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Ross Wilson has said that he would like to make two more signings for Glasgow Rangers if possible, speaking during a Q&A on Wednesday.

Wilson in transfer revelation

The Gers were busy this summer, bringing in no less than eight first-team players including the likes of Kemar Roofe, Ianis Hagi and Bongani Zungu.

The January window is fast approaching, and Wilson was asked by Vital Football whether he would like to sign a player on a pre-contract agreement or initially on loan with an option to buy. He responded:

“In an ideal world I’d sign two players (as long as we need two and they fit our strategy!).

“The two examples you mentioned are both important to us but they key word you mentioned is targeted. That needs to mean we have done the work and followed the clear strategy and process to get to the signing stage on those two examples.”

Is there any need?

The heavy investment during the summer has worked wonders for the Ibrox outfit so far this season. The Gers are unbeaten in 20 games in all competitions, lead the Premiership by nine points and are also joint-top of their Europa League group after three matches. Everyone at the club could hardly have asked for a better start.

It is always important to keep an eye out for any interesting talent, which Wilson will do. However, halfway through an important campaign, too many new arrivals could disrupt the flow of things. As the sporting director himself says, it is important to find players who match exactly what the club need.

In other news, Rangers fans rage at this latest Castore offering.

Manchester United have entered the race to sign England international and Chelsea transfer target Ben Chilwell this summer.

The Mirror reported that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fancies his chances at convincing the Leicester full-back to opt for an Old Trafford move. This won’t be taken lightly by Chelsea, who are pulling out all the stops to make this deal happen after weeks of speculation.

The Blues have identified Chilwell as one of their main transfer targets in a bid to strengthen their defence ahead of next season.

Chelsea were strong in attack last season, scoring 69 league goals, but struggled to keep them out of their own net. Frank Lampard’s side finished with the worst record for goals conceded out of the top 10 in the Premier League, with a concession tally of 54 in the division (as per Transfermarkt).

Now potentially armed with a massive £300m budget, the Blues could finally be able to meet Leicester’s demands of £80m. The west Londoners are even looking to make room for Chilwell in the defence, with left-backs Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso both linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge (via Sport Witness).

Manchester United currently have Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams operating on the left of defence but may be questioning those players’ abilities given their reported interest in Chilwell. Moving for a blockbuster signing like the Leicester man can only suggest that they plan to usurp the much-maligned Shaw and have Williams become the 23-year-old’s deputy.

Chelsea are going to have to find another gear in their pursuit to finalise this deal if they want to avoid missing out. All the pieces are in place to finally make an official move and Lampard cannot let a top four competitor snub him in signing a major transfer target.

Which club do you think will sign Ben Chilwell this summer? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!

Sheffield United are on the lookout for a forward as reports have suggested they are interested in strikers such as Emmanuel Dennis and Ollie Watkins. However, there is now another attacking player that Chris Wilder wants to bring to Bramall Lane. 

According to Football Insider, Sheffield United are keen on striker Yakou Meite, who currently plays for Championship side Reading. The Blades are looking to reinforce their attack and have not submitted a formal offer for the player yet, but are reportedly very keen to make a move for him.

The 24 year-old, who has two caps for the Ivory Coast, has made 100 appearances for the Championship side and scored 31 goals whilst also picking up four assists, per Transfermarkt.

Meite has a decent return for the Royals and he is a former representative of Paris Saint-Germain’s under-19 side, scoring eight goals and claiming six assists, as well as making one senior appearance for the French giants, per Transfermarkt.

Meite had a prolific 2019/20 season in the Championship, scoring 13 goals and recording on average 2.7 shots per game, per WhoScored. He clearly has an eye for goal and does not lack confidence to shoot when the opportunity presents itself.

Also, at just 24, he could be an ideal signing for Sheffield United. With David McGoldrick now 32 and Billy Sharp two years older, the Blades could do with turning to the long-term future in terms of their centre-forward options. Meite is only coming into his mid-20s and is a proven scorer in English football, so Wilder could do a lot worse than bring him in.

Blades fans, would you like to have Meite at Sheffield United? Comment below with your views!

