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Glasgow Rangers striker Cedric Itten will have given Steven Gerrard some serious cause for concern with his performance whilst away on international duty. The 3-cap Switzerland international has had a tough start to his time at the Ibrox before being called up by his country.

Albeit, it may be too early to judge him so harshly, as he has started to shown signs of turning things around at Rangers. He notably scored an incredible screamer against Motherwell which left fans raving on social media.

But Itten struggled in the international friendly against Croatia. And he didn’t play at all in the Nations League loss to Spain, which is perhaps telling, as the £3.6m-rated ace watched the entirety of the game from the bench.

As per Wyscout (via Ibrox News), he succeeded in just 23% of his total actions against Croatia, which is 17% lower than his season average so far. In fairness, he only featured for thirty or so minutes during the midweek defeat, but the statistics still make for some pretty grim reading.

The 23-year-old could only muster three successful actions out of a possible thirteen, which shows he wasn’t able to perform at his absolute peak, and he only attempt one shot on goal throughout the game. Did we fail to mention the fact that he couldn’t even hit the target?

What was more worrying was that the Swiss striker only won three out of his eight duels (37.5%) against Croatia. In fact, his 25% completion rate is 7% lower than his season average, which once again shows that he was largely anonymous. It is worth remembering he didn’t win a single duel in his last game for the Gers against Galatasaray before the international break.

Whether or not he will return to form when he returns to his club remains to be seen. But if these stats are anything to go by, they are certainly something to keep an eye on for the rest of the season. Steven Gerrard’s side face Celtic shortly after the international break so they will want to sort out any lingering issues long before the Old Firm Derby.

However, Itten has shown he can overcome adversity, as he bagged a brace against Motherwell in his third game back from a short spell on the sidelines. After all, nobody is perfect, and everyone is allowed a day off every once in a while. At least it wasn’t with the Gers! Fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that he shows signs of improvement before he returns to the Ibrox outfit.

AND in other news, Rangers must make bargain swoop for ex-Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge…

According to Sky Sports, AS Monaco are interested in signing Serge Aurier from Tottenham this summer.

What’s the word?

The Ivory Coast international arrived from PSG back in the summer of 2017, and has gone on to make 77 appearances for the club, scoring six times and providing 14 assists.

His time with the Lilywhites has also been riddled with some high-profile mistakes however, with numerous penalties conceded – by October of last year, he had already committed four fouls that led to a spot-kick.

Now, Sky Sports claim that with Monaco’s recruitment now being led by Paul Mitchell – formerly of Spurs himself – they are keen on bringing Aurier back to French football this summer.

Ending the misery

Whilst Aurier has undoubtedly shown flashes of promise, particularly when going forward given that he has an impressive 14 assists, he is just too much of a liability defensively for someone like Jose Mourinho to ever fully trust.

Can you name every one of Spurs’ top goalscorers from the past 15 seasons? It’s a tricky one…

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And aside from conceding penalties on a regular basis, the £70k-a-week star has also had his fair share of issues off the pitch, not least during this whole lockdown period. The right-back has been investigated by Spurs for breaking restrictions on three separate occasions, and it all points to someone who just doesn’t seem to learn from his mistakes.

But with Monaco now said to be interested, Daniel Levy has the perfect opportunity to finally cut his losses on the man Mauricio Pochettino brought to the club a couple of years ago.

Celtic’s chances of landing one of their reported transfer targets have been given a huge boost this week following remarks from the player himself…

What’s the word?

It is believed that the Scottish giants have been pursuing a deal for Philadelphia Union centre-back Mark McKenzie with the young American talent thought to be available for as little as £1m as per the Daily Mail, via The Sun.

The 21-year-old has spoken out about the mooted interest recently, he said: “As a kid, you dream of playing at the top clubs in the world. Playing in top leagues and in Champions League and whatnot. It’s always a blessing to be able to draw interest from clubs in Europe.”

His boss at the MLS outfit, Jim Curtin, has also commented on the speculation surrounding a number of his players, claiming that “there’s been a lot of interest from teams from overseas. Their talent is certainly there and, if they continue to play the way they do, I’m sure some real concrete offers will come in for them.”

Ajer successor

Neil Lennon lost Jozo Simunovic during the off-season and there could yet be further movement in the defensive ranks with Kristoffer Ajer regularly attracting interest – back in March, Celtic were rocked with a bombshell from his agent, who suggest that it was inevitable that the colossus departs Parkhead.

AC Milan are thought to be very keen on securing the Norwegian for around £20m.

Therefore, Nick Hammond has a task on his hands to find a new defender fast with the SPFL season resuming this weekend and he should really look no further than McKenzie.

