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After completing his takeover of Leeds United back in 2017, Andrea Radrizzani has helped inspire a major turnaround in fortunes at Elland Road.The club looked completely lost under Massimo Cellino, with seven managers in three years, and three bans to boot too.

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So when Radrizzani came in, you would have been forgiven for not being overly excited by the arrival of another businessman.

But instead, the Italian has orchestrated Leeds’ triumphant return to the Premier League, and in the early hours of Saturday morning, sent another message on Twitter to share his thoughts.

Whilst Marcelo Bielsa and the players will inevitably take a lot of the credit, the likes of Radrizzani and Victor Orta have helped massively in restoring Leeds’ identity, and removing some of the bad stench that Cellino had built up.

It hasn’t been an easy journey at all, with bumps and bruises along the way, but it’s fair to say that Radrizzani’s work at the club has been fully vindicated following their confirmation as a Premier League side once more.

Rangers FC boss Steven Gerrard hasn’t made it no secret that he wants a new midfielder at Ibrox before the transfer deadline and it appears his pursuit has taken a new direction…

What’s the word?

According to Bosnian outlet Sportske, the Scottish giants are eyeing up a move for Everton outcast Muhamed Besic, who isn’t in the plans of Carlo Ancelotti this season.

It’s claimed that the deal is most likely a loan but the possibility of it being a permanent switch isn’t completely disregarded. He could be available at a “low-price” as per the report.

The 28-year-old cost the Toffees €5m (£4.5m) back in 2014 and he has since been sent out on loan three times.

Ferguson-like enforcer

Clearly, Gerrard isn’t happy with his current options in the Gers engine room. An ageing Steve Davis is one of the first names on the teamsheet and then it’s anyone’s guess from the likes of Scott Arfield, Glen Kamara and Ryan Jack.

Perhaps the Ibrox outfit are missing a player similar to the legendary Barry Ferguson – a justified fan favourite who brought ferocity, tenacity and power to the middle. Not to mention his 15 trophies at the club.

And that’s what Besic is, just without the illustrious career.

The Bosnian has played over 100 times in English football, many of which coming in the Premier League, so he’s cut the mustard amongst some of the best throughout his career.

His former boss at Goodison Park, Roberto Martinez, has talked up his abilities in the past. He said:  “[Besic] is strong and aggressive, but Mo has a natural balance. He is a complete player. Besic has a high level of football intelligence. In addition to excellent physical qualities.”

Throughout his career, Besic has averaged 1.9 tackles, 1.3 dribbles and 0.8 key passes per game, via WhoScored, which only emphasises his potential capability of being that enforcer in the heart of Gerrard’s midfield.

Earning around £30k-per-week, the Everton powerhouse could well be the cheap answer to the Gers boss’ demands. Ross Wilson must sanction this move.

AND in other news, Rangers can land the perfect Steven Davis alternative in Bongani Zungu

Despite confirmation that Jan Vertonghen has signed a contract extension that will see him still be a Tottenham player until the remainder of this season, it looks likely that the Belgium international will eventually be heading for the exit door this summer.

Reports in recent days have suggested that a few Serie A sides, including the likes of AS Roma, Inter and Napoli, are all interested in signing Vertonghen on a free, and so Spurs will surely be in the market for a replacement for the veteran centre-back.

And according to German publication, Bild, Jose Mourinho’s side have set their sights on Freiburg defender Robin Koch, with Juan Foyth also expected to leave the Lilywhites once the campaign is over.

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The report adds that Koch has already informed his club that he will not be signing a new contract with them, and that could see Spurs pounce this summer.

And when you look at the kind of performances he has put in for Freiburg, it’s clear to see why Koch’s arrival could wave goodbye to Foyth, and also usher in a promising post-Vertonghen era too.

Described as a “warrior” by the Bundesliga side’s head coach, Christian Streich, the 6 foot 3 powerhouse is a defensive machine, who reads the game superbly.

As per Whoscored, he averages 1.1 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game this season, whilst according to Sofascore, he has a very impressive duel success rate of 60% (he wins a total of 5.6 duels per match).

Vertonghen’s numbers are eerily similar to that of Koch, registering 1.6 interceptions and 5.8 duels won per game in the Premier League. But at 23, the latter of course is a decade younger than his Spurs counterpart, and could well be the long-term successor to the Belgian centre-back in north London.

And after Foyth’s agent opened the door for an exit by revealing his client is good enough to play for Inter, Koch’s arrival would surely be the final nail in the coffin for the Mauricio Pochettino signing, and allow him to finally leave the club this summer.

Bringing in Koch would serve two important purposes for Mourinho. Paving the way for Foyth to leave, and ensuring a ready-made replacement for Vertonghen’s potential exit too.

