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Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has been full of praise for young striker Ryan Hardie during his side’s winter training camp in Tenerife, and his recent comments suggest the 21-year-old could get a chance to play alongside January signing Jermain Defoe sooner rather than later.

What did he say?

Well, speaking to Rangers TV about his attacking options the Liverpool legend said:

“Jermain gives us the option of obviously playing two up front, it gives us that luxury.

“Kyle [Lafferty] also does that so we can go with a target man and a smaller guy around him.

“Ryan Hardie has come into the picture so it has been nice to work with four quality forwards. We haven’t had that luxury and that’s been really nice and a big positive.”

What do his comments mean?

They are certainly interesting, considering he has to find a formation that will surely incorporate both Alfredo Morelos and Defoe into the starting XI – the latter won’t have moved north of the border to be a substitute.

Gerrard is clearly considering trying out a formation that includes two strikers – likely to be Morelos and Defoe at first – which would leave him with two big strikers in Lafferty and Hardie – who stands at 6ft 2in tall – in reserve.

The 38-year-old certainly seems ready to use a taller striker alongside his veteran addition when needs be, and Hardie would certainly be a surprise partner for the former England international in the second-half of the 2018/19 campaign.

The 21-year-old will also take plenty of confidence from the fact that Gerrard has labelled him as a “quality forward”, and he will hope to take advantage starting when the Glasgow giants travel to Cowdenbeath on Friday night.

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Arsenal have been forced to watch on helplessly as a multitude of star players have left the Emirates Stadium for rival Premier League clubs in recent years, but a different fate will await Aaron Ramsey at the end of eight years with the club. 

Money talks, and £300,000 sheets of money every single week seem to have shouted loudest in Ramsey’s direction, putting an end to months of uncertainty regarding exactly where his future lies.

Bayern Munich were previously credited with major interest in the Wales international, but it seems that Juventus have won the race for Ramsey’s signature after The Times confirmed that he has completed a medical with the Old Lady ahead of a free transfer in the summer.

Arsenal, naturally, will be gutted to lose Ramsey. He is one of few players to show genuine loyalty to the Gunners down the years, and even his harshest of critics will be inclined to place him on a pedestal following his departure.

Whether the influence he had at the club or the quality he demonstrated was greater than either Robin Van Persie or Alexis Sanchez is a matter of personal opinion, but there is absolutely no question that the history books should hold Ramsey in higher esteem, not only for his decision to move abroad rather than to a fierce domestic rival, but also for his ability to fight back from a ghastly injury and blossom into one of the division’s most effective central midfielders.

When Ryan Shawcross left Ramsey in a state of distress and incomprehensible anguish in 2010 following a tackle which was firmly in the realm of footballing nightmares, it would have been of little surprise if the coveted wonderkid who was widely tipped to follow in the footsteps of great Arsenal midfielders simply faded into obscurity, never quite managing to rediscover the confidence or the physicality to fulfil his potential.

But, proverbially speaking, an enchanting all-action midfielder rose from the turf of the then Britannia Stadium, worked relentlessly behind the scenes with an endeavour which matches his exemplary professionalism and was ultimately rewarded in a stellar career, one which has many intriguing years left to run.

At the time of writing, Ramsey has scored 62 goals and provided 64 assists during his time with Arsenal, and he will surely add to that return during the final months of his time in English football.

His legacy, though, will not be measured or defined by the number of goals he scored, although they certainly help his case, as his decision to move to Juventus over a Premier League club hints that his decision was influenced in part by his respect for Arsenal.

Sure, sceptics may well point towards his huge pay packet and the prospect of a new challenge abroad as the reasons behind his decision, but huge wages would presumably have been on the table in England, while his desire to challenge himself abroad would have been influenced by his respect for the Gunners.

Van Persie and Sanchez were immensely talented in their own right and, despite emotionally-charged feelings of resentment, deserve esteemed recognition for their contribution at Arsenal, but when all is said and done Ramsey will enjoy a perennial position above them in club folklore.

Ramsey is a warrior who the Arsenal supporters have been blessed to witness develop during his glowing career, and his conclusive decision to depart for Turin is the final touch of class which will ensure a legacy within a bracket above the likes of Van Persie and Sanchez, who tarnished their reputations by joining Manchester United in a pair of infamous betrayals.

Arsenal fans – thoughts on Ramsey? Let us know below!

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Everton have picked up just eight points from their last ten Premier League games, so what is going wrong for Marco Silva and the Toffees?

On the chalkboard

Everton fell to a 2-1 defeat at Southampton last weekend, and the performance will be just as worrying to Silva as the result itself.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints were first in every department, beating the visitors to every loose ball and 50-50.

So what’s going wrong at Goodison Park? They won five out of the seven matches prior to this torrid run of form, so was that a false dawn or a glimpse into this side’s true potential?

Lack of leadership

The first thing Silva needs to do is identify a captain, whether that be within the dressing room or in the transfer market.

Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines were the leaders in the starting XI until they lost their places this season, and while their replacements have certainly proved to be an upgrade in quality, the Toffees have lost a huge chunk of what made them difficult to play against in the past – fight.

