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Since leaving Liverpool on a permanent deal to join Rangers in 2019, Ryan Kent has been flourishing under Steven Gerrard for the Scottish Premiership side, to the extent where the Reds may end up regretting selling him.

The winger originally joined the ‘Gers on loan for the 2018/19 season and after impressing there, they made the decision to make his loan stay a permanent one, shelling out £6.48 million for the Englishman (per Transfermarkt).

In 95 appearances for Gerrard’s side, the 24-year-old has contributed an impressive 19 goals and 19 assists in all competitions (per Transfermarkt).

Last season saw the young winger grab eight goals and four assists in all competitions, which was enough to attract the interest of Leeds United in the summer, following their promotion back to the top-flight.

The Yorkshire club were told that they would have to pay £20 million for Kent, as that is the reported release clause in his contract and after their interest seemed to die down, he would end up staying with the Ibrox Stadium outfit.

However, he has impressed again at the start of this season, having contributed four goals and two assists in 14 Scottish Premiership games, which has seen him average a superb 7.57 rating (per WhoScored).

Therefore, it would not be a surprise to see Leeds, or another Premier League side, register an interest in the Englishman in the upcoming January transfer window and if he does end up leaving for £20 million, then Liverpool may regret their decision to let him go for so cheap back in 2019.

During his time with the Reds, he would make just one senior appearance, despite impressing for the U’23s and earning valuable experience in loans with the likes of Coventry City and Barnsley (per Transfermarkt).

You can argue that the youngster was never given much of an opportunity to shine at Liverpool, although when you consider the quality Klopp has on his wings in Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, this was perhaps always likely to be the case.

Gerrard was extremely complimentary of the winger after a win against Willem II last season, saying:

“From an attacking point of view, I think Ryan was the game changer for us tonight.

“He does incredibly well running in behind and he has added that into his game this season. He gets us the penalty for the breakthrough and he is just a constant threat. He is so sharp and he has added a different dimension to his game.” (per The Scotsman)

It will be interesting to see if Kent’s impressive form does earn him a move to the Premier League and if he is able to perform well in the top-flight, then the Reds may well end up feeling that it was a poor decision to let him go.

Some youngsters look like they will have to leave Arsenal to get some competitive first team football, either on loan or on a full transfer and Arsenal announced that one of their prospects has headed out on a temporary basis.

The club tweeted out on Monday via their academy page that 19 year-old midfielder Matt Smith has joined Swindon Town, who were recently promoted to League One, for the season.

Arsenal said: ‘We wish Matt the best of luck for next season at Swindon and look forward to supporting him through his continued development.’

The Englishman is clearly someone that manager Mikel Arteta feels like he can use in the future as he named the player on the bench in the Gunners’ squad for the FA Cup final, and despite him not playing, it meant that he picked up a winners medal.

The fact he was named in the squad for this game should excite the player and he should not be worried about dropping down some divisions at his age for regular football. It will help him grow as a player and the competitiveness of the EFL will serve him well for the future.

The midfielder has played in 69 games for the youth sides at Arsenal, scoring ten and assisting 18, per Transfermarkt, which is a very decent tally for a central midfield player. If he can perform to this level or better at Swindon, then there is no doubt that he can grow into a very good player and potentially win a place in Arteta’s team. This makes the deal look like a no-brainer for all involved, Swindon get a young prospect, the player has more chance of minutes and the Gunners will hopefully see their man develop further.

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

West Ham United have been on a quest to revamp their squad for the upcoming 2020/21 Premier League season but things have been moving rather slowly. Of course, the main problem David Moyes is facing right now is the lack of any kind of funds.

The current climate has simply limited what clubs can do on the market and the Hammers are no exception to that rule. Money was scarce as it is but now, it is extremely difficult to splash the cash on quality reinforcements.

But West Ham have still been chasing some high-profile players, including Burnley’s James Tarkowski. Initially, the Clarets were demanding almost £50m for the 27-year-old defender but are now ready to settle for a lower sum.

According to Football Insider’s exclusive information, Burnley will now ask for around £35m, which is still pretty high but yet, significantly lower than the first price tag.

