere, why would you want to get another one in?” he added. “There is no doubting the boy’s ability, but he is off the field more than he is on.

“It is a bit like Andy Carroll. They have just got rid of Jack Wilshere, why do they want another one who is not there every week. People get injuries, but some get more than their fair share and, unfortunately, Welbeck is one of them.”

Welbeck featured in 18 of Watford’s Premier League games as they were ultimately relegated last season, scoring twice and assisting once while missing three months through a hamstring injury sustained in October.

The perfect Anderson replacement?

While injuries have stuck with Welbeck for much of his career, having missed 27 of Arsenal’s Premier League fixtures through a broken ankle during his final campaign at the Emirates in 2018/19, the former England forward could be the perfect addition to strengthen Moyes’ offence now that the international transfer window has closed.

Moyes is without West Ham’s former club-record signing Felipe Anderson after the £36m attacker joined FC Porto on a one-season loan deal, further weakening the ranks after Grady Diangana joined West Bromwich Albion earlier in the window.

That leaves Jarrod Bowen, Andriy Yarmolenko and Robert Snodgrass as the only natural wide players at the London Stadium, though only Bowen has proven a regular starter in the league so far this season and is best accustomed to playing on the right.

Welbeck, on the other hand, is best set on the left – where central midfielder Pablo Fornals has been tasked with holding down duties for 93.06% of all minutes in the top-flight – having scored a goal every 3.1 games in the role for Arsenal compared to one every 3.4 matches at striker.

Once described as a “special guy” by ex-manager Arsene Wenger, his numbers will not make him a starter over Fornals, but will make the £4.95m-rated ace a strong understudy if personal terms are not outrageous.

AND in other news, GSB’s floundering in the transfer market ensured West Ham failed in a late pursuit of a £30million target.

Glasgow Rangers boss Steven Gerrard believes the club are not “totally through the woods” when it comes to Alfredo Morelos’ future, but the Gers must keep him at all costs.

What’s the word? 

According to The Glasgow Times, Gerrard admitted the ordeal is far from over. He said: “On many occasions, it was a thing I had to manage from day to day because I didn’t know myself whether there was going to be a bid for him or whether he was going to be sold.

“He’s a fantastic player and he’s still in the door. So we will use that to our benefit. How long he is going to be here for I don’t know. There are still certain windows open so I don’t think we are totally out of the woods just yet.

“But from a selfish point of view, I want as many good players available to me from now till the end of the season as I can because it will give me a better chance of being successful. Selfishly, I am happy.”

Much has been made of Morelos’ future at the Ibrox outfit after Rangers rejected an approach from an unnamed Serie A side for the 6-cap Colombia international in the summer. It’s claimed that he wants a brand new contract in return for his loyalty, and Ross Wilson must offer him a bumper new deal to fend off interest from elsewhere.

McCoist 2.0?

Morelos, who is rated at £20m according to The Daily Record, may have been unable to get rid of his derby duck but this didn’t stop him from finishing on the winning side on Saturday. He somehow evaded even a caution after four fouls in the first half.

Speaking to The Sunday Post, Fabio Capello called him an “excellent” player amid interest from AC Milan. The former England manager said “From what I have seen of Morelos myself, I think he is a very strong player, both physically and technically.

“I know the club very well. Ricky Massara and Paolo Maldini (the club’s sporting and technical directors) are very good at their jobs, and if they are following him, then I am sure they consider him to be an excellent player.”

Standing at 1.77m tall, the Colombian is hardly an imposing figure, but he has shown that he is more than capable of holding his own. In fact, Ally McCoist, who is the club’s top goalscorer, was also famous for his aggressive style of play. The legendary Scotsman, who is only slightly taller at 1.78m tall, scored 21 goals in 56 games in Europe.

It’d be a bit of a stretch to say that Morelos is on the same level as McCoist, but he certainly seems to be on the right track. He scored a double in the 5-0 second qualifying round win over Lincoln Red Imps, which means that he has now scored 20 goals in the Europa League over the last three seasons.

Every great forward needs confidence, that’s for sure. The confidence to score goals, the confidence to challenge for the ball, the confidence to confront defenders – these are all of the key ingredients for a successful centre forward. Morelos isn’t exactly of short of confidence, as he has shown on multiple occasions so far.