Key information about Deepdale Stadium

Deepdale Stadium was built in 1875 and is now Preston North End’s safe haven. The ground is located in the Deepdale area of Preston in England, on a land that was once known as Deepdale Farm.

The stadium’s official capacity stands at 23,404 and has a pitch with the proportions of 100m x 70m. There is no running track surrounding the field and the surface has no undersoil heating installed as of right now.

So far, the record league attendance at Deepdale Stadium was set on 23 April 1938 when 42,684 supporters watched Preston North End square against Arsenal in the First Division.

A history of Deepdale Stadium

Needless to say, the Deepdale Stadium is dripping with history and significance since it is still recognised as the oldest professional footballing site in the world in continuous use. And Preston North End have been loyal to their ground since it was erected back in 1875 and leased by the club’s members. At first, however, it would only be used for cricket and rugby.

Deepdale Stadium hosted its first league match on 8 September 1888 as Preston smashed the visiting locals, Burnley, 5-2. In the 1890s, the club built the West Stand Paddock that ran along the touchline and that would stand for almost 100 years before it was demolished in the 1990s. But at the turn of the century and especially in the 1920s, football was booming in Preston and the club had to further expand to accommodate the ever-surging crowds.

Numerous improvements ensued as the Spion Kop was built and the West Paddock extended to meet the Kop end. Following that, the pitch was removed so they could construct the Town End, which was completed in 1928, but, unfortunately, only to be destroyed by a huge fire five years into the future and subsequently had to be rebuilt.

In 1934, the Pavilion Stand, a relatively small stand of two tiers with the changing rooms and some offices, was also constructed. It was around that time that Preston North End recorded their highest ever attendance with 42,684 watching their game against Arsenal in 1938.

After that, only smaller renovations were done as the club added a roof and even decided to put an artificial, plastic pitch in 1986 but that proved to be a highly disliked idea, resulting in Preston ripping it up in 1994, by which time it was already the last remaining plastic pitch in the English league.

Around that time, the club embarked on their biggest improvements to date, inspired by the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa. This would result in the entire reconstruction of Deepdale Stadium as the Sir Tom Finney Stand was built in place of the old main stand – it would also have press areas and restaurants – and was followed two years later by the new Bill Shankly Kop, located behind the goal.

In 2001, the Alan Kelly Town End replaced the Town End terrace and some years later, in 2008, a 25-metre screen was also erected on the roof of the Bill Shankly Kop. Finally, the old ‘Pavilion’ stand was replaced by the ‘Invincibles Pavilion’ in the 2008/09 campaign, as tribute to their invincible season from 1888/89.

The stadium is now an all-seater with a capacity of 23,404.

Tickets to watch Preston North End at Deepdale Stadium

All the tickets to watch Preston North End at Deepdale Stadium can be found on the club’s official website. The price varies on multiple factors but the most expensive adult ticket in the Premium section costs £30.

Season tickets and half-season tickets are also available and Preston North End offer discounts for the disabled as well as youngsters wanting to watch some of their very first games of football. All information can be found on the aforementioned site.

Related links

https://www.pnefc.net/ – Official website of Preston North End

Brentford and Leeds United were largely hoping for the same conclusion to the 2019/20 season but in the end, only the latter made it and have now officially secured Premier League football for the upcoming campaign. But that also means both will now most likely have to face big changes in their squad – the Bees fear other teams raiding their team while the Whites are on a lookout for quality reinforcements to give them an edge in the big challenge that lies ahead.

Interestingly, Marcelo Bielsa has set his gaze on Brentford’s Said Benrahma but the latest reports coming from Sky Sports say he is now valued at £25m. Needless to say, this is quite a sum and could potentially derail teams looking to snatch him up, Leeds included.

Still, it seems too difficult to argue against the evaluation despite Brentford’s failure to win promotion. After all, their famous forward trident of Benrahma, Ollie Watkins and Bryan Mbuemo bagged an outstanding 57 goals between them throughout the 2019/20 campaign and naturally, their stock has been on an upward spiral.