This is indeed a huge boost for Moyes if he is to keep pushing for Tarkowski’s signature. But he should still be on his toes as the likes of Leicester City are still prowling around and could also make their move.

The player himself still has two years left on his contract and a clear wish to establish himself at international level so playing at a top club would surely help him in his quest.

Are West Ham the right place for that? Only time will tell.

Verdict

It goes without saying that signing someone of Tarkowski’s calibre would go a long way to improving West Ham’s defence. And seeing how their defensive line is in dire need of reinforcements, it would be a great deal for Moyes.

However, Burnley’s star is not exactly cheap and the Hammers will surely face some competition for his signature. Let’s see if they can seal the deal ahead of Leicester and co.

Key information about Moss Rose

Moss Rose was built in 1891 and is now the home of Macclesfield Town. The stadium is located in the southern suburbs of Macclesfield in Cheshire, about one mile south of the town centre.

Its current maximum capacity is 6,355, 2,599 of which are seated places. The pitch size measures 100m by 60m and is not surrounded by a running track nor does it have undersoil heating installed at the moment.

Moss Rose’s record attendance was set in 1967 when 9,008 supporters watched Macclesfield Town clash with Winsford United.

A history of Moss Rose

Built in 1891, Moss Rose is one of the oldest stadiums in the Football League and even more impressively, it has been the home of Macclesfield Town ever since it was erected and opened that same year.

But the situation was quite complicated since the club was actually a non-league side at that time and at one point, they were sharing the ground with Chester City, who fluctuated between Sealand Road and the Deva Stadium in the period between 1990 and 1992. Prior to that period, the only football that was actually played at the ground was low-tier and non-league action.

The first Football League clash to be played at the stadium, however, arrived when Chester City shared the facilities with Macclesfield Town in the aforementioned period. The first clash was a 2-1 win for Exeter City on 1 September 1990 and then, later on in that same month, Arsenal also visited Moss Rose in a Football League Cup tie, securing a narrow 1-0 victory along the way.

But with two tenants ‘living’ at the ground, the games had to be arranged so that Macclesfield Town were at home when Chester City were away and vice versa. This lasted until 1992 when the latter finally moved out. And interestingly, the current League Two side was really close to becoming a professional club in 1995 but their stadium let them down.

Macclesfield were denied entry to the Football League despite winning the Football Conference because Moss Rose was not up to the standards that were set for all clubs wanting to be promoted. So they renovated the ground and two years later won the Conference once again, this time being granted entry to the Football League.

Moss Rose has not yet been converted into an all-seater with only 2,599 out of their 6,355 places being reserved for seating. The current financial situation has prohibited them from further expanding the ground but there were plans to renovate it and enhance the viewing experience in the near future.

Tickets to watch Macclesfield Town at Moss Rose

All tickets to watch Macclesfield Town play at Moss Rose can be found on the club’s official website. The adult ticket costs £22 if you pick the seated category but only £15 if you are willing to be situated in the standing area.

Macclesfield Town also offer a season ticket scheme and more information can be found on the aforementioned website.

Related links

https://www.mtfc.co.uk/ – Official website of Macclesfield Town

Liverpool are reportedly close to their first signing of the summer, in the form of defender Aissa Mandi.

According to beIN Sports commentator Hafid Derradji (relayed via @AnfieldEdition), the Reds and Real Betis are in talks over a move for the Algeria international.

Mandi is currently valued at £10.8million according to Transfermarkt, which is a fair price for the versatile defender. The 28-year-old can play across the entire back-line, despite predominantly being a centre-back.

Jurgen Klopp could be looking to provide a long-term partner for Virgil van Dijk or add another option to his defensive roster, particularly given that Dejan Lovren has moved on. The holding Premier League champions will need to shift into gear and recruit some new meat if they want to try their hand at defending their first ever title next season.

Many Liverpool fans are already on board with bringing Mandi to Anfield, with one supporter tipping him to be the ‘best signing of the summer’ if the deal goes through. Another Kopite has commented ‘let’s go, something to be excited about’ after months and months of stagnant Thiago Alcantara talks. Indeed, Mandi enjoyed a decent campaign with Betis last time out, averaging three clearances per game as well as 1.3 interceptions and 1.1 tackles (WhoScored).