It’s hard to remember the last time Rangers had a truly world-class player within their ranks. Morelos might not be there just yet, as he still has to work on some aspects of his game. But that doesn’t mean that he isn’t all that far away from being considered to be one of the best centre-forwards in the world.

At any rate, if the Gers are to regain their title, we suspect the Colombian will play his part. Get it done, Gers!

AND in other news, Rangers must keep James Tavernier after Celtic masterclass…

After scraping by Newport County in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, Newcastle return to Premier League action on Saturday as they take on Burnley at St James’ Park.

Steve Bruce made numerous changes to his starting line-up for the midweek clash against the League Two side, and will surely turn back to a much stronger eleven for the visit of the Clarets.

But despite needing penalties to overcome Newport, one or two players did put in the kinds of performances that may give Bruce a welcome selection headache.

And with that in mind, below is a look at how the Magpies could line up against Burnley.

In goal, Karl Darlow should resume goalkeeping duties after stepping aside for Mark Gillespie for the Carabao Cup game. However, in front of him, Bruce could be forced into making some changes, with injury concerns over the likes of Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth.

If the duo do end up missing out, then Fabian Schar could return to the defence to partner Federico Fernandez, with Jamal Lewis and Javier Manquillo flanking them as the two full-backs.

And after opting to go with a back-five against Tottenham last weekend against Tottenham, Bruce may turn back to a more traditional back-four against Burnley.

That could see Isaac Hayden move into his more natural central midfield position, with Jonjo Shelvey and summer signing Jeff Hendrick completing the trio.

And in a major boost for the Magpies, Bruce confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Allan Saint-Maximin could finally be in contention to play after missing action thanks to an injury.

The Frenchman could end up replacing Miguel Almiron, whilst Jacob Murphy’s impressive performances could see him being rewarded with a starting spot over Joelinton.

Saint-Maximin and Murphy are likely to be joined in attack by another of Newcastle’s summer signings, Callum Wilson.

Predicted XI: Darlow; Manquillo, Schar, Fernandez, Lewis; Hayden, Shelvey, Hendrick; Saint-Maximin, Murphy, Wilson.

Crystal Palace have a big transfer window ahead of them as they build to remain a mid-table team in the Premier League, and many fans of the South London side are reacting to the news that one player is due to sign a contract extension at the club.

Palace Xtra tweeted out the news from TEAMtalk suggesting that midfielder James McArthur is set to sign a new deal at the club to keep him at Selhurst Park until 2022.

The Scotsman is highly regarded by fans of the Eagles, and it is easy to see why as he is still performing at a very high level at the age of 32. The central midfielder averaged 2.4 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 1.3 clearances per game last season, via WhoScored.

Despite his age, this sees him still valued at £4.32 million on Transfermarkt, and he truly has been a great servant for the club as he has picked up 19 goals and 17 assists in his 208 appearances.

He featured in 37 Premier League games last season, highlighting that he is seen as a vital player at the club, and it is no surprise to see so many Palace fans happy with the reports with one labelling him a “top player.”

Here is what fans have said following the news:

Best news so far should really be given the captaincy no one works harder than him

— LordTwigo (@CPFCwill20) August 18, 2020

Palace fans, what are your thoughts on this news? Let us know down below!

As Everton head into the final game of the Premier League season on Sunday afternoon, Carlo Ancelotti will surely already have one eye on how he can look to strengthen his squad ahead of the new campaign in September.

And according to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), the Toffees have recently registered their interest in Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti.

The report claims that prior to the Frenchman’s latest injury setback, both Everton and fellow Premier League side West Ham contacted Barcelona about Umtiti’s situation, with the defender himself being made aware of the interest.

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Whilst before it was suggested the 6 foot star would not be sold, Mundo Deportivo now suggest that Umtiti’s exit from the Camp Nou is inevitable.

And after hearing about the latest update on the France World Cup winner’s future, Everton fans flooded to Twitter to share their reactions.

Some Everton fans took issue with Umtiti’s injury record, with him missing 63 games in just four seasons with Barcelona.

