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Glasgow Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has said that he wants to add another midfielder to his squad.

So far, the Gers have failed to do so, but that does not mean they have not been linked with a number of players. The Ibrox outfit were said to be heavily interested in Bongani Zungu, but that now appears to have died down, whilst they have also been said to be in pursuit of the likes of John Lundstram and Daler Kuzyaev (Russian report via The Herald).

Now, another name has been been mentioned – the Gers are said to be eyeing Genk midfielder Patrik Hrosovsky. The £3.6m-valued 28-year-old (as per Transfermarkt) – a former team-mate of Ianis Hagi – made 27 appearances in all competitions for the Belgian outfit last term, and the Gers are said to be interested in signing him on loan. Genk, though only want to sell him permanently, and are looking for a fee of £3.55m.

The speculation has attracted the attention of the Gers supporters, and it seems they would love to sign him – he fits the bill of what they need, and has performed at a Champions League level, even scoring against Real Madrid.

They have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

Let us know what you think below!

Burnley are reportedly “very interested” in signing Huddersfield youngster Lewis O’Brien in the summer transfer window.

That is according to journalist Alan Nixon, who tweeted (via @reluctantnicko) that the 20-year-old is a “Dyche type” midfielder and the kind of player that the Clarets want considering their transfer budget.

However, as per the print edition of The Sun [via Sheffield United News], Sheffield United are also hoping to land the young Terriers talent before the start of the 2020/21 season.

O’Brien established himself in Huddersfield’s first team last season, making 39 appearances (including 36 league starts) and contributing two goals and four assists (as per TransferMarkt).

The 20-year-old has forged a reputation as a tough-tackling midfield enforcer, winning 3.2 tackles per game in the Championship last term along with making 1.2 interceptions per game (as per WhoScored). The former statistic seems even more remarkable when considering that he played mostly as an attacking midfielder rather than at the base of the midfield.

Sean Dyche does not have a huge overflow of central midfielders, with just Ashley Westwood, Jack Cork, Josh Brownhill and Mace Goodridge (who has yet to make his senior debut) vying for two places in the starting XI.  Aside from the relative sparsity of numbers making a case for O’Brien to be signed, the Huddersfield man’s statistics also make for favourable reading compared to the Clarets’ central midfielders.

When Danny Drinkwater’s two successful tackles in his one appearance last season are discounted, Westwood won the most tackles per game of any midfielder in Dyche’s squad with 1.5, less than half of O’Brien’s average. Also, of the Clarets’ midfield men, only Brownhill had a better interceptions per game average (1.4). [via WhoScored]

Perhaps the man most under threat from O’Brien’s possible arrival is Cork. The 31-year-old posted match averages of 1.2 tackles, 0.9 interceptions, 0.9 dribbles and 0.4 key passes per game last season (as per WhoScored) – lower than the Terriers man for each of those metrics.

Also, with Westwood starting more often than the ex-Southampton man (35 to 30) in 2019/20, he could be the one at greater risk of losing his place in the team.

With Cork approaching the latter stages of his career and O’Brien only starting out on his, it seems to make perfect sense for Burnley to target the Huddersfield youngster, particularly with his figures reading so impressively in comparison to the more experienced Clarets midfielder.

Burnley fans, do you think O’Brien would go straight into Dyche’s first XI if he ends up at Turf Moor? Comment below with your views!

Key Information about Edgeley Park

Edgeley Park is the home of National League side Stockport County, and it has been since 1902. The Cheshire based stadium holds almost 11,000 spectators and it was shared with Rugby Union club Sale Sharks between 2003-12.

In 2015, Stockport Council purchased the stadium for £2m, and leased it back to the club in order to block redevelopment and stop it from being demolished.

A history of Edgeley Park

Up until 1902, Stockport County had played all of their home matches at Green Lane in Heaton Norris. Throughout history, Edgeley Park has seen many greats play at the historic ground, including George Best, Bobby Moore, and Kevin Keegan. The first Main Stand was built in 1913, and it held an increased 500 seats.