Tottenham Hotspur fans may have not seen much of him, but they have been fawning over young defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott after he posted some footage to social media.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho handed the 18-year-old his senior debut back in March as the north Londoners were knocked out of the Champions League by RB Leipzig with Fagan-Walcott getting a brief one-minute cameo late on.

Aside from that appearance, he has played 19 times this term for the U23 side across competitions such as the Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy.

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Back in November, the centre-back agreed on terms over his first professional deal, so that’s certainly a sign that the club rates him highly and given Mourinho’s trust in fellow graduate Japhet Tanganga this season as well as reports suggesting there will be a lack of a transfer budget this summer, might Fagan-Walcott garner more opportunity?

Plenty of supporters seem to hope so going by their reaction to the clip above. There are also doubts over the future of Jan Vertonghen (as per Gazzetta dello Sport via Daily Mail), who is out of contract this summer – if he were to depart, then there’s certainly going to be defensive void to fill.

Here’s how the Spurs faithful have been reacting to Fagan-Walcott’s post…

AND in other news, Spurs fans react to transfer report on Ligue 1 marksman…

Leeds fans have taken time to sing the praises of Reading’s Ovie Ejaria after his display against the Whites on Tuesday evening.

Journalist Graham Smyth suggested he “flattered to deceive” but many supporters disagree, suggesting he is a skilful and classy player – with one even declaring him to have been the best player on the pitch.

The 22-year-old has been in good form for the Royals this season with three goals and two assists in the league, but he is most adept at taking on opposition players with the ball at his feet.

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He has averaged 3.1 dribbles per game in the Championship this term, and his four against Leeds no doubt helped him to convince many of the talents he has.

As well as praising his performance, other fans commented that they’d like to see him play for their side, and believe that under Marcelo Bielsa, and in a team with greater attacking prowess, Ejaria would be even better.

Here are some of the reactions to Smyth’s statement.

After the Reading match Leeds fans were also vocal in their criticism of one of their own players, who has disappointed not for the first time.

Jordan Pickford did not have the busiest of nights for England against Montenegro.

Indeed, on just two occasions was the goalkeeper called into action to make a save, but he made a wonderful stop to keep out a bullet header from Marko Simic in the first period.

And many football fans have taken to social media to praise the 25-year-old for the role he played in Thursday night’s Euro 2020 qualification match.

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Pickford entered the clash off the back of keeping just three clean sheets in 12 Premier League appearances for Everton during the 2019/20 campaign.

The stopper remains England’s number one, though, having featured in each of their last 13 matches in all competitions.

And surely something dramatic would have to happen for the 6 ft 1 ace not to be between the sticks for his country’s Euro 2020 opener next summer.

Supporters from a variety of clubs were keen to pay tribute to the Toffees star on Thursday evening, a selection of which can be seen 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…

Ryan Manning is enjoying a fine start to the season and suggested that he and his teammates are loving the new pressure they are playing under.

What did he say?

The 23-year-old has had to operate in different roles along the left flank for Mark Warburton so far, but there is no doubt that he has made a big impression and is an important reason why the team hovering just outside the play-off positions.

Premier League clubs West Ham and Newcastle have reportedly taken an interest in Manning, who last week earned his first international call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad.

It is some change in fortunes for the left-back, who had found himself in and out of a struggling QPR team last season – even going out on loan – but his positive mindset is clear from listening to what he has to say.

Speaking on the Loftcast podcast, he explained what it is like playing under a new pressure at the upper end of the table, saying:

“They’re the places we all want to be in as a squad, when the gaffer says there’s a chance to go second tonight everyone is buzzing at that fact, everyone wants to be in that position, nobody’s really shying away from it or afraid to say it.

“Everyone is embracing it and enjoying where we are, winning games, the pressures of playing at the top half of the table, of having to go out to win to try and get into first, second and the top-six.

“Everyone’s relishing the opportunities.”

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Useful on and off the pitch

Manning is very level-headed for a player so young who is excelling currently, and he is a good example of the philosophy Warburton has instilled in the QPR squad since taking over.

Warburton himself deserves praise for setting the standards for his players to reach, as he may have been forgiven for setting a low bar considering the team’s low budget and its low finish in the last campaign.

As a result, the squad seems to have both belief and ambition, two factors which are a vital base for any team’s success, and if they can add the quality – and keep players like Manning – then they should be a mainstay in the top half of the table.

The Irishman’s words suggest there is no lack of strong characters in the squad, and that will be important to the team if things start going against them, such as their current winless run of three matches.

Manning, though, appears ambitious, and therefore he could be tempted by a move to the Premier League, particularly at the end of the campaign if QPR fall short of the play-off places.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

You can’t fault a manager for keeping his players healthy.

However, you can fault him when perhaps he takes his methods a little bit too far.

It seems pretty obvious that Sabri Lamouchi is simply trying to rotate the wide players in his squad to keep them fresh for the rest of the season; with the likes of Sammy Ameobi, Joe Lolley and Albert Adomah all sharing responsibilities amongst themselves in recent weeks.

However, it looks as if Joao Carvalho has found his way into that rotation as well, although the question remains whether or not he should.

On the chalkboard

Last weekend he found himself out on the left-wing, and if you take a look at his WhoScored.com rating of 6.6 for the game, it’s fair to say that he certainly left a lot to be desired, and that’s predominantly because he’s not used to that position.

Throughout the encounter, he completed two dribbles but failed to register a single shot or key pass.

Joao Carvalho was used predominantly as an attacking midfielder last season and was able to produce some excellent displays in that role, grabbing four goals and eight assists in the process, so it just seems relatively simple to keep him there.

In fact there is a lot of potential for him to be even better this season compared to the previous campaign.

With Samba Sow putting in great defensive performances week after week protecting the back four, averaging 4.2 tackles a game and 2.1 interceptions a game to boot, Carvalho should be given a lot more freedom to go out and be as creative as he was last year.

That’ll only happen if he’s played in his natural role.

Be that in a 4-2-3-1 acting in the #10 position behind the centre-forward, or as part of a midfield duo in a 4-3-3, the fact of the matter is that he is much more effective through the middle and is more or less wasted out wide.

Lamouchi must stray from making a similar error in the future.

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…

Leeds United fans are desperate to see Eddie Nketiah given a starting role in the near future.

However, it may not only be the fanbase that wants to see the striker lineup in the starting XI as the introduction of the Arsenal loanee could benefit another of United’s players.

Indeed, Jack Harrison could reap the benefits of the 20-year-old’s introduction into the team as his job may be made a lot easier by playing alongside a striker of Nketiah’s ilk.

The fact of the matter is that he’s a much more advanced forward than Patrick Bamford.

While Bamford’s work rate really can’t be faulted, you have to admit that he’s rarely in a position to receive a cross from the left side as he simply sits too deep.

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A lot has been made of Harrison’s tendency to deliver crosses that simply don’t find their mark, but it’s no coincidence that he was finally able to assist a goal once Nketiah came on against Preston.

The Man City loanee isn’t the only winger that has benefitted from being able to play along with a more advanced striker either.

Helder Costa’s best performances in a Leeds shirt so far have come when Nketiah has been on the pitch.

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The Portuguese winger has only two assists to his name since joining Leeds United, but both of those have been to set up the loanee.

This suggests that a more willing runner and a striker with a canny ability can benefit Leeds’ most creative outlets.

He set him up against Salford City in the League Cup and against Brentford in the league, so it’s clear that Nketiah’s presence is helpful for the way Costa likes to play.

With Harrison putting in so many crosses as of late, it’s hard to see how the striker wouldn’t have the same effect on the former NYCFC man’s game.

After all, he’s improved his ability to cross recently. Via WhoScored, the 22-year-old has registered three assists in three games. He’s also managed six accurate crosses in his last five matches. Before that, he hadn’t managed any in six outings.

Harrison truly is the definition of an inconsistent footballer.

This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.

Ipswich finished a respectable 12th in the Championship in 2017/18, scoring 57 league goals, but their striking resources were heavily depleted the following summer with the departures of Martyn Waghorn, Joe Garner and David McGoldrick, who between them had scored 34 times in all competitions that season.

The loss of that trio affected the Tractor Boys terribly as they finished rock bottom of the Championship last season, managing a paltry 36 league goals. Their top scorers in all competitions, Gwion Edwards and Freddie Sears, managed only six each.

Their next most prolific player was Kayden Jackson, who came to the club in August 2018 from Accrington Stanley for a fee of just £1.62m, according to TransferMarkt. As noted by the Lancashire Telegraph, that made him the first million-pound sale for Accrington, who had just been promoted to League One.

He didn’t quite shoot the lights out in his first season at Portman Road, with just four goals in 38 appearances across 1,698 minutes of football, but patience has proven to be a virtue for those who felt he would come good in Suffolk.

Albeit in the less testing climes of League One, Jackson has enjoyed a fine start to the current campaign as Ipswich seek to emulate the likes of Leicester, Wolves, Southampton and arch-rivals Norwich in being an ex-Premier League club propelling back to the top flight having bottomed out in the third tier.

In the space of 12 days in late August, he matched his entire season’s tally from 2018/19, a run kick-started by a stoppage-time winner against AFC Wimbledon and culminating with him being nominated for the League One Player of the Month prize.

Jackson was also on target against Tranmere and Fleetwood in recent days to take his tally for the season to six goals in just 12 games and 860 minutes, a drastically improved return on last term. [via TransferMarkt]

If he can maintain that form throughout the campaign and inspire Ipswich to an immediate return to the Championship, the £1.62m paid to Accrington Stanley for his services will have proven to be a bargain.

Ipswich fans, do you think Jackson has been a value for money signing? Let us know your views in the comments section below!