A couple of Toffees fans urged the club not to go after another Barcelona “flop”, a reference to how the club signed Yerry Mina from the Catalan giants for a reported £27.1m.

Unsurprisingly, some Everton fans are concerned by the prospect of signing Umtiti, given his injury record.

But whilst his fitness is certainly is in question, his ability cannot be. Eric Abidal called him a “world-class” player, whilst his fellow French compatriot Andre-Pierre Gignac said he has the “quality to start for Barcelona”.

If Everton snatch him up this summer, then it could be a major coup.

Liverpool appear to be back in the hunt for a player that Brendan Rodgers wanted to replace Steven Gerrard back in 2013.

What’s the word?

According to FCInterNews, the Premier League champions are one of several teams keen on signing Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.

It’s claimed that the Serie A outfit could consider a sale if his €60m (£55m) release clause is met, although the Reds haven’t yet made an official move or bid for the World Cup finalist.

They also suggest that Jurgen Klopp is a keen admirer of Brozovic, so with doubts over Gigi Wijnaldum’s long-term future at the club, could this be an ideal move to make?

Gerrard 2.0?

It’s interesting to learn of Liverpool’s interest in the Croatian midfielder as Rodgers tried to land him back in 2013 as Gerrard edged closer to the end of his Anfield career.

Ironically, Brozovic has actually been likened to Frank Lampard in the past due to his box-to-box abilities as he’s particularly strong in the tackle, can make late runs into the box and has an eye for goal.

This certainly bears hallmarks to the Liverpool legend himself.

Dario Simic has lauded him as “among the best in the world” in his position whilst current boss Antonio Conte believes Brozovic can become “world-class”.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed an impressive season too, managing three goals and seven assists whilst averaging 2.2 tackles, 1.6 shots and 1.2 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

That merely emphasises his abilities akin to Gerrard.

Klopp can’t rest on his laurels after clinching that maiden Premier League trophy, he must continue to improve the squad and Brozovic would certainly help that big time.

AND in other news, Liverpool fans slam links to reported PL transfer target…

The proposed takeover of Newcastle United has been put into doubt by David Sugden, director of corporate affairs at the beIN Media Group, after he claimed that if Saudi Arabia secured a place in English football’s top table, it would be like “letting the fox into the hen house”.

The company’s response to the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) report on the Middle Eastern country’s protection of intellectual property rights was published by the Financial Times as the outlet explained why the piracy ruling from the body raised a new doubt over whether the prospective deal between Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-led group and current club owner Mike Ashley would still be approved by the Premier League.

Sophie Jordan, general counsel at beIN Media Group, also added her tuppence worth into the ruling by claiming that Qatar’s accusations of the Kingdom were “not allegations” and she described the WTO as “one of the most important international tribunals” as they made their decision on the accusations against the Saudis.

Indeed, the crown prince of the country and head of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is one of the main front runners in trying to get the £300m bid over the line alongside businesswoman and head of PCP Capital Partners Staveley as well as the billionaire Reuben brothers, who are based in London.

However, due to MBS’s associations with Saudi Arabia, in addition to the pirate television channel beoutQ – which broadcasts and streams English top flight games illegally – also being accused of being associated with the country, the Premier League now have a big decision to make as to whether they should approve of the takeover at St. James’ Park given the findings.

Geordies, are you worried that the takeover won’t go through? Comment below with your views!

According to Corriere dello Sport, AS Roma are very close to keeping Manchester United ace Chris Smalling in the summer, via @utdreport.   

The Italian newspaper claims Roma are only ‘one step away’ from signing Smalling on loan, which could become a permanent deal next year.

It seems likely Smalling will leave Old Trafford on loan again for another season and the Italians will be obliged to sign him permanently in 2021.

Although the defender’s first spell in Italy was brought to an abrupt halt as a result of the pandemic, he has still managed to play 20 games in Serie A this season (Transfermarkt).

Roma boss Paulo Foncesca has been impressed by the England international’s work ethic, as he has averaged 2 interceptions per game, completed 4.5 clearances on average, scored 2 goals, and created 1 assist so far (WhoScored).