Ten years later, a wooden terrace was built at the Cheadle End and in 1927 the Popular Side was reconstructed before it was extended further back to hold 16,000 spectators in 1934. Just one year after this expansion, the main stand was burnt down after the timber caught fire, though it was rebuilt a year later.

Following the Bradford City stadium fire in 1985, all wooden structures were removed from the stadium. The stadium was originally built in 1901 for Rugby League club Stockport RFC, though Stockport County moved there following the expansion of their fan base due to their entrance into the Football League two years earlier.

The longest ever football match recorded in history took place at Edgeley Park on March 30, 1946. The Division Three North Cup replay took place between Stockport County and Doncaster Rovers and it lasted an extraordinary three hours and 23 minutes. The replay commenced after the first game ended 2-2, and it was not in anyone’s minds that it would last a remarkable 203 minutes.

The replay was tied once more at 2-2 after 90 minutes, therefore the tie went to extra time; however, 30 minutes were not enough with neither team able to score during that period. Penalty shootouts were not part of the game back during the wartime so the only solution was to play-to-win until one team finally would score.

The record attendance at Edgeley Park is a massive 27,833 when Liverpool visited Stockport County in the fifth round of the 1950 FA Cup. The National League ground has four main stands; the Danny Bergara Stand, Cheadle End, Popular Side, and Railway End which is the usual home of away supporters. In the summer of 2015, Edgeley Park was passed into the ownership of Stockport Council who decided to rent the ground back to the football club on a commercial basis.

Tickets to Watch Stockport County at Edgeley Park

All Stockport County tickets are available to purchase online at Eventbrite and not through the phone. Single matchday tickets range from £5-15, and children typically can attend for free. If you are interested in season tickets, one can be purchased from £240 if you are early enough, though they are usually priced at around £300 for Adults.

Related Links

https://www.stockportcounty.com/ – Official website of Stockport County

https://www.stockportcounty.com/match/match-tickets/ – Stockport County ticket office

Tottenham Hotspur are ‘not interested’ in selling Tanguy Ndombele this summer, reports say. 

Ndombele has been touted to leave north London and join Inter Milan instead, as the two clubs have reportedly held talks to try to sort out a deal for the midfielder.

According to The Mirror, as relayed by Ricky Sacks, Tottenham have so far insisted that, despite the fact the club’s record signing is keen to move to Milan, he is going nowhere.

The Nerazzurri have offered Slovakian defender Milan Skriniar as part of a player exchange but Spurs have no intention of entertaining the swap deal.

However, they are prepared to open separate discussions with the Serie A side if the 25-year-old is available.

Jose Mourinho rates Skriniar highly and Inter are confident they can persuade Spurs to accept their offer.

The Lilywhites do not want to let the £40.5m-valued French international go as Mourinho is determined to make him a success.

The 23-year-old struggled for consistency last term, having played just two games since the Premier League restart, before being dropped from the squad after picking up an injury.

Daniel Levy could live to regret selling the Frenchman in the summer, as he emerged as one of Europe’s hottest prospects during his time at Lyon.

Ndombele simply needs time to adjust and settle down to life in the Premier League, which is no easy task, as his teammate Son Heung-min found out for himself when he first arrived at White Hart Lane.

He clearly has bags of potential, as he given fans a glimpse of what he has to offer in the Champions League, supplying two assists, making 1.7 tackles per game, averaging one interception, and successfully completing 2.8 dribbles on average (via WhoScored).

For whatever reason, it hasn’t quite worked out for him in north London as of yet, but Mourinho must get the best out of him if Spurs are to challenge for silverware next season. The Portuguese knows he has to be patient after he cited Luka Modric’s early struggles at Real Madrid as an example.

Tottenham fans, do you think Levy should sell Ndombele in the summer? Let us know your views in the comments below!

Jermain Defoe has played in some massive derbies throughout his career.