The likes of Seamus Coleman, Tom Davies and Gyfli Sigurdsson have all worn the captain’s armband this season, and it’s pretty clear to see that none of them are the commanding leader that every side needs.

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Upgrades in midfield

Whatever fans think of Everton’s centre-forward options, there’s no question they need an upgrade in midfield too.

Idrissa Gueye is a sold play-breaker, but he’s understudied by Tom Davies and Morgan Schneiderlin, both of whom have underwhelmed this season.

Furthermore, the impressive loan move for Andre Gomes looked to be one of the signings of the summer, but the Portuguese international seems lost at the moment and his honeymoon period is well and truly over.

The Toffees are crying out for more options and depth in midfield.

A number nine

Of course, there is one thing Everton need more than anything else – a new centre forward.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has shown some of his potential in recent matches, but the youngster is simply not a 20-goal striker, yet.

Cenk Tosun appears completely out of favour with Silva, having started just six league games this season, and Richarlison isn’t as effective up front as he is on the wing.

The Toffees need a new captain and a new central midfielder if they are going to surge up the table, but if they don’t sign a clinical striker who can put away chances, the aforementioned improvements would only count for so much.

So, Everton fans, what do you think is going wrong at the moment? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

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Mateusz Klich notched a second half brace against Rotherham United to complete Leeds United’s comeback and secure a 2-1 win for Marcelo Bielsa’s side on Saturday afternoon.

The Whites struggled in the first half, but were much improved after the break, with Klich and substitute Tyler Roberts shining in particular. The three points keeps the Elland Road club at the top of the Championship table and on course for promotion back to the Premier League.

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Bielsa will be particularly delighted with Klich’s finishing, as the attacking midfielder hadn’t found the back of net in the league since October prior to this weekend’s visit to Rotherham. The brace ought to give the 28-year-old a much-needed confidence boost, which could see him play a huge role for the Whites for the remainder of the campaign.

The win over Rotherham was vital for Leeds, who needed to bounce back quickly from their defeat against Stoke City last time out. Whilst Bielsa will realise that his team’s performance left plenty to be desired, the three points could prove extremely important come the end of the season.

After the final whistle, plenty of Leeds fans took to Twitter to celebrate Klich’s match-winning contribution to the game…

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West Ham loanee Edimilson Fernandes has been in good form for Fiorentina this season.

The midfielder was on the scoresheet at the weekend as his side earned a 1-1 draw with Udinese in Serie A.

Per Transfermarkt, he has laid on two assists and one strike in 19 games thus far this season. He has played a total of 48 games for the Irons.

Fiorentina sit ninth in the Italian top-flight, just five points behind AC Milan in fourth.

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West Ham, meanwhile, have been struggling recently under Manuel Pellegrini, losing their last three games in all competitions, including a humbling loss to AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup.

They face Premier League leaders Liverpool on Monday, aware that a win would move them level on points with eighth-placed Watford.

Many fans are baffled as to why Pellegrini does not have Fernandes to call on, insisting that he should not have been sent out on loan, with some wanting the club to attempt to integrate him into the first-team from next season.

Newcastle fans will be hoping Miguel Almiron can steer the club away from the Premier League relegation zone.

The Paraguay international became the Magpies’ club-record signing after completing a £20m move from Atlanta United in the MLS. Almiron was the stand out performer in the United States and now has the chance to prove himself one the world’s biggest stage. Rafael Benitez will hope the playmaker can have an instant impact at St. James Park.

Indeed, Benitez’s long-term future on Tyneside remains unclear due to disagreements with owner Mike Ashley (revealing comments as per Sky Sports). However, keeping the club in the division would greatly increase the club’s chances of keeping the Spaniard at the helm. If so, he simply must be backed financially during the summer transfer window.

One man Benitez could look to sign is Liverpool wonderkid – Harry Wilson. Valued at just £2.7m by Transfermarkt, the 21-year-old joined Derby County on loan in the summer to link up with Frank Lampard despite an impressive pre-season campaign. The Wales international has proven to be a wonderful signing, scoring 12 goals and registering four assists for the Rams in all competitions so far this season.

Jurgen Klopp will be pleased to see the youngster excelling during his temporary spell away from the club but his future at Anfield. Whilst his form has been terrific, Wilson is unlikely to usurp Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino from the starting line-up. Now approaching his 22nd birthday, first-team football is vital for his development and Liverpool might look to cash in on their academy prospect.

Wilson has a sweet left foot, an eye for goal and excellent dribbling skills that would take Newcastle’s attack to a whole new level if he did decide to depart Merseyside.

Newcastle fans, thoughts?

Marcelo Bielsa has rarely put a foot wrong this season and all the good work he has done was evidenced on Saturday once again with his side 3-0 up against Cardiff, and coasting in the way they were playing.

Even a poor mistake by Kiko Casilla which gave the visitors a consolation goal on the hour didn’t seem to disrupt matters, until two goals in the last ten minutes turned the game on its head and raised questions about Bielsa’s decision making.

