Morgan Gibbs-White injury blow could damage Wolves hopes

It is easy to forget that Wolves starlet Morgan Gibbs-White is only 20 years old.

He made his Wolf Pack debut back in 2017 – aged just 16 – when he came on as a substitute during their 2-0 victory over Stoke City in the FA Cup, and it was only the following month in which he made his maiden league bow.

The England U21 international has gone on to play a whopping 70 times for the Midlands outfit since but during the past 18 months, he has found it hard to cement his place under Nuno Santo.

His actions during lockdown probably didn’t help things either after he was fined and disciplined for breaking rules to attend a party back in May.

The 20-year-old signed a new three-year deal in the summer, which signals some sort of future intent, but was loaned out to Championship side Swansea City for a season-long loan.

He looked not only rejuvenated but also like the sort of player he had been touted as from a young age – Gary Lineker once tipped him for an England call-up two years ago whilst Danny Murphy has previously lauded him as “sensational.”

Usually at Molineux, once you’re out the door on loan, you’re finished. Nuno is never one to utilise the system to produce youngsters for the first-team set-up, they’re usually in from day one.

Gibbs-White picked up his first assist in nearly two years, a shock for a creative influence, and has also bagged for the Swans but now he faces his toughest test yet having suffered a devastating injury blow.

It could be a cruel sucker-punch to his Wolves prospects as he’s set to miss the next three months at least. A fractured foot isn’t the easiest to come back from considering a footballer’s trade is built upon that very limb.

Nuno clearly has a soft spot for the homegrown sensation but now he’s without a consistent flow of games to excel, thrive and prove his worth, time could well be running out to salvage his Wolves career.

The Athletic’s Tim Spiers described his display against Millwall in glowing light, he said: “He’s got his arm in the air more than a world semaphore champion, constantly demanding the ball, be it from the keeper, the defence or his fellow attackers. He comes deep to collect possession but also makes those positive, darting runs between the lines that would, dare it be suggested, be something his parent club would richly benefit from.”

Only time will tell if the £30k-per-week prospect can come back from yet another annoying setback in his Molineux career.

AND in other news, Premature exit of £6.4m talent haunts Fosun’s long-term vision…

Glasgow Rangers: Stephan Lichtsteiner would bring unrivalled experience to Ibrox

The Daily Record has suggested that Glasgow Rangers should make a move for out of contract right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner.

The 36-year-old spent the past term at Augsburg in the Bundesliga, appearing in 20 matches for the south German outfit in the top tier. However, his deal at the club lasted just one season and, should Steven Gerrard and co at Ibrox want to, they could sign him on a free transfer.

At his age, Lichtsteiner may not be the player he was once was, but there is no doubt that he could be a valuable addition to the Ibrox outfit. There are few players who possess the experience of the former Juventus man – he has over 700 appearances in all matches in his career, including 108 caps for Switzerland, and knows all about winning at the highest level, with eight titles to his name across Italy and his homeland.

To be able to spend seven years at a club like Juventus, you must have something special. Whilst Lichtsteiner may not be the most extravagant and eye-catching of players, there is something just as impressive about regularity and reliability. James Tavernier would likely continue to be the number one choice on the right side of the back four, but the Swiss’ experience could be hugely important as the Gers look for a first major trophy since 2011.

Let us know what you think below!

Harry Wilson may need to change position if he joins Leeds

Leeds United’s transfer policy is reportedly going to centre around looking at some of the EFL’s top talents, but one story that broke on Friday indicates that they’re not going to do all of their shopping in the Championship.

Indeed, the Whites have now been linked with a player from reigning Premier League champions Liverpool, and it’s a player they’ve previously had a look at.

About a year ago, the Yorkshire club were linked with a big-money move for Liverpool’s Harry Wilson, but for one reason or another, it never came off.

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However, with the financial boost that comes with promotion, United can now afford to bring in a higher calibre of player, and once again Wilson is on their radar.

The Sun are reporting that the Welshman will cost the club £15m, but you have to wonder how he’d fit into Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

Wilson has operated mainly as a right-winger over the past 12 months during his time at Bournemouth, but his style of play doesn’t suit him to running the channels in a Marcelo Bielsa side.

The Argentine loves to have speedy wingers who can get to the byline and drill low crosses, while Wilson is a much more technical player who doesn’t really cross all that much, averaging just 0.1 crosses per game this term.

Fortunately, he can also play through the middle, and that may be where Bielsa wants to utilise him if he comes in.

Wilson’s technical ability is undeniable, he’s a sweet striker of the ball, as shown by his incredible free-kick highlight reel, and if that incredible technique can be channelled in a number 10 role, United could have the ultimate Pablo Hernandez successor on their hands, but Bielsa may have a lot of work to do in changing his position.