The North London Derby and Tyne-Wear Derby are widely recognised as two of the biggest derbies in the UK and the striker has scored in both, but he’s also had a taste of the Old Firm Derby during his time at Rangers, and it’s this hotly contested rivalry that has impressed the 37-year-old the most.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Defoe said: “It’s the best. It’s unbelievable. I appreciate all the derbies I’ve played in but when I spoke to Graeme Souness before I signed for Rangers, he told me it’s the best football match in the world.

“But you have to experience what it’s like, it’s a special game. When we beat them 2-0 at home, the atmosphere was incredible. I was looking around, almost in a trance, looking at the crowd bouncing, it gave me goosebumps.

“It really was amazing.”

Rangers won the last Old Firm derby and while Defoe is yet to get himself on the scoresheet for Rangers against Celtic, with a one-year Ibrox contract agreed ahead of next season he’ll have a few more chances yet to add yet another derby goal to his impressive goalscoring record.

And it’s making his name at Rangers that is driving Defoe forward, with dreams of making history at the forefront of his focus once football restarts.

“When you walk down the tunnel and on to the pitch at Ibrox you can see the names of great players on a board and I say to the players, if we can be on that board one day then we’ve done something special,” Defoe added.

“I’m just focused on being a part of Rangers history.”

You can read the full interview with Jermain Defoe, in conjunction with On The Ball Global, here.

Many Sheffield Wednesday fans have fondly looked back on John Harkes’ memorable goal against Derby whilst playing for the club.

After developing his football in his homeland of America, Harkes quickly became known for ability, making his first appearances for the US national side in 1987.

Interest would soon follow from European football, and it was Sheffield Wednesday who would agree a deal with Albany Capitals for the midfielder.

Arriving to help the Owls gain promotion from the second division to the first, Harkes would also go on to play for the Yorkshire club in the Premier League campaign of 1992/1993.

A consistent performer, Harkes would create history at the club when he scored what was later named ‘English football’s Goal of the Year’, netting from distance against Derby County, for whom Peter Shilton played in goal for.

Leaving Wednesday in 1994, Harkes would join Derby, having two years at Pride Park, before finishing his spell in England with a short spell at West Ham United.

Now head coach of Greenville Triumph, Harkes 90 international caps to his name and no less than 358 career club appearances.

Looking back on footage of his strike against Derby, Wednesday fans issued the following responses on Harkes’ memorable moment…

Owls fans, what are your memories of John Harkes? Let us know below…

After being linked with a move away from Old Trafford for the whole of last summer, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba ended up staying put at the club.

The Frenchman had publicly suggested that he would be open to leaving Manchester, with reports even claiming that the likes of Juventus and Real Madrid were keen to take him away from the Premier League.

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Since then, Pogba has struggled with injuries, keeping him out of action for a number of months – this season has seen him only make eight appearances for the first-team.

Now, The Daily Mirror claim that United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made plans to keep Pogba a key part of the club’s future, and that he’s told him he wants to ” build a midfield partnership with Bruno Fernandes to provide a pathway back to glory for United when football resumes”.

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

Some United fans in particular praised Solskjaer for potentially getting Pogba to stay, with one supporter claiming that he would rate him so much more if he could also sign Jadon Sancho too

A Pogba/Fernandes partnership is certainly a mouth-watering prospect.

The duo have yet to take to the field for United just yet, but it is certainly a tantalising thing for fans of the Manchester side to start dreaming about.

If they can keep hold of Pogba this summer, then the Red Devils could boast a formidable midfield duo for next season.

Meanwhile, Man Utd fans discuss a major update on their swoop for Kai Havertz.

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…

With the January transfer window just around the corner, the rumour mill is beginning to warm up.

Liverpool were quiet during the summer, spending less than £2m as they brought in Sepp van den Berg, Harvey Elliott and Adrian. As they target a first Premier League title win in 30 years, they may look to add to their squad at the start of next year.

One of those they are believed to be pursuing is Genk’s Sander Berge.

The Belgian club’s sporting director Dimitri De Conde has told Radio Punto Nuovo (via Goal.com) that Liverpool are interested in the 21-year-old. However, they will face competition from Napoli, who are also mentioned as being after the 18-time Norway international.