In particular, the decision to take off senior players such as Patrick Bamford and Gaetano Berardi backfired. Both were playing well and providing a key service to the defence in their own way, yet the Argentine felt it was okay to bring on two 20-year-old players.

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Eddie Nketiah has often featured as a sub so that perhaps wasn’t too significant, but brining on Pascal Strujik for only his second senior appearance was a puzzling decision, and one which hasn’t been lost on fans – who blame Bielsa for the comeback disaster.

The perplexing decision undoubtedly cost the Whites all three points as some questionable positioning from Strujik allowed Robert Glatzel to pounce following a long ball from Lee Tomlin, and that was enough to share the spoils.

Bielsa must learn from this. As much as he wants to blood youngsters there is a time and a place, and after conceding one he should have focused on keeping his key players on the pitch, and seeing out the win.

He will now know just how much of a disruption simple substitutions can have, and the effect that taking off Bamford has on the team, from both an attacking and defensive perspective.

Nevertheless, he has rightly been criticised for his handling of the match, which has overshadowed the extension of Leeds’ unbeaten run, and just how well they played for the majority of the match.

Despite an ultimately disappointing result, the match against Cardiff did at least highlight the importance of one player, who has rightly been praised by fans as a result.

According to Turkish journalist Gokmen Ozcan, Besiktas are interested in re-signing Everton forward Cenk Tosun on loan at the start of 2020.

The 28-year-old has only managed one goal in six appearances for the Toffees this term.

Meanwhile, he has netted just 10 times in 49 outings for the English club since arriving from Besiktas, where he scored 64 goals in all competitions.

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A number of Everton fans have welcomed the latest speculation surrounding Tosun, who has been an unused substitute in the team’s last four Premier League games.

The Turkey international arrived at Goodison Park in January 2018, with the Toffees believed to have paid in the region of £27m to complete a deal.

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And one supporter has claimed that the transfer was a big mistake by the club’s owner Farhad Moshiri.

One fan, meanwhile, has hinted that Tosun would struggle to earn regular football at any professional club due to his current struggles, suggesting that the attacker should be looking at park football if he wants to ensure he receives regular minutes.

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The forward is seemingly still well regarded by the Everton fans despite his struggles, though, and another has wished him well with whatever develops in the future.

Meanwhile, a number of Everton fans were particularly delighted with the performance of one player in Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Manchester United may have netted four times on Boxing Day but it wasn’t all good news for the Old Trafford outfit.

Scott McTominay has made himself something of a key player in United’s midfield this season, starting 17 times in the Premier League, but came off at half-time against Newcastle due to injury.

He was later spotted leaving Old Trafford on crutches, after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told reporters that he’d most likely damaged the ligaments in his knee.

Unsurprisingly, United fans were pretty disappointed to hear McTominay has suffered an injury that looks like it has the potential to be quite serious…

Others, meanwhile, were more concerned with the shape this now leaves United’s midfield in, with many believing this either should or could force the club to move for a new midfielder during the coming transfer window.

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United’s depth in that department really isn’t what it could be. Paul Pogba is arguably the only top-class option, and he’s spent most of the campaign out injured himself.

Whether United will now invest in more engine room options remains to be seen but we won’t have too long to find out – the January transfer window is now just around the corner.

Confirmation on the details of McTominay’s injury, meanwhile, will likely be given in the coming days.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Newcastle have been given the chance the sign Nikola Kalinic this month.

What’s the word?

The striker has had a tough few months since his controversial departure from the Croatia squad in the 2018 World Cup, as he has failed to find goalscoring form ever since.

That led Atletico Madrid to loan him out to Roma this season, but after six appearances and no goals, he is set to return to Spain, with the club now offering him to the Magpies.

Newcastle are reportedly interested in the 31-year-old, with the wait now to see whether Kalinic is keen on a move back to the Premier League, having played for Blackburn between 2009-2011.

He has turned down moves to Genoa and Verona which indicates he is keen to move away from Italy, and that could enhance Steve Bruce’s chances of signing him.

Big gamble

Kalinic earned a move to Atletico Madrid in a £13.5m deal after producing nine goal contributions for Milan in 31 appearances in 2017/18, but he has often been a backup option in Spain.

His return of four goals in 24 outings the following campaign explains why he is now out of favour under Diego Simeone, but it should also act as a warning sign to Newcastle.

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Bruce’s side is in desperate need of a goalscoring striker after netting just 20 goals in 21 league matches, with big-money signing Joelinton falling way below the standard required with one strike this term.

Worse still, no forward in the squad has scored more than once this season and that means they are in need of a striker with a proven track record in front of goal – preferably a player currently high on confidence.

Now rated at £7.65m, there is nothing to suggest Kalinic would provide what they need as he hasn’t scored since December 2018. His last spell in England was also a bit of a disaster with 13 goals in 53 games, though that was some time ago.

In other transfer news, there has been a setback via the injury to Jack Colback, which means he will be unable to leave the club on loan this month.