Sheyi Ojo congratulated on Instagram after joining Rangers

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The highly talented Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo has officially completed his loan move to Rangers.

The 22-year-old has spent some time in France playing for Reims but after a decent season over in Ligue 1, the youngster has decided to return to English football under the watchful eye of Steven Gerrard.

As his move was confirmed, Ojotook to social media and Instagram to share his first snaps donning the famous blue jersey. Many Championship and Premier League stars were quick to congratulate him on this big step in his career.

His replies were swarmed by numerous players showing their support and wishing the young starlet all the best for his campaign in the Scottish Premiership. The likes of Tammy Abraham and Kyle-Walker Peters were among the first to pop up.

Soon, the array of other friends, rivals and colleagues followed suit.

Ojo has agreed to a one-year loan with Rangers and then it’s back to Anfield after that but it’s still pretty unknown if Jurgen Klopp has him in his plans for the future or not.

He was, though, extremely prolific while he was playing for Liverpool’s U-23 squad, scoring 12 goals and assisting three in 26 appearances, and has even featured 13 times for the senior team, bagging one and assisting four in the process.

Rangers fans disappointed Rossiter won’t make it at Ibrox

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Jordan Rossiter has been told by Rangers to find a new club next season, as reported by The Scottish Sun.

The 22-year-old midfielder’s time at Ibrox has been blighted by injury problems, managing to make just 16 appearances for the club since joining in 2016.

Last season though he appeared to put those fitness problems behind him with a half-season loan move to Bury in League Two proving successful.

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The player managed to feature consistently as the club gained promotion to League One, playing 17 times in total between January and May.

However, The Sun say that Rossiter has now been left at home instead of taking part in Rangers’ Portuguese training camp this week and told that he has no future at Ibrox.

With Gerrard strengthening his midfield significantly in recent transfer windows there appears to be no room for the former Liverpool prospect.

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Rangers fans are sad to hear he won’t get his opportunity at the club, with many taking to Twitter on Tuesday to share their thoughts…

Spurs fans slam Lamela after posting workout video

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Tottenham Hotspur fans have slammed Erik Lamela after he posted a video of himself returning to pre-season training.

The Argentine made 19 Premier League appearances last season but completed the full 90 minutes on just two occasions.

He was not included in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for seven games in succession as Spurs’ season drew to a close, though he did play 77 minutes on the final day as the club drew 2-2 with Everton.

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Lamela was on the bench for the Champions League final, too, but is back in training already as the 2019/20 season draws ever closer. Spurs will play Aston Villa on August 10th.

But fans have taken the opportunity to rip into the winger, whose injury problems have been well documented throughout his career in north London. He missed 13 Premier League games in total in 2017/18, too.

Indeed, many have urged him not to overdo the exercises for fear of him missing the start of the campaign.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

Everton interest in Fabian Delph is strange as he wouldn’t even start

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

According to The Sun, Everton are interested in making a £16m swoop for versatile Manchester City ace Fabian Delph.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the England international has been pushed further down the pecking order in two positions at the Etihad Stadium this summer, as a result of City’s only two signings.

The club-record capture of Spain midfielder Rodri means that Delph will now find chances in the middle of the park even harder to come by.

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Additionally, the return of left-back Angelino means that even Delph’s second position has been bolstered – the former Leeds man often deputised for Benjamin Mendy and Oleksandr Zinchenko in defence, but his chances of playing there may now be limited with Angelino back.

The 29-year-old, who earns £90,000-a-week according to Spotrac, could now be surplus to requirements with the champions.

Would he even get in Everton’s starting eleven?

The same issues as previously mentioned may also affect Delph at Goodison Park if he ends up making the move to Merseyside.

Marco Silva has Andre Gomes and Idrissa Gueye occupying his only two centre-midfield positions, and given how well they hit it off together last term, it seems unlikely that anything will break that.

So, in addition to the fact that a starting place in midfield seems a long way off, 5 foot 9 ace Delph would even struggle to get into the side in his other position of left-back.

The form of Everton’s Player of the Season Lucas Digne last term was impressive after his £18m move from Barcelona – he won the award thanks to some fine performances that saw him end the campaign with four goals and four assists.

He is arguably one of the Toffees’ best performers, so it seems massively unlikely that Silva would play Delph at left-back instead unless the France international suffered an injury.