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The former Valarenga defensive midfielder has grown into an important member of his club’s starting XI. Last term, he made 40 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals and providing four assists in the process. His contribution helped De Smurfen win the title and qualify for this year’s Champions League.

In the Europa League last term, he was particularly impressive. He scored two goals and provided one assist in four matches, picking up an average WhoScored rating of 7.53, whilst he earned a 7.22 rating during the 16/17 season as well.

Whilst he has appeared mainly in defensive midfield this term, he played slightly further forward against Sarpsborg 08 last season in Europe, for example, and scored a goal and provided an assist.

Clearly, he has talent, and his versatility could prove to be a big plus for the Reds. Given his age, he could be a long-term replacement for Jordan Henderson, another who has split his time between being a central midfielder and playing in a deeper position.

Comparing their statistics, they’re very similar when it comes to their defensive qualities. Henderson has registered 1.8 tackles and 1 interception per game in the league this term while Berge averages 1 tackle and 1.3 interceptions in the Champions League. As for passing, the Norwegian is ever so slightly ahead on 0.8 comapred to Henderson’s 0.5 each outing.

The 55-time England international is 29, and although he is still a big part of Jurgen Klopp’s plans – he has started nine games this campaign in the Premier League – the former Borussia Dortmund man’s pressing, all-action style could eventually take its toll on the former Sunderland man.

Currently valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt, Berge may just be Henderson’s long-term successor.

Liverpool fans have been left baffled by Gareth Southgate’s reported decision to start Tyrone Mings instead of Joe Gomez on Monday evening.

The Three Lions have been underperforming but achieving results in the last couple of international breaks, but finally came unstuck on Friday in Prague.

Southgate’s side were deservedly beaten 2-1 after some horrific defending, and The Daily Mail claim he will ring the changes on Monday against Bulgaria.

However, the report claims it is not Gomez who will replace Michael Keane alongside Harry Maguire, but Aston Villa’s Mings.

Gomez has of course struggled for game time this season due to his fitness and Joel Matip’s form, with even Dejan Lovren starting ahead of him last weekend against Leicester.

That said, one would think that the 22 year-old, who was a big part of the Premier League’s best defence in 2018/19, would be a better selection than a player who is only this season solidifying himself as a top-flight regular in Mings.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where one fan even called what Southgate has done an “embarrassment”…

QPR travel to South Wales this Wednesday to take on Cardiff, following a mixed start to the campaign for Neil Warnock’s side.

The Bluebirds have won three, drawn four and lost two of their nine league games so far, whereas Mark Warburton’s men have only just seen a fantastic four-game winning run come to an end with a 2-0 defeat to West Brom.

There were a few questionable performances last time out, with some fans unhappy about Joe Lumley’s contribution after a poor mistake.

In addition to that, Todd Kane delivered a poor performance at right wing-back, so the R’s will be keen to bounce back at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Let’s take a look at the XI Warburton should put out to give his side the best chance of doing just that…

As you can see, there aren’t too many drastic changes from the XI that lost to Slaven Bilic’s side.

We have decided to drop Lumley from the starting lineup, not solely due to the fact he attracted criticism from some fans as aforesaid, but because he has been in underwhelming form for a while now – Liam Kelly takes his spot in our XI.

Indeed, Lumley allowed Nathan Ferguson’s shot to swerve under him against the Baggies, while his woeful error against Luton in which he literally gifted Harry Cornick an open goal almost saw the Londoners throw away a three-goal lead.

Grant Hall also looks to have recovered from an injury problem, so we think he should come in to replace 34-year-old Geoff Cameron.

Elsewhere, the only other suggested change is one that sees 21-year-old Conor Masterson come in for what would be his debut – he is yet to play a minute since arriving from Liverpool – as a replacement for the suspended Yoann Barbet, who was sent off against West Brom.

With these changes, Warburton would be handing his side a good chance of getting a result against Warnock’s men.