Read more replies from the Anfield faithful here:

Would you like to see Liverpool sign Aissa Mandi this summer? Have your say in the comments below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho is said to be interested in signing Marouane Fellaini from Shandong Luneng.

That’s the Fellaini who was something of a disaster at Manchester United.

He played 177 times for the club and scored 22 goals while registering a mere 12 assists. During his time under Mourinho, he played 89 times, scoring 11 times and providing five assists. Notably, he collected 13 yellow cards under the Portuguese.

DH nevertheless reports that the Portuguese made a personal phone call to the 32-year-old after Shandong lost the China Cup final to Shanghai Shenhua.

He is said to be keen to reunite with Fellaini in January as Spurs attempt to bolster their squad in the next transfer window.

And yet, it simply doesn’t make any sense.

Firstly, he’s ageing and will turn 33 next year.

Secondly, he’s only ever been a battering ram – often winning more aerial duels than any other statistic recorded by WhoScored – and he simply doesn’t fit into the way Spurs play.

This is a team that prizes fast transitions and counter-attacking over simply whacking crosses into the box and also one that already has a good number of attacking midfield options in Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Giovani Lo Celso.

Further forward, they have Harry Kane up front and Troy Parrott in reserve, while in central midfield the likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Moussa Sissoko, Eric Dier and Harry Winks keep things shored up.

Who is that?! Can you name all of these obscure Spurs signings? Give it a go now…

It simply doesn’t make sense from a squad depth perspective to be looking at buying Fellaini, whose contract currently runs until 2021.

He won’t be free, surely a black mark against his name to start with, and he’ll command exorbitant wages.

The Daily Mail reported, prior to his move, that he was being offered wages of around £235,000-per-week, or £35,000 more than Kane earns in north London.

Purely from a monetary standpoint, it makes precious little sense; purely from a squad depth standpoint, it makes precious little sense; purely from a playing style philosophy standpoint, it makes precious little sense.

Spurs fans have to hope that this rumour is just that and that there is no substance to these reports.

Meanwhile, Spurs saw one man prove his worth against Burnley. 

Manchester United have already made the first move prior to the 2020/21 Premier League season by signing Odion Ighalo. 

After arriving on loan from Shanghai Shenhua in January, Ighalo’s stint at Old Trafford was set to expire last month but the Nigerian has impressed the club he supported as a boy, scoring four goals in eight appearances so far. His performances in the Red Devils jersey have earned him a new contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2021.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in the middle of planning for a long-term rebuild before the nationwide lockdown was introduced in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic (ESPN).

According to Le10 Sport (as relayed by Sport Witness), Ighalo could be reunited with his former international teammate Wilfred Ndidi in the summer.

The 23-year-old has played a major role for Leicester City this season, scoring two goals and supplying one assist in the Premier League, winning four tackles per game, averaging 2.7 interceptions and completing two clearances per game on average (via WhoScored).

He has notably earned a higher WhoScored rating than veteran United midfielder Nemanja Matic for his performances in the English top flight.

His heroics all over the pitch have attracted attention from a number of suitors, including Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, and United have now thrown their name into the mix. He has also been compared to former Foxes star N’Golo Kante, who is now at Chelsea.

However, the midfielder is currently valued at £32.4m via Transfermarkt and it remains to be seen if the board will be willing to splash the cash. Indeed, Ed Woodward has previously warned United’s summer spending may be limited due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

Naturally, some United fans remain sceptical as Ndidi could cost a lot of money in the transfer window. One supporter tweeted that the “excellent” player is “miles better than Matic” but is wary of Leicester’s valuation. Another added that he could be the “perfect signing” as a longer-term replacement for Matic.

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

United fans, should the board sign Wilfred Ndidi in the summer? Let us know down below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Unbelievable was the word Brian McDermott used to describe a tackle Matej Vydra completed in January 2016.

For the Czech forward, it’s perhaps symptomatic of a player he once was. Often cast aside when making his way into the Premier League, he’s previously flourished at Championship level.