Total Duds: Andrius Velicka’s 2008 move to Glasgow Rangers ended up being a waste

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.

By Scottish football standards, even now, Glasgow Rangers spending £21.29m during the 2008/09 season was eye-catching.

The Gers, of course, had just reached the UEFA Cup final and had won both domestic cup competitions – clearly, they were looking to build on that. As such, they splashed seven figures on no less than seven different players, with the likes of Kyle Lafferty and Kenny Miller being added to the forward line.

Lithuania international Andrius Velicka was also added to the Ibrox outfit’s squad, with the Gers spending £1.26m on his services. He had already played in Scotland, scoring a respectable 17 goals in 44 matches for Hearts, and it was hoped that he would be able to score on a regular basis for the 54-time Scottish champions as well.

In the nine games he did eventually play for the Gers, he was far from disappointing, scoring four goals. However, he was unable to break into the side on a regular basis, and was loaned out to Bristol City for the 2009/10 campaign. In a cruel blow, he managed just one game before rupturing his cruciate ligament, and that was to be the beginning of the end for him with the Gers.

In fact, he never played for them again. After one further loan spell, with Aberdeen, he left on a free transfer and returned to his homeland. After just nine games, the Gers made a 100% loss on his signature, with each goal scored costing the club £315,000. It is a switch the blue side of Glasgow will likely want to forget.

Let us know what you think below!

Manchester United: Jeremie Boga is a transfer target for the Red Devils

It is no secret that Manchester United are looking to add even more firepower to close the gap on Liverpool, the newly-crowned Premier League champions. 

Although Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood have impressed with 51 goals between them this season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted he is eager to add to the attacking options at his disposal.

Solskjaer has made it clear that Jadon Sancho remains his top priority this summer, but now another name has entered the mix.

Jeremie Boga came through the famous Chelsea academy, although he spent the majority of his time out on loan, as has become tradition at Stamford Bridge. However, he grew frustrated by a lack of opportunities and promptly jumped ship to Sassuolo when the chance arose.

Boga has enjoyed his best season with the Neroverdi so far, scoring 10 goals in 28 games in Serie A, taking 1.7 shots and attempting 4.1 dribbles per game (via WhoScored).

According to Foot Mercato, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester United are keen to sign the Ivorian and have made a tentative approach.

His heroics have attracted attention from major European clubs like Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Barcelona. The 23-year-old is currently valued at £14m via Transfermarkt but it is likely that he won’t come cheap.

It is also worth pointing out that the Blues have a buy-back clause on their academy graduate, although it remains to be seen if they will exercise the option.

If the Red Devils are serious about buying Boga, they could face stiff competition for his signature, which explains why the board have “shown little interest of going further” for now.

Moreover, United may choose to pool all of their attention into pursuing Sancho instead, as the one-time Ivory Coast international has insisted that he is committed to Sassuolo.

United fans, do you think Ed Woodward should sign Jeremie Boga in the summer? Let us know down below!

Leeds fans react to Phil Hay’s Elland Road claim

Leeds United fans have been left in a frenzy after The Athletic’s Phil Hay delivered a bold statement to Twitter on Friday afternoon.

The ever-reliable Whites reporter lauded Spurs and their new stadium following an article from one of his colleagues, Charlie Eccleshare, and accompanied the praise with a pondering Leeds moving into one of their own.

Elland Road has been the club’s home since forming 100 years ago in 1919 and is the 14th largest stadium in English football, and the third largest outside the top-flight behind the Stadium of Light and Hillsborough.

But given the recent links speculating a possible takeover of the west Yorkshire outfit by PSG powerhouses QSI, and their lofty ambitions to once again be a ‘great’ in the Premier League, are they restricting themselves with their 37,000-odd capacity?

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Supporters have been discussing the matter on social media with many wanting a redevelopment of their current ground rather than moving elsewhere.

Here’s what has been said…

AND in other news, Leeds fans react to Ben White transfer latest…

Man Utd fans on The Athletic’s sporting director update

So it appears Ed Woodward will not be shaking things up too much at Manchester United.

Reports over the past year had suggested that the Red Devils were keen on bringing in a sporting or technical director to help streamline things both on the pitch and off it.

But now, according to The Athletic, United have made a U-turn on that idea, and will not be pursuing anyone for that kind of role or position anytime soon.

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It’s suggested that “such a precise role is not on the agenda anymore” and that “United do not seek a guru to lead policy for signings, nor will anybody come in to take ownership of who sits in the dugout”.

After hearing about the update United fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

A couple of United fans in particular seemed to be unsurprised by the latest development, with one supporter suggesting “we all called this a long time ago”.

Based on the signings that United have made in the past couple of transfer windows, then there is certainly an argument to be made that the side have made some improvements on that front.

But having someone other than Woodward to help maximise the potential of the club would surely be a smart move to make.

