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Rangers bounced back from a run of disappointing results in style as they hammered Kilmarnock 5-0 in the Scottish Cup, with Alfredo Morelos hitting four – yes, four – on his return from suspension.

The Gers were forced into a replay having drawn 0-0 with Killie earlier this month but made no mistake in dispatching their opponents at the second time of asking, with Morelos channeling his aggression and desire in the right way to fire his side to victory.

While the Colombian deservedly stole the match ball and headlines, the stellar performance of one of his teammates slipped under the radar in comparison – Daniel Candeias assisted three of Morelos’ four strikes and was Rangers’ conduit of play throughout.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

The 15-cap Portuguese had chalked up five goals and six assists prior to the Wednesday night demolition and surely put in his best performance to date this season, albeit in the shadow of Morelos.

The 5-foot-10 ace has often divided opinion around Ibrox as he tends to struggle for consistency, and he has taken plenty of flak even recently, but the Twitter reactions down below are full of praise…

A fresh Rangers transfer development has emerged regarding the future of Wales international Aaron Ramsey… 

What’s the talk?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Gers are planning to hold talks with Juventus over a deal to sign him on another deal this summer.

The report claims that the Glasgow giants are keen to keep hold of the midfielder beyond the end of his current loan spell.

Juventus agreeing on a new contract with him is said to be the most likely scenario, with his current wages reported to be £175k-per-week, before attempting to find him a new club before next season.

This all comes after TEAMtalk reported earlier this week that Rangers had not ruled out the possibility of snapping him up ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Bouncing

This update will surely leave Ibrox bouncing for multiple reasons.

Firstly, the supporters will be buzzing with the Italian club’s desire to let him go. It would surely increase the chances that Ross Wilson will be able to negotiate a fresh deal for Ramsey, along with his new contract at Juventus hopefully lowering the wage demands which will be forced upon the Gers.

They will also be delighted as it shows that the Light Blues’ sporting director is being proactive by already planning a transfer meeting to secure a swoop for the midfielder. Instead of waiting until the end of the campaign to decide whether or not they want to bring him in, they have seemingly made their mind up and want to make it happen.

This also shows big ambition from the Gers, as Ramsey is a player with a huge pedigree and signing him for a second stint would be a big coup for the club. He is starting to prove his worth on the pitch this season as he has scored two goals in his last two appearances against Dundee and Celtic.

Ramsey has a vast wealth of experience at the top level, and signing him ahead of clubs competing in Europe’s top five leagues would be a masterclass from Wilson. He has played more than 400 games for Arsenal and Juventus combined, scoring or setting up 142 goals in the process, and this illustrates why it would be a coup to land him as he has proven himself at the top level.

Therefore, Ibrox will be bouncing with Wilson’s plan of action and the fans will be buzzing with the ambition being shown to sign the Wales midfielder.

AND in other news, 100% duels lost: Rangers dud who lost the ball every 1.8 touches v Braga failed his manager’s big test…

Everton manager Frank Lampard must unleash defender Jarrad Branthwaite against Leicester City tomorrow to help solve their issues at the back.

On the chalkboard

The Toffees have been woeful defensively throughout the season and it has resulted in a battle for survival. Whilst they can’t improve their back-four through signing anyone until the summer, they can make better use of what they already have.

Branthwaite moved to Goodison Park in 2020 from Carlisle United for £990k and has since been tipped as another bargain young signing for Everton.

He is only 19-years old so has many years ahead of him, but he should be used by Lampard now and could be the answer to their problems.

Former Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti described him as “confident” and said that “he never loses control”. Praise like that from one of the world’s elite manager has surely got to mean something.

If it doesn’t to the Toffees then it will to other clubs with a recent report in the Daily Mirror linking the £7.2m rated man to Manchester United.

The Toffees are 5th when it comes to goals conceded this season and it has been the main problem as to why they could be relegated. Branthwaite is better than Everton’s current partnership of Ben Godfrey and Michael Keane in many defensive areas.

He has the second highest successful press percentage amongst the squad this season and the highest of any defender at 48.1%. Winning possession of the ball back can be key to ensuring Everton concede less.

The Englishman has also won far more of his aerial duals than his fellow defenders at 71.4% which again ranks the highest amongst those in his position.

We have only seen glimpses of Branthwaite this season as he has suffered from injuries, but it may also be down to the fact that Lampard wants to trust more experienced players in a serious relegation battle.

However, the little we have seen of the 19-year old has been enough to say that he deserves a chance and should start against Leicester.

In a defence as leaky as Everton’s, it’s hard to see why he has only been given four appearances. Trying something different may give them the best chance at surviving.

IN other news: Everton could repeat Pickford masterclass as exciting behind-the-scenes news emerges – opinion

West Ham United have been dealt a setback ahead of their upcoming Premier League meeting with Burnley on Sunday.

What’s the latest?

According to BBC Sport, David Moyes are likely to face Burnley defender Erik Pieters tomorrow afternoon, as the Lancashire outfit are now set to welcome the Dutchman back after his recovery from a knee issue.

However, this hasn’t been the biggest bit of news coming out of Turf Moor this week, as, after ten years of service, manager Sean Dyche was relieved of his duties on Friday – with Burnley 18th and four points from safety with eight games remaining.

Therefore, U23s boss Michael Jackson will be in the opposing dugout at the London Stadium as he takes up temporary charge of the visitors, whilst defender Ben Mee will also be a part of the coaching set-up.

However, amid the surprise regarding Dyche’s dismissal, West Ham must continue to prepare to take on a side desperate for points and who will be stronger with the return of Pieters.

Pieters’ return is bad news for West Ham

Prior to suffering his injury in February, Pieters had been playing well with Burnely in decent form.

The left-back played every minute of the Clarets’ seven Premier League matches between late January and late February before being withdrawn away at Crystal Palace after an hour.

From those seven matches, Dyche’s side lost just once, winning twice and drawing the other four matches which gave their survival hopes a boost.

Prior to that run in the side, the 33-year-old had struggled for minutes in claret and blue, making just four league appearances before the turn of the year.

Since Pieters has been out of action, Burnley have been in dire form, winning just one of their last six in the top flight, losing the other five.

However, that victory was a crucial one as the Lancashire outfit overcame relegation rivals Everton 3-2 at Turf Moor before embarrassingly losing 2-0 at bottom side Norwich City, the final nail in the coffin for Dyche.

The Hammers will certainly smell blood as they look to consolidate their place in the top six, which is currently hanging on a thread.

Although, Burnley supporters will be expecting a reaction after a rollercoaster week at Turf Moor and the boost of Pieters’ return could prove awkward for David Moyes to deal with.

AND in other news: West Ham plot bid for £21.6m-rated “leader”, Moyes can now axe “shocking” £61k-p/w dud

Aston Villa have shown fresh interest in Marseille’s defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara, with Steven Gerrard and Johan Lange travelling to France to scout the player.

What’s the Word?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that Steven Gerrard was spotted watching Marseille beat Nantes 3-2 on Wednesday night, with the 41-year-old reported to be on a personal scouting mission of the defensive midfielder.

Kamara will become a free transfer in the summer as his contract expires at the French side and Villa is looking to strengthen that area of their squad.

The Premier League side are also reportedly interested in Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, but there is no doubt that Kamara would be the more attractive signing, especially from a financial point of view.

Gerrard failed to add a defensive midfielder to his squad in the January transfer window and with a key rebuild coming up in the summer, the onus is on for him to improve the team.

Kamara would be a fantastic signing for Aston Villa

Steven Gerrard has had a mixed start to life at Villa Park so far since joining from Rangers in November. Initial signs of progress were halted by a poor run of form.

With the side having lost their last four matches, Gerrard will be aiming to stop the rot against Leicester.

The volume of goals they are conceding is concerning and signing Kamara in the summer could certainly improve the quality of the team in the future.

His former teammate Rolando praised the player, going as far as to label him a “phenomenon” and with his market value currently sitting at £22.5m, signing the 22-year-old on a pre-contract deal would be outstanding business.

Kamara has made 41 appearances for Marseille this season as they aim to secure second spot behind Paris Saint-Germain, and he has been a massive success during his time in France.

The Frenchman has an average score of 7.12 on SofaScore compared to the 6.8 of Phillips this season. Add into the age factor and it’s clear to see why Kamara would be the better signing. Gerrard has some big decisions to make in the summer, that’s for sure.

AND in other news: Source: AVFC’s “difficult” dud could now leave Villa Park, it’s great news for Gerrard

Wolves duo Romain Saiss and Joao Moutinho could both extend their respective stays at Molineux, according to reliable journalist Tim Spiers.

The Lowdown: Saiss and Moutinho shine for Wolves

Bruno Lage’s side are enjoying an excellent season, with three Premier League wins in a row taking them to within just four points of fourth-placed Manchester United.

There have been star performers all over the pitch but Saiss and Moutinho have arguably stood out more than most, putting their experience to good use.

The Moroccan has shone in a back-three, making 19 league starts, while the evergreen Portuguese veteran has been superb in midfield, scoring decisive recent goals against Man United and Brentford.

Both players rank in the top seven in WhoScored’s rankings of Wolves players’ performances in 2021/22, illustrating their importance to the cause. However, as it stands, both will be out of contract in the summer.

The Latest: Spiers makes contract claim

Spiers partook in a Q&A mailbag with Wolves supporters for The Athletic on Tuesday morning to discuss the club’s January transfer business, as well as the futures of certain players at Molineux.

He was asked specifically about where things stand with Saiss and Moutinho, with the journalist offering a reassuring update on the duo by saying:

“Saiss turned down a contract offer last summer and it was expected he’d leave the club at that time. However, the general opinion among senior staff is he’s having the best season of his Wolves career and I’d expect them to start talking again in the coming weeks now that he’s heading back from the Africa Cup of Nations.

“Moutinho’s agent is Jorge Mendes, who is so influential in club dealings, so that’s a more difficult one to predict, but he seems happy and Lage loves him. He’s also in fantastic form and I’d imagine Lage will want him to stay.”

The Verdict: Great news for Wolves

Saiss and Moutinho may be 31 and 35, respectively, but their importance to Wolves is still plain to see given the impact they are still having, as evidenced above.

The former is still arguably in his prime years for a centre-back, proving to be an experienced head alongside the likes of Max Kilman and Conor Coady.

A shorter-term deal for Moutinho makes more sense given his age, but he still looks capable of shining in the Premier League for another season or two, especially if his recent heroics are anything to go by.

In other news, one player’s Wolves future has already been sorted. Find out who it is here.

Rangers are attempting an ambitious swoop for West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, sports journalist Pete O’Rourke has told GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

The Daily Mail reported at the start of this month that Rangers had ‘expressed their interest’ in signing Johnstone.

But they also claimed that Spurs, who considered a move in January, were in the frame as they look for a deputy for Hugo Lloris.

And Sky Sports have since named Manchester United, where Johnstone came the youth ranks, as a suitor too.

The Englishman is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning he’ll be available on a free transfer.

And Rangers may need to replace Allan McGregor, currently set to leave Ibrox in the summer when his deal expires.

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The latest

O’Rourke admits that it will be ‘a big ask’ for the Gers to win the race, but applauded their ‘ambition’.

He also believes they have an important advantage in the battle, with Johnstone’s minutes more likely to be limited at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or Old Trafford.

“I think it would be a big ask for Rangers to try and land Sam Johnstone but shows the ambition the club have got,” he said.

“Sam Johnstone is going to be attracted to a lot of clubs as a free agent, but if he went to Rangers he would definitely be number one there, whereas if he went to Tottenham or Manchester United, there’s no guarantee that he would be first choice at either of those clubs.”

The verdict

Rangers do carry an appeal. Johnstone wouldn’t be competing with the likes of David de Gea or Lloris for a starting role. In fact, he’d be walking into a potential vacancy left by McGregor.

What’s more, the Gers could yet offer the carrot of Champions League football, having moved just one step away from reaching the Europa League final.

Transfermarkt value him at £7.2million, so picking up for no fee at all would represent great business.

The 6ft 3in ‘keeper, dubbed ‘unreal’ by pundit Paddy Kenny, is a three-times capped England international with 37 games’ worth of Premier League experience.

In other news, Heart and Hand react as an injury blow emerges.

Everton have had their fair share of injury problems this season which has ultimately led to a disappointing and stressful season for the Toffees, with the side now engaged in a relegation battle in the remaining months of the season, however some good news has emerged from Finch Farm this week.

What’s the word?

The Merseyside club’s official Twitter account has confirmed the return of Fabian Delph to full training following a lengthy injury spell, with the club’s social media platform simply captioning a tweet “Fabian Delph: back in full training” alongside some images of the 32-year-old back in action.

The central midfielder has been plagued with a number of injury problems this season, with two periods of absence due to a shoulder injury back in August that side-lined the player until October, and then sustained another injury to his thigh in late January that has left him on the recovery table ever since.

Lampard will be delighted

Adding depth to the team when they are in the vulnerable position that Everton have found themselves in is always a huge boost for Frank Lampard, especially a player full of experience and understanding of what the club and the fans expect from the team as Delph has been with the squad since 2019.

Despite being out of the team for a large chunk of the season only making six appearances so far, the 32 year old can offer a number of attributes to the team, as not only is he effective in central midfield, he can also make an impact on the left side and even in the left back position if Lampard feels that he needs to deploy him there over the last games of the season.

His return has also come at a good time from a midfield perspective for the Toffees, as Allan was red carded in the victory over Newcastle United, in a controversial VAR decision that was unsuccessfully appealed by the club, meaning the Brazilian will miss three Premier League games when fixtures return next weekend, and Delph’s return will be a relief to Lampard giving him more options to replace the suspended player in the centre of the pitch.

Everton’s win in the Premier League last week has put them three points clear of the relegation zone, but has not secured their safety to remain in the league next season as of yet, so Lampard and the team still have work to do to make sure they can avoid the club’s first relegation from the top flight in 71 years, and Delph’s return will certainly be a positive boost.

In other news: Lampard must ruthlessly axe Everton’s “lazy” £22.5m-rated flop, he’s stunk up Goodison

Former Scotland defender Alan Hutton has made a claim on Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Kyogo returns to training

The 27-year-old has been out of action since December due to a hamstring problem but has recently been spotted back on the grass at Lennoxtown.

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He was seen in the background of a training video with a ball at his feet and there is hope that he could make a return to action against Rangers following the current international break, leading to much excitement from some in the media.

The Latest: Hutton’s comments on Kyogo

Hutton, who contributes as a pundit for BBC Radio 5 Live, was talking to Football Insider regarding Furuhashi’s impending return and what that will means for Ange Postecoglou and Celtic.

The 36-year-old believes that it will be ‘really difficult’ for the Hoops boss to decide who to omit, having backed the Japan international to come back in once fully fit, saying:

“It’s a really difficult one for Postecoglou.

“He’s got all these attackers doing well. Maeda, Jota, Giakoumakis, Abada – they’re all flying.

“It’s a tough side to break into. But I’m pretty sure that once he’s fully fit, he will break back in and find a place in that side.

“Whether he has to tweak the formation or someone has to sit out – I just think from what I’ve seen so far, Kyogo is a cut above the rest.

“With the options they’ve got at the moment they can afford to feed him in slowly and take their time, but when he’s fully fit – he has to play.”

The Verdict: Options

Furuhashi will more than likely take a while to get back up to speed in green and white, but having multiple options in attack could be vital for Postecoglou in the final games of the season.

The 27-year-old is still Celtic’s top scorer despite missing several months of action, so having Furuhashi on the bench over the coming weeks will be a massive boost for the Hoops.

Postecoglou likes to switch things up anyway, so even when the Japanese star is fully fit, the likes of Giorgos Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda should still get plenty of game-time.

In other news: Sources close to Celtic drop positive Karamoko Dembele update as contract deadline looms

West Ham United are no closer to agreeing a deal to bring Duje Caleta-Car to the London Stadium on transfer deadline day.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by ExWHUemployee, who revealed in a recent post on The West Ham Way that, despite a host of reports suggesting otherwise, there has been no agreement between West Ham and Olympique de Marseille reached regarding the transfer of the 25-year-old centre-back.

The Irons insider goes on to state that, with things moving very quickly on the final day of the January transfer window, a deal could quite easily be done at some point today, however, as things currently stand, the Croatia international will be remaining with the Ligue 1 side.

In his post, Ex said: “We have just asked our top transfer sources what the situation is with Caleta-Car. Whilst this isn’t going to be what the fans want to hear, unfortunately, French sources and others are [getting] ahead of themselves. There is a ‘jumping the gun’ situation with reports at this stage of the window, with everyone wanting to call the deal first.

“I asked whether reports of a deal being close were true and I simply got ‘not true’ back in response. The talks will be ongoing to get this deal over the line. With only one day left things will have to progress quickly and obviously can do but there [is still] some distance to go. The problem still remains that we want an initial loan deal and Marseille wish to sell. The club do want to continue talks and get this done so let’s hope it does change soon (it has to).”

Not what “fans want to hear”

Considering West Ham’s desperate need for defensive reinforcements following the season-ending injury suffered by Angelo Ogbonna, in addition to the poor form of both Issa Diop and Craig Dawson while covering for the Italian – particularly that of the former – the news that a deal for Caleta-Car is no closer to getting over the line is certainly not what fans will be hoping to hear, as Ex suggests.

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Indeed, in the 11 Premier League fixtures in which Ogbonna has featured this season, the Hammers boast a record of seven wins, two draws and two losses – having conceded 13 goals in this period.

Meanwhile, over the 12 league games in which the 33-year-old has been sidelined as a result of his injury, West Ham’s record stands at four wins, two draws and six losses – with the club conceding 18 times in this period.

As such, it is clear to see that, should David Moyes wish to give his side the best possible chance of securing a top-four finish in the league this season, he simply must get a deal over the line for a new centre-back – preferably the extremely impressive Caleta-Car – prior to tonight’s transfer deadline.

In other news: “Understand…”: Journo reveals “shock” twist in WHU forward hunt, fans will be elated