For an indication of his record, he’s scored just four goals in the top-flight. In comparison, he’s netted 65 goals in the second tier.

It’s a fabulous return and one that on the face of it, could help take Leeds to promotion.

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The Burnley outcast was linked with a move to Elland Road last week (The Mirror, 22/11, page 74). Seemingly at Marcelo Bielsa’s request, he could cost the club around £7.5m.

It would be a statement of intent from a side who have struggled for goals in 2019/20. Patrick Bamford now has two in two but before that he’d gone ten games without finding the back of the net.

As for Eddie Nketiah, he’s now injured and could be recalled in January because of a lack of game time.

The Arsenal loanee is still yet to start a league game despite having just one fewer goal than his main competition.

It’s been a topsy-turvy period for the striker but whether or not he does stick around in January, Vydra is a player who can make Leeds supporters forget about their obsession with the 20-year-old.

They’ve expressed concerns about Nketiah’s possible departure ahead of January while there have also been numerous calls for him to start more matches.

Given Bamford’s wretched form at one point, those fears and cries were understandable.

But the fact of the matter is, Nketiah isn’t trusted by Bielsa. A man who has scored countless goals at this level, therefore, might have a better chance.

Vydra once bagged 20 in a season for Watford, a campaign where he terrorised Leeds. All the way back in November 2012, he scored twice in a 6-1 thrashing at Elland Road.

That might be seven years ago but it was a demonstration of the quality he possesses. As recently as 2017/18, he scored 21 for Derby.

This is someone with a proven track record at the level required and Leeds could boost their promotion hopes significantly by bringing him to the club.

With the obsession surrounding Nketiah still lingering in the air, this signing has the potential to batter away the constant discussion.

And in other news, Leeds have been linked with another attacker ahead of January…

Phil Parkinson clearly is not a popular man at Sunderland at the moment as he simply can not buy a win whilst in charge of the club, however there might be one aspect of his management that has infuriated fans at the Stadium of Light even more.

The Black Cats made the long trip south to Kent on Saturday where they faced Gillingham, however had to return to Wearside without any of the points as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat in the dying moments of the game (BBC).

Whilst that result was hugely disappointing for everyone involved at Sunderland, it seems Parkinson’s inability to make substitutions at the right time has added further fuel to the fire surrounding the anger that is being directed at him.

Of course, two wins in 12 matches to date (TransferMarkt) is hardly going to have helped his case in the slightest, however fans have reacted furiously to the way the 52-year-old approaches changes, with one particular decision sparking huge frustrations once again.

Although many would not have been disappointed to see Conor McLaughlin replaced, the fact that he was in stoppage time and that it was Sunderland’s second of the game was something that sent supporters crazy and into a livid frenzy.

Here are just some of their reactions…

Sunderland fans, how angry are you with Parkinson’s substitution decisions? Let us know your thoughts below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Following the 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, former Everton man Andy Gray claimed he worries about Marco Silva.

What did he say?

Everton now sit 17th in the Premier League after Newcastle United picked up three points against West Ham United. The draw with Spurs leaves Silva on just 11 points from 11 games and it now means the Toffees have just one win in the league since September 1.

Gray told beIN SPORTS: “When I look at Everton’s fixtures, I have to say I worry about Marco Silva.

“I think these next two games, Southampton away who are below them, Norwich at home, the first game after the break, who are below them.

“They’ve got a collection of games at the beginning of December against the top six clubs in the country, so he’s got a massive three of four weeks coming up just prior to Christmas.

“And on that form, results are going to be hard to come by.”

Crunch time

After the loss to Burnley on October 5th, Silva was reportedly told he has the next three games to save his job and the Portuguese would then go on to record two wins and a loss.

However, although those results could have saved him for now, the upcoming fixtures are now simply must-wins.

A defeat against Southampton would put both sides level on 11 points and would almost certainly put Silva’s job security in serious jeopardy.

However, should they drop points to Norwich City as well, the Toffees could find themselves in the relegation spots before we even reach December.

As Gray alludes to, Everton then face a tough run of fixtures against Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City.

In current form it is tough to see Silva picking up many points in those games.