Everton really don’t need an ageing Delph, especially given their strength in his best positions.

Newcastle fans annoyed by Joelinton transfer update

[ad_pod ]Newcastle United are going through an absolutely perilous summer.But amidst all the problems they’ve been having with the appointment of their new manager Steve Bruce, there has been an update regarding a possible signing – light at the end of the tunnel perhaps?Bild, via Sport Witness, have reported that the Magpies are closing in on Hoffenheim starlet Joelinton, claiming that a deal worth around €40m (£36.1m) is imminent.And with the player’s club confirming he is in talks with a Premier League side after being left out of their most recent pre-season friendly, it looks like he could very well become the first new signing on Tyneside this summer.Of course, despite this being good news for Newcastle, fans aren’t exactly in a great mood at the moment.Watch Newcastle United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

It seems, to the Toon Army at least, that Mike Ashley is suddenly happy to back his manager, despite not giving Rafael Benitez the same kind of support during his tenure.

Just to put things into perspective, Newcastle spent more than £20m just once under Benitez, and now, suddenly, they are breaking the bank for Joelinton in Bruce’s first week at the club.

Let’s not forget Ashley opted against the permanent signing of Salomon Rondon, a player Benitez clearly likes, even thoughÂRondon’s release clause was only as high as £16.5m.

So despite the Magpies being on the cusp of smashing their transfer record, fans are simply furious that Benitez never got this kind of support. Take a look at some of the best reactions down below…

West Brom Transfer Roundup: Bayliss interest, Barry update, Hegazi to stay

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West Brom have so far made just one signing this summer, with Filip Krovinovic arriving on a one-year loan deal. It remains to be seen whether they will add to that haul. Today’s Baggies transfer roundup reports on interest in a League One midfielder, news on the departure of a 16-year-old and an update on the future of an Egyptian international.

Bayliss on radar

The Sun is reporting that West Brom are interested in Coventry City’s Tom Bayliss. Premier League duo Aston Villa and Sheffield United are also pursuing the 20-year-old midfielder, who has made 73 appearances during his time with the Sky Blues.

West Brom angry with Barca over Barry

West Brom officials are angry with the way Barcelona have dealt with their capture of Louie Barry according to Sky Sports. The Catalan club “confirmed” the signing of the youngster on Wednesday, but the Baggies are apparently yet to sign off on all the transfer forms.

Hegazi to stay

Ahmed Hegazi is going nowhere this summer according to Birmingham Live. Aston Villa were reportedly interested in the 28-year-old, whilst Okaz (via KingFut) had said that the defender was close to moving to former side Al Ahli. However, he is now expected to join up with his Albion teammates once he has returned from holiday.

How pioneering Wolverhampton Wanderers became ‘Champions of the World’

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As Wolves take to the field against Crusaders at Molineux tonight their players will be stood under the floodlights shrouded in pioneering history.

For the first time since 1981, the Midlands outfit will be playing in a European competition, fresh with the knowledge that this is, despite the opposition, one of the biggest games in their recent history.

Wolves have come a considerable way since Nuno Santo took over.

They’ve gone from mid-table in the Championship to the upper echelons of the Premier League.

However, there is a greater story deeply rooted in Wolves’ history when it comes to Europe.

In 1953, floodlights were installed at the club’s ground, a moment which rewrote the course of competitive football across the continent.

That installation was to kick start a period throughout the 1950s called the ‘Floodlit Friendlies’ – a series of matches that saw Wolves take on some of the finest clubs in world football.

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Their first contest under the lights was a 3-1 win over South Africa, before victories over Celtic and Racing Club Avell followed.

Yet, the most poignant game wasn’t to occur until December 1954 when Wolves faced Hungarian opposition, Honved.

A brisk and muscular side, as described by Sports Illustrated, the former were a team who were one of the best around, winning the First Division title in 1954.

They were led by the religious Stan Cullis, who together with the players at the time, had an everlasting impact on the way football is today.

That game against Honved drew such a spectacle that it was broadcast live on television as a side containing the great Ferenc Puskas, who the award for the best goal of the year is now named after, lost 3-2 to Wolves at Molineux.

Rather typically, it was a dark and rainy evening, a game perfectly suited for the floodlights as the hosts took on the unofficial name of ‘champions of the world’ after their victory.

At that point in time, there was no Champions League or European Cup and this was the best the continent had to offer.

Honved raced into a 2-0 lead on that historical night courtesy of Sandor Kocsis and Ferenc Machos.

However, much like the Wolves side of the current day, they showed tremendous resilience to fight back.

Johnny Hancocks scored from the penalty spot four minutes after the break before a brace from Roy Swinbourne won them the game.

The lasting impact of the game, though, couldn’t possibly have been foreseen by those playing at the time.

Gabriel Hanot, a French journalist, was impressed by what he saw and, inspired by the Campeonato Sudamericano de Campeones – a tournament now known as the Copa Libertadores in South America – he drummed up the idea of competition involving Europe’s best teams.

Lo and behold, in March 1955, a UEFA congress came together just a year after Wolves’ outing against Honved to formalise plans for such a competition.

A season later, arguably one of the most prestigious tournaments in world football was officially formed with the birth of the European Cup.

It was perhaps rather ironic, therefore, that English teams weren’t originally able to compete in such a competition for fears that it would have a negative impact on attendances at domestic matches.

But that match with Honved was merely just the beginning for Wolves.

Throughout the 50’s they tussled with some of the best teams on the globe.

They defeated Borussia Dortmund 4-3 in March 1957 before beating Real Madrid 3-2 in October of the same year.

There was also a win over Red Star Belgrade when they did eventually qualify for the European Cup, although they suffered a rare defeat against Barcelona at the start of the 1960s.

It’s been a lengthy period since Wolves were in the same company as some of the greats of European football and although they may still have to wait for teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid, this season’s Europa League instalment gives them their best hope of playing against them again anytime soon.

The story of the club’s floodlit friendlies all those years ago is a fascinating one, not least for the fact that it kick-started what we now know as the Champions League, but for the fact that Wolves are now on the cusp of yet more special nights under the Molineux lights.

Liverpool could swap Simon Mignolet for Tom Heaton without spending a penny

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

According to The Daily Mail, Liverpool hold an interest in signing Burnley keeper Tom Heaton, along with newly-promoted Aston Villa.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Reds are said to be interested in the England international with Simon Mignolet’s future at Anfield still far from certain.

The Belgium international made a sloppy error in the last pre-season friendly outing against Sporting Lisbon, and is reportedly keen to play football again after dropping to No.2 in the Liverpool pecking order behind last summer’s £66.8m signing Alisson Becker.

Behind the former Sunderland stopper, the Reds don’t really have a recognised senior glovesman and were forced to sign 35-year-old veteran Andy Lonergan to tackle a shortage of goalkeepers this summer – academy options Caoimhin Kelleher and Vitezslav Jaros are injured, whilst Kamil Grabara has been loaned to Huddersfield.

Liverpool could swap Mignolet for Heaton without spending a penny

It has been reported by the Liverpool Echo that Mignolet would cost any interested parties around £12m if they were serious about signing him.

Coincidentally, that same figure is what the Clarets are said to value Heaton at, which they told Villa after the Midlands side submitted a low-ball offer of £4m.

If a club does decide to come in for Liverpool’s Belgian No.2 between now and the end of the window (Benfica have recently expressed an interest), the Reds will assumingly net their asking price for the 31-year-old given how shrewd Michael Edwards tends to be – the transfer guru managed to snag Andy Robertson for just £8m and sold Dominic Solanke to Bournemouth for £19m, to give some examples.

If that £12m does land in the Reds’ bank account, then they can immediately offer that to Sean Dyche in exchange for Heaton and have themselves a perfect replacement for Mignolet, given the 33-year-old’s experience in the game and his reliability in between the sticks – his 25 clean sheets in 96 Premier League games for Burnley reinforces that fact.

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Celtic’s Ryan Christie is "arguably" the best player in Scotland, says Kris Commons

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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…

Former Celtic star Kris Commons wrote in The Sunday Mail (04/08/2019), as reported by Football Scotland, that he thinks Ryan Christie is “arguably the best player in Scottish football” right now.

What’s he said?

Christie is having the start to a season that most can only dream of. In his five appearances so far, the mercurial talent has a staggering six goals and three assists after his stunning hat-trick against St. Johnstone in the Celts’ Premiership opener.

Contributing to an incredible nine goals in just 327 minutes on the pitch means he has played a part in a goal every 36 minutes so far this season.