Instead, the club risk falling into the same trap and making the same mistakes they used to.

Nottingham Forest loan watch: Virgil Gomis features in heavy loss, Tyler Walker scores in win and Luke Steele remains on the bench in win

In our Loan Watch feature series, the Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how a selection of players from a particular club are faring whilst they are away from their parent side, and provide a brief update regarding their form.

Here are reports on a trio of Nottingham Forest players currently out on loan, with goals, heavy defeats and draws all on the agenda as these Reds endure mixed weeks whilst earning valuable minutes for their respective loan clubs.

Virgil Gomis

Virgil Gomis started and played the full 90 minutes in Macclesfield Town’s 4-0 loss at home to Kingstonians in the first round of the FA Cup.

The loss was extended the club’s unbeaten run to three games across all competitions as first-team players continued their strike over unpaid wages (via BBC).

Tyler Walker

Tyler Walker scored a goal as Lincoln City held League One rivals Ipswich Town to a 1-1 draw in the first round of their FA Cup tie.

The 23-year-old loanee scored the opening goal of the game for the Imps as he struck after a cross from Bruno Andrade (via BBC). It was his ninth goal in his 20th appearance for the League Two club (via Transfermarkt).

Walker showed a willingness to get in behind the Ipswich defence, having been caught offside the most number of times and having the second-joint most shots on goal for his side (via WhoScored).

Luke Steele

Luke Steele’s loan spell provided more of the same for the ‘keeper as he sat on the bench for Millwall’s 2-1 win over south London rivals Charlton Athletic.

The Lions won the game deep into stoppage time after Matt Smith struck home a header after c0rner from Jed Wallace (via BBC).

Steele has made just two appearances for the club since his loan move from the City Ground with both of them coming in the Carabao Cup (via Transfermarkt).

Walker has enjoyed a brilliant spell with Lincoln this season, and could possibly force his way into the Forest squad next season. Lewis Grabban is already 31-years-old and will need replacing in the near future, giving the 23-year-old hope of securing a regular starting place as he has shown he has the quality in front of goal.

Meanwhile, Virgil Gomis is in the midst of a crisis with Macclesfield. The longer the first-team players aren’t paid, the longer the strike goes on, meaning the loan spell will be meaningless for the 20-year-old. To have any chance to progress his career, Forest need to cancel the loan spell and let him move to another club, which will provide him with a stable environment to thrive in.

Steele’s spell at Millwall is proving a waste of time after just two appearances all season. He will be hoping for an injury to starting ‘keeper Bartosz Białkowski in order to secure a starting spot this campaign.

Forest fans, what do you make of the loan spell of the three players? Let us know your thoughts!

Leeds fans praise Alfie McCalmont after assist

Leeds United fans have been heaping praise upon Alfie McCalmont after he played a brilliant through ball for Jordan Stevens’ goal in Leeds U23s’ 2-0 win against Wigan.

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It really is a joke of a pass as he unlocks the defence with a beautifully disguised through ball that allowed Stevens a clear look at goal.

Supporters couldn’t help but wax lyrical about the midfielder’s contribution here, and you can’t blame them as the pass really was reminiscent of something a Barcelona player would do rather than a Leeds U23 man.

Hopefully, this isn’t the last time we see the youngster playing balls like this, and if he carries on this form it surely won’t be long until he’s doing it at Elland Road for the first team.

The youngster has had a breakthrough campaign, earning his debut for Northern Ireland and playing the Carabao Cup as well.

Here’s what United supporters have been saying on social media…

In other news, have a look at what Leeds fans have been saying about a signing they missed out on earlier this year.

Liverpool fans respond to the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool fans have been reacting to the news that Trent Alexander-Arnold will be available for selection against Tottenham on Sunday.

The 21-year-old did not travel to Belgium as the Reds beat Genk 4-1 in the Champions League as he was suffering from a virus.

The England international has become an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s side since his introduction to the side in 2016. He is two appearances off making his century of appearances in the first team, having scored five goals and provided 23 assists in 98 games for the Reds.

After the 2018/19 campaign, himself and Andy Robertson became the first set of defenders from the same team to record double figures for assists in the same season.

Alexander-Arnold last featured during the 1-1 draw against Manchester United but manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed that he should be ready to come straight back into the team.

“Trent is fine. Or looked fine, if there is no setback,” said Klopp during his pre-match press conference.

“He was ill – ill enough to not travel with us, which is not a good sign, but yesterday he had a clearing session and if it is as it was yesterday then he should be fine.”

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James Milner filled in at right-back for the absent youngster in Genk and supporters have been excited about the news that Alexander-Arnold will come back into the first team. One fan said that it was the “best news he had heard all day”.

Here you will find some of the best reactions from Liverpool fans:

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