Apart from Leeds, Sky Sports say the likes of West Ham United and Aston Villa are also interested in the forward, so the Bees have a lot of transfer business to do ahead of them. Staying in the Championship shouldn’t change things too much for them when everything is said and done but it does lower their negotiating power, especially if they look to slam such extravagant price tags on their players.

Verdict

And while £25m does seem like a huge fee, considering we’re talking about a Championship player and when taking all the outside circumstances into consideration, it does feel like Benrahma’s stellar season still warrants the claim.

As good as Leeds have been throughout the campaign, Bielsa needs reinforcements if he’s to stay relevant and as impressive in the Premier League as he has been in the Championship. For that reason, a versatile striker with an eye for goal would be a most-welcoming addition to the team.

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…

West Bromwich Albion’s loan ace Matheus Pereira is ‘too good’ for the Championship according to former Express & Star reporter Matt Wilson.

What’s he said?

The Baggies were in action on Sunday afternoon as they hosted playoff-hunting Swansea City, who were yet to lose on their travels.

Slaven Bilic’s men sent them back to Wales with an early Christmas gift – zero points and a healthy stuffing of five goals.

Albion were in the ascendancy throughout with Pereira acting as the conductor of the choir.

Semi Ajayi, Hal Robson-Kanu, Matty Phillips and Kyle Edwards all got on the scoresheet with the 23-year-old playing some part in each.

Wilson was in attendance at the Hawthorns for the very first time since leaving the media industry behind, and he was quite simply blown away by the Brazilian, he said:

Performing Pereira

Pereira has somehow been the standout amongst this West Brom side. He has electrified their attack with 19 goal contributions in just 20 league matches – five goals scored, 14 assists, per Tranfermarkt.

That means the midfielder has played a part in 46% of Albion’s total goals in the Championship.

The Sporting Lisbon loanee is expected to make a permanent switch to the Hawthorns in January for around £9m after a cunning clause was involved in the deal on deadline day this summer.

Against Swansea on Sunday, he ran the show with one goal and three assists on top of eight key passes and more, via SofaScore.

If the Baggies do indeed gain promotion come the end of the season, then the move to sign Pereira will not only look like the bargain of the century but also one of the main reasons behind their return to the top flight.

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In other news,ÂWest Brom supporters have been reacting to some unfortunate news for one player…

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has been given a huge boost in the race to sign Chelsea ace Kurt Zouma. 

According to L’Equipe (as relayed by Sport Witness), Zouma would like to stay in the Premier League if he leaves the Blues.

The French outlet revealed that Zouma admires Mourinho’s methodology and the report suggests that the duo have kept in touch ever since the Portuguese left Stamford Bridge. The 57-year-old praised the centre-back on Sky Sports last year.

The Daily Star reported last week that Chelsea will consider offers for the defender, which has opened the doors for Spurs to make a move.

Mourinho has made it clear that he wants to improve his defensive options in the summer, as Jan Vertonghen is likely to leave when the transfer market opens, and Zouma could be the perfect replacement.

Interestingly, Mourinho signed the French international from Ligue 1 side St Etienne for £12m all the way back in 2014. Zouma has arguably made the most of his time in London so far, as he has made more than 100 appearances for the Blues, lifting the Premier League trophy twice, the League Cup and French League Cup, between loan spells with St Etienne, Stoke City and Everton.

This season, the Frenchman has played 22 games in the English top flight for Frank Lampard’s side, winning one tackle per game, averaging 1.9 interceptions and successfully completing four clearances per game on average (WhoScored).

In comparison, it is fair to say Vertonghen has struggled for form up until now. The veteran was even substituted early in the second half after an abysmal performance against Southampton in the FA Cup earlier this year.

The Belgian, who was a favourite of former boss Mauricio Pochettino, has featured in 19 Premier League matches so far this term, attempting 2.1 tackles on average, making 1.6 interceptions and completing 2.9 clearances per game (WhoScored).

Mourinho is eager to reunite with his former player amid competition from Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton.