Former Dundee boss Iain Munro who has worked within Union’s academy once described the one-time USA international as a “Rolls-Royce” of a player, claiming that he’s a “talented kid” with “great pace” and “athleticism”.

Although he’s some six inches shorter than Ajer, the need for a new centre-back should be top priority and someone of McKenzie’s mooted quality would certainly be an impressive deal to make – especially at £1m.

Hammond could make bags of profit on him in the future all whilst securing a stud that can herald the side to a tenth league title in a row.

AND in other news, Hammond’s latest transfer bid is an insult as prolific talisman slips from Lennon’s grasp…

In our Transfers that shook the club feature, Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at deals that many may not have seen coming and the impact that they had during their time by using statistical data and pundit remarks.

When it was reported that Newcastle United appointed Chelsea and Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez as successor to Steve McClaren in the North East back in March 2016, it definitely shook the Tyneside club.

The 60-year old was arguably an already established European mastermind upon arrival at St. James’ Park, having won the UEFA Cup with Valencia CF in 2003/04, the Champions League with Liverpool in 2004/05, the UEFA Super Cup with the Anfield outfit the season after in addition to claiming the Europa League title with Chelsea in 2012/13, according to Transfermarkt.

This is not to mention the various domestic trophies that Rafa won whilst also managing in Italy with SSC Napoli and Inter Milan, as per the website, and the fact that the club he had managed before arriving at St James’ Park was Spanish giants Real Madrid.

With so much silverware to his name, it was perhaps a shock that the Spanish coach chose to manage the Magpies given that they had not won any since their 2010 EFL Championship success.

Nevertheless, Rafa relished the new challenge of coaching a team threatened by relegation, claiming that he was ‘committed to a legendary English club’, winning the Toon faithful over straight away.

Unfortunately, even he could not stop NUFC dropping down a division once more, but he did make sure that they bounced straight back up.

Newcastle finished in the top half of the Premier League table in their first campaign after promotion, a testament to how well Rafa did with what he was working with. Indeed, that season they had a net spend of just £22.75m (Transfermarkt).

He has since left the club, finishing with 62 wins from 146 matches and 209 goals scored. But The Daily Telegraph have reported that he wants to make his second coming if the prospective takeover is completed.

Indeed, with potentially much more financial backing from the Saudi consortium, Rafa could repeat his heroics for United and perhaps guide them further.

Geordies, did Rafa shake the club when he joined? Comment below!

Arriving at Molineux during a significant period of overhaul for the club, Mick McCarthy made slow but steady process as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

His first season at the club saw him radically revamp the squad, with experienced players such as Paul Ince, Kenny Miller and Darren Anderton departing and younger talents including Karl Henry, Jay Bothroyd and Michael Kightly coming in.

Having missed out on promotion narrowly in his first two seasons as boss, Wolves secured their return to the big time in 2009, with McCarthy’s free-scoring side impressing throughout the season.

Following their promotion to the Premier League Wolves were never able to fully establish themselves as a force in the top flight, but nonetheless McCarthy kept them up in consecutive seasons, before being sacked in 2012 as his side slid towards the bottom of the league.

With football back underway and Wolves chasing a place in the top four, we look back on the career of Mick McCarthy at Molineux and are testing your knowledge of his Wolves career…

Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds defender Alex Bruce has urged Ben White to join a team where he will play regularly next season.

What did he say?

White has been on a season-long loan at Elland Road this year, and has enjoyed an impressive campaign as Marcelo Bielsa’s side look to make their return to English football’s top-flight.

The 22-year-old has played 40 games across all competitions, including playing the full 90 minutes in every single match in the Championship. Leeds are set to face competition from the likes of Liverpool this summer as they look to make his loan deal a permanent one, and Bruce has advised him to pick a team where he will continue to play regularly.

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He said: “He’ll have a big decision to make. Ultimately the biggest one for him, if you’re asking for my opinion and the advice I would give for someone like him, is go somewhere where you’re going to play. The thing he doesn’t want to do is have a full season playing, get a decent little reputation and then go and sit on someone’s bench, like at Anfield or somewhere.

“Keep playing, keep building your reputation – that’s my advice to him.”

Pole position

Ultimately, White’s decision will hinge on whether he is keen to keep growing as a player by playing week-in and week-out, or make the step to a side like Liverpool so soon in his young career.

The 22-year-old is surely seeing first-hand the kind of project being built at Elland Road under the leadership of Bielsa, and that should be an enticing prospect for him to stay a part of.

So many players have jumped ship to join a so-called ‘big side’ too soon, and have just seen their careers go downhill extremely quickly. White only has to look at former Leeds starlet Jack Clarke to see how it might be wise to just stay put, and that the grass isn’t always greener.

Bruce’s advice is just good news for Leeds, and their hopes of signing White permanently this summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds fans discuss Phil Hay’s worrying update on the club’s finances.

Newcastle United’s prospective takeover is still yet to be confirmed, and now the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has made a claim that is going to send worry down the spines of many Magpies supporters.

Who the heck is that?! Can you name all 25 of these obscure Newcastle signings…

Replaying to a popular fan account on Twitter, Edwards suggested that there has been murmurings over whether a price has even been agreed, thought to be from the ‘selling side’ – aka. Mike Ashley.

He said:

It comes a day after Jason Burt revealed that there had been delays due to BeIN Sports’ objection to Saudi Arabia’s piracy of Premier League matches.

Meanwhile, the BBC claimed that Amanda Staveley’s consortium are involved in a deal thought to be around £300m.

This one is sure to rumble on, which will only raise concerns the longer there is no announcement or word from either involved party.

AND in other news,ÂNewcastle fans react to DeAndre Yedlin exit report…

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…

It was a vitriolic return for Raheem Sterling, who is now valued at £126m by Transfermarkt, to Anfield last Sunday as his Manchester City side faced the Reds in the Premier League.

Every time the 24-year-old picked up the ball, he was booed and jeered by the club’s supporters, and at times it appeared to get to him. It is not the first time he has been on the end of such a backlash from the Anfield outfit’s fans when he has faced them, and it is unlikely to be the last.

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It has been a difficult week for the England international. After the Citizens’ 3-1 defeat in that huge clash, he was dropped from the Three Lions squad for the fixture against Montenegro on Thursday following an incident with Joe Gomez.

Danny Rose, his national side teammate, has suggested that the abuse he received in Liverpool may have played a role in his frustration with the 22-year-old defender.

Ever since Sterling departed for the Etihad for an initial £44m, he has been on the receiving end of the Liverpool fans’ wrath. The winger refused to travel on the team’s pre-season tour before he made the move, hence the animosity.

However, the time is right for the fans to let it go, and the reason is, they do not need to worry themselves with such petty anger towards a former player.

As it stands, the Reds are in the best position they could possibly be. They are the current champions of Europe, whilst they also lead the Premier League by a full eight points. The match on Sunday showed the current contrast between the two sides. As the table shows, Liverpool are in a league of their own right now.

With this now looking like their best chance in the last 30 years to win the title, the Kop faithful should be concentrating on their own players and their performances rather than berating an opposition player, especially one who’s been hugely successful since leaving. Perhaps there’s an ounce of jealousy in the fact he’s won the title and they haven’t?

They can’t argue that Sterling’s move hasn’t been a success – he has won seven trophies compared to Liverpool’s two since his departure – and now the Reds are in a healthy position from their own point of view. With that in mind, it is time to let bygones be bygones and move on.

Well, it would be fair to say that the Newcastle fans were not overly pleased with what they saw from Jonjo Shelvey in Monday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

The midfielder wore the captain’s armband for the match at Villa Park with regular skipper Jamaal Lascelles on the sidelines through injury.

However, the Englishman could not inspire his team to a positive result as Villa ran out 2-0 winners on the night courtesy of goals from Conor Hourihane and Anwar El Ghazi.

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According to WhoScored, Shelvey only won one tackle, whilst the 27-year-old misplaced 11 passes during his 90 minutes on the field.

Operating in the middle of the park, it proved to be a tough night for the former Liverpool ace as Villa secured an important three points.

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The Newcastle supporters were very unhappy with what they saw from the midfielder, and a selection of the Twitter reaction is available to view below:

Could Shelvey’s form be improved if the Englishman is played in a higher position?

Newcastle United fans are furious that both Andy Carroll and Fabian Schar have been ruled out of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Wolves due to injury, as reported by Sky Sports’ Keith Downie on Twitter.

Carroll, who rejoined the club in the summer after being released by West Ham United, has not started a game for the Magpies since his return to the North East. The 30-year-old has only played 89 minutes of football this season and has had a career dominated by a catalogue of injuries.

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His injury is not believed to be serious, but he has been pulled out of contention for Saturday’s game for precautionary reasons.

The former Hammer has not found the net since the 2017/18 campaign, during a 1-1 draw against Stoke City.

Schar, 27, has been removed from the squad after damaging his knee ligaments and is expected to sit out a significant period of Newcastle’s season.

The Swiss defender has featured in all nine Premier League games during the current campaign and has scored one goal.

Supporters went into meltdown about the news that was revealed by Keith Downie. As a result, supporters have posted some damning statements about their expectations for Steve Bruce’s side for the rest of the season.

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