In comparison, Phil Jones has struggled for form this season and the defender is now in a vulnerable position. It is worth pointing out Smalling has earned a higher WhoScored rating than his teammate at the time of writing.

After arriving at the Theatre of Dreams from Fulham for £7.2m in 2010, the 30-year-old has made over 300 appearances for the Red Devils, winning the Premier League twice, the Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup. He is currently valued at £14.4m via Transfermarkt.

United initially priced the centre-back at €25m, which equates to £22m, but it appears Ed Woodward has lowered the asking price to somewhere in the region of €12m-€15m.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted he is a fan of the veteran in the past, but Smalling wants to be playing regular football in order to improve his chances of being named in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad, and this is something the club legend cannot guarantee.

Indeed, Solskjaer has frequently used the pairing of captain Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof at the back this season, and it is hard to imagine the Englishman would be given a place in the starting lineup if he returned to Old Trafford.

Naturally, many United fans reacted to the transfer news on social media, with one supporter urging the board to “cash in ASAP,” and another adding “take Jones instead.”

Have a read through the rest of the mixed reactions so far…

United fans, should the board sell Chris Smalling permanently in the summer? Let us know down below!

Speaking to Football Insider, former Rangers defender Alan Hutton has tipped Lewis Ferguson to flourish under Steven Gerrard should he make the move to Ibrox.

What did he say?

According to reports in recent days, the Aberdeen midfielder has been touted as one of Rangers’ most prominent transfer targets this summer, although the Dons are keen to keep him.

Now, Hutton has claimed that Ferguson, who was released by Rangers back in 2013, has the kind of “winners mentality” that could really be nurtured by Gerrard at Ibrox.

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He said: “I’m sure he’s got that winning mentality into him because that was a main, key part of growing up through the Rangers ranks, you had to be a winner. It didn’t quite work out the first time but well played to him. He’s worked hard at Hamilton, he’s moved on to Aberdeen and he’s still only 20 so he’s proved a lot of people wrong. Here’s Rangers coming back in for him so I’m sure he’s got that mentality within him.

“He’s got a driving force to try and prove people wrong and he’s had an excellent season. I think it’s an area where Gerrard will look at and want to strengthen and I presume he’s a player that would want to go and learn off one of the best midfielders to play the game.”

Next step

After rebuilding his career at Aberdeen, Ferguson has certainly shown he’s got the talent to become a real success at Rangers this time around.

This season, the 20-year-old has been in inspired form for the Dons, racking up three goals and an impressive nine assists in 38 games across all competitions. His previous ties to the Gers means that he will know what its all about to play for the club, and that kind of relationship and bond is something Gerrard will surely love.

He may not have made it the first time, but Ferguson’s performances this season shows he is ready to play for the Rangers first-team now.

This article forms part of our Total Duds feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how bad a deal the club got.

Back in 1999, John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish were building their defence for Scottish side Celtic, and picked up defender Rafael Scheidt for £6.48 million from Brazilian side Gremio, per Transfermarkt. This is currently the eighth most expensive signing the club has ever made, and emphasises the expectations the player had when he joined.

There have been some poor signings at the club, but Scheidt ranks up there as one of the worst, and will be a player that fans are quick to forget.

The Brazilian was signed in July, yet only managed to make his debut in March the following year due to injuries, via Football Insider. This wasn’t the start of a great career at the club, as during his spell in Scotland he only went on to make two appearances, per Transfermarkt.

Whilst he was contracted to Celtic, he was shipped back out on loan to the Brazilian league, with Corinthians taking him for two years until 2002. During this time, it was revealed by the player that Martin O’Neill had some pretty scathing things to say about him, suggesting that the Northern Irishman had said: “I like footballers who are not like you. I like footballers who play well.”

It was clear for all associated with the club that he was not wanted anywhere near the first team after his loan spell ended. In fact, he was no longer eligible for a UK work permit by this point and they wanted him off their books so bad that they paid up the remainder of the contract so he could move to Atletico Mineiro. This would have costed the club a fair chunk of money.

The defender will be remembered by many of the Hoops faithful as one of the worst signings in the club’s history, and a huge waste of over £6 million.

Do you remember the club signing Scheidt? Comment below!