It’s only early August but pundits are already tripping over themselves to heap praise on the former Inverness kid. Commons becomes the latest to eulogise about the 24-year-old after his goal-laden performance in the 7-0 win over the Saints.

The former Hoops hero stated: “He’s arguably the best player in Scottish football. There’s no doubt that his performances now demand that he is one of the first – if not the first – name on Neil Lennon’s team-sheet.”

Jumped the gun

Christie has certainly wasted no time in staking his claim for Player of the Year, but we can’t help but feel Commons has jumped the gun somewhat.

On current form, there’s few better on the entire British isle let alone just Scotland, but it’s important to have a look at who the performances have come against.

Nomme Kalju were hopeless at Parkhead in their 5-0 obliteration. Sarajevo were better but 5-2 on aggregate was hardly a surprising scoreline. As for St. Johnstone, it’s no exaggeration to say they’re a mess – even Montrose and Forfar beat them in the League Cup group stages this season.

It also needs to be remembered just how good some of his teammates are too. Callum McGregor and James Forrest haven’t been so obviously good this season but are vital cogs to the way the club plays, allowing for their side’s and Christie’s fantastic early start to the campaign.

But while it might be a little soon to be calling him the best player in the Premiership or the first name on the team-sheet, Christie is certainly on the right tracks to remove any doubt from Commons’ statement come May.

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Charlton Athletic: Lee Bowyer reveals Lyle Taylor’s ‘head has been turned’

Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer has admitted to the press that star striker Lyle Taylor’s ‘head has been turned’ after the club reportedly rejected a £4m offer from Brentford for the player’s services.

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According to London News Online, the 29-year-old was subjected to many bids by London rivals Brentford on Thursday’s deadline, but owner Roland Duchatelet snubbed them all.

With Taylor now into the final year of his contract, coupled with Charlton’s well-documented financial problems, a conclusion to this saga is crucial for the Addicks both financially and on the pitch.

The report goes on to state that Bowyer understands that the club are unable to put together a wage package that matches his stature and importance to the club due to the strict spending controls while Duchatelet looks to flog the club.

Speaking to South London Press (via London News Online), Bowyer said: “The player has got to want to sign a deal.

“The hardest thing now is his head has been turned by a very good contract offer by Brentford.

“We ain’t offering what Brentford are offering, we ain’t ever going to offer what Brentford are offering. But it is not just Brentford. There was another club interested in him but they didn’t want to pay the money – so they didn’t even make an offer. But we know they were interested in him.

“The most important thing is he is here and scoring goals.

“Of course we would like to tie him down – that’s blatantly obvious. But unfortunately, as everyone knows, money talks. For Lyle it is a difficult situation.

“We will be making him an improved offer, that’s for sure, then it is down to Lyle whether he wants to sign it. We have got a budget, that’s just the way it is.”

After Charlton’s and Lyle Taylor’s fantastic start to the Championship, you can already tell how paramount he is to this side. With Charlton sitting in the promotion spots after two games, his two goals and assist have been vital in their wins over Blackburn and Stoke respectively.

Since joining the club, he has been prolific: 27 goals in 47 games (Transfermarkt) for the Addicks is why Brentford are knocking at the door.

Even though Charlton have had a perfect start to life in the second-tier, they are still to be considered one of the worst teams on paper in the Championship – this Telegraph pre-season guide considers them ‘relegation candidates’.

This could leave Charlton with a catch 22 situation with Taylor depending on the situation come January. His goals could provide Charlton with what they need to stay up – which, in turn, would provide the club with more money – or, the club could cash in on Taylor while they can in January to ensure that he does not leave the club for free – though, similarly, without his goals Charlton could be sent back to League One, causing a whole new set of financial problems.

It’s obviously hugely negative for Charlton that Taylor’s head has been turned. The club will find it very difficult to keep him in January unless a takeover has happened, as the club simply needs the money.

On the contrary, if somehow Charlton keep up this magnificent form and find themselves around the top six, then Taylor might be willing to give it one last crack with them to see where they can go.

Ultimately, though, with Taylor being offered a huge increase in his wages, you cannot blame the 29-year-old for wanting to earn more money and to join a side more likely to reach the Premier League.

Charlton fans, what should the club do with Taylor? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!

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