In view of the fact that Vertonghen has fallen out of favour with the Portuguese, it is difficult to imagine that the wantaway veteran will still be at the club for much longer. Therefore, a move for Zouma could potentially be a great deal for Spurs, as he has earned a higher WhoScored rating of 6.9 for his performances this season.

The 25-year-old arguably has plenty of time left in his career and he could turn out to be a shrewd investment in the future, as he has ample experience at the top levels of the game. However, his contract with Chelsea is set to expire in 2023, meaning it is likely he won’t come cheap for Spurs.

Tottenham fans, should Daniel Levy sign Kurt Zouma in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

Arsenal fans are praising Emiliano Martinez following his goodbye post towards Unai Emery following the head coach’s sacking.

The Argentine ‘keeper put out a post thanking Emery and his staff for all their hard work as well as blaming himself and his teammates for the bad performances.

Following last night’s defeat, the Gunners extended their winless run to seven games across all competitions.

Emery has shouldered most of the blame for the recent losses with Jamie Carragher highlighting how he changes formation far too often (via Sky Sports).

Martinez has featured in the cup games for Arsenal this season, making seven appearances across the Europa League and Carabao Cup (via Transfermarkt).

Fans were pleased with the post from the 27-year-old as they took to Twitter to praise him for his show of class towards the departing manager.

Here is a selection of tweets from the north London faithful:

Arsenal fans, what are your thoughts on Martinez’s post? Let us know your thoughts!

TalkSPORT pundit Andy Goldstein has vented his frustration at Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola over his usage of youngster Phil Foden, following the teenager’s latest cameo.

Foden featured for the final 10 minutes of City’s routine victory over Burnley on Tuesday night, making his seventh Premier League appearance off the bench this season, having started just three times in all competitions so far this term.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Goldstein expressed his anger over how little game time Foden was being afforded by Guardiola, especially after recalling the Spaniard’s comments in pre-season that the England U21 star was the ‘most talented player’ he had ever seen.

Foden is yet to start in the Premier League this campaign as Goldstein labelled the decision to bring him on at Turf Moor – with City leading 3-0 – as ‘disgraceful’.

He said: “Well done, at 3-0 up, you brought Phil Foden on, gave him 10 minutes. Well done, Man City – brilliant stuff. What’s all that about?

“Come on, give him some more game time.

“‘Best player I’ve ever had’? Is he? Well, put him on the pitch, then.

“Better than Messi, is he? Better than Iniesta and Xavi? Is he that good, but you’ll only give him 10 minutes?

“At 3-0 up, you give him more than 10 minutes. He’s the future, let’s get him in now. I want him on the plane.

“I think it’s disgraceful, I really do.”

Goldstein may have a point in that Guardiola’s comments over Foden’s promise don’t exactly match up with the amount of opportunity being granted to the 19-year-old.

Meanwhile, co-host Jason Cundy responded by arguing that the wealth of talent in City’s midfield means that Foden cannot expect to be given too many chances to impress.

However, without a loan move in the pipeline for a player held in such high regard so early on in his career, it nevertheless seems a waste to limit him to substitute appearances which have accounted for 10 of his 13 showings this season to date.

Therefore, Goldstein seems perfectly justified having talked up Foden’s chances of making England’s Euro 2020 squad, which can’t be being helped by warming the City bench for most of the season.

City fans, is Foden underused by Pep Guardiola? Let us know your thoughts below!

Tottenham Hotspur returned to winning ways on Wednesday night as they recorded a 4-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League.

Giovani Lo Celso, Son Heung-min (2) and Christian Eriksen scored the goals for the London club, but it was perhaps the performance of Tanguy Ndombele in the middle of the park that made the strongest impression on the club’s supporters.

Indeed, many lost their minds with how well the France international performed.

According to WhoScored, the 22-year-old, who arrived at Spurs over the summer, completed five successful dribbles and won four tackles.

What’s more, Ndombele is said to have completed 65 of his 76 passes, giving him a success rate of 86% during an impressive performance.

It was a good night for Spurs and indeed an important result as they moved onto seven points in Group B, now four points clear of third-placed Red Star.

A selection of the Twitter reaction to Ndombele’s performance can be seen below: