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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…

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Rangers midfielder Gavin Rae has given his verdict on the speculation surrounding the futures of James Tavernier and Alfredo Morelos.

What’s he said?

Both club captain Tavernier and top scorer Morelos have been linked with moves away from Ibrox this summer.

Football Insider claim as many as ten clubs are interested in the goal-scoring defender’s services. Similarly, the Colombian has been a man in-demand this summer, with Hebei China Fortune the latest club to register an interest in the 30-goal striker, according to Sky Sports.

The ex-Ger was emphatic in his statements on the important duo: “I think you have to keep him [Morelos] unless you have someone else to replicate his goals – yes he had his discipline problems last season but he scores goals for fun and it is difficult to buy someone to do that in the market.

“I would definitely keep him [Tavernier], he is an integral part of the team, scoring and assisting so many goals last season – also being captain he is someone Gerrard trusts so he would be tough to replace.”

The integral duo

Rae is right on both the full-back and the striker – the two must be held onto this summer, and are perhaps the most pivotal players in the entire squad.

In a dressing room featuring Allan McGregor, 107-cap Steve Davis and Scott Arfield, it’s no token gesture to be the captain of the club and Tavernier certainly thrives in his role as a leader.

Moreover, the defender was an integral part of the Rangers side last year, producing a phenomenal return from right-back. The ex-Newcastle youngster scored 17 times and assisted a further 20 in his 57 appearances for Gerrard last term. That’s a return that the majority of attacking players in Scotland would struggle to replicate, let alone a full-back.

One player in Scotland who did match that return was Morelos, scoring 30 times and setting up 11 in his 48 outings in a Light Blue jersey.

The sheer amount of goals didn’t happen by accident though, as Gerrard’s 4-3-3 formation means the lone striker has an enormous responsibility, and the 23-year-old duly repaid his manager’s faith and scored a bucket-load. Therefore, being forced to scramble about for an adequate replacement would be nigh on impossible.

That’s a whopping 78 goal contributions for Gerrard and director of football Mark Allen to replace if they were to cash-in on their star duo. While the money would likely be good, Rae’s verdict is spot on – what those two bring to the club would take a lot more than cash to replace.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Leicester are reportedly closing in on a £40m deal to bring back Youri Tielemans to the King Power according to The Telegraph.

What’s the word?

Up until now, Leicester’s transfer window had been fairly quiet, but they’ve now sparked into life.

Last week they added defender James Justin to their ranks whilst they’re also reportedly set to sign Ayoze Perez from Newcastle.

However, they could be on the verge of bringing back one of their star men from the second half of 2018/19.

The Telegraph suggest that Brendan Rodgers is finally closing in on a deal to bring 23-cap Tielemans to the King Power with a £40m fee potentially being paid to Monaco in order to land the young Monaco man.

Watch Leicester City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Game-changing for Leicester

Leicester haven’t been near the top-six since they remarkably won the league in 2015/16. However, by bringing back Tielemans, they could well find themselves challenging for European football once again.

When the Belgian arrived last term, he helped to revitalise the football club alongside Rodgers.

In ten games he played under the Northern Irishman, he lost just three times with one of those defeats coming against the might of Manchester City.

When Claude Puel was in charge, Leicester had struggled and sat 12th on 32 points after a 4-1 defeat against Crystal Palace.

Yet, under their new manager, they rallied and picked up another 20 points, finishing ninth and five points behind Wolves.

The latter would ultimately go onto claim a spot in Europe but by landing Tielemans, a player who was easily one of the best creative outlets in the league when he arrived, he could help them launch an assault on the top seven.

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This is a player who scored three goals and claimed four assists in just 13 appearances for the Foxes, appearing to be one of the few missing pieces of the jigsaw.

Leicester had capable scorers and creative outlets in Jamie Vardy and James Maddison who contributed to goals 36 between them.

But they were missing someone who could really drive the team forward from deep.

Their midfield was one dimensional with Wilfred Ndidi and Nampalys Mendy but Tielemans offered a different option that took the Foxes to the next level. He ended the season as their fourth-best player in terms of goal involvements despite only being there for half the season.

If he can sustain the same consistency as he showed during his loan spell, he could well lead a charge towards European football for Leicester if he signs permanently.

Southampton have started the transfer window with a bang following their £15m capture of Moussa Djenepo from Standard Liege.

The 21-year-old has since been speaking about his move to St. Mary’s, explaining what he will bring to the team, which should excite both Ralph Hasenhuttl and supporters.

“I’m quick and I enjoy dribbling with the ball. That’s what the fans can expect of me and I will give my all for them,” Djenepo told Southampton’s official club website.

Ultimately, that style of play looks ideal for what Hasenhuttl has been trying to implement on the south coast.

Since succeeding Mark Hughes as manager last December, the former RB Leipzig boss has moulded the Saints into a side who press high (the club’s official website took a closer look at this) and are dangerous on the counter-attack, as indicated by James Ward-Prowse’s comments on that tactical as per Sport Bible. That is why Djenepo, with the pace and dribbling he has spoken about, should fit in nicely.

Alongside the versatile Redmond, the duo could form quite the attack. The 25-year-old, who is also no slouch, averaged 2.4 dribbles per Premier League game last season, while Djenepo averaged 2.2 in the Europa League.

To put that into perspective, only Wilfried Zaha (3.4) and Eden Hazard (3.7), arguably the two best 1v1 wingers England has seen over the last few years, averaged more (as per WhoScored).

If Hasenhuttl is looking to make Southampton more dangerous out wide and on the break, with Djenepo to now go with Redmond, he might accomplish just that after one summer transfer window.

Southampton fans, feeling excited? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!

Aston Villa return to the Premier League this season hoping to put on a show and firmly cement their place back among English football’s elite.

Dean Smith did a grand job of leading the Villans back to the big time with a play-off final win over Derby County, and now, backed by rich owners and Premier League money, Smith will be hoping to bring in some quality to ensure his team stay up.

This weekend then has seen the club linked with a move for Chelsea youngster Ethan Ampadu, and here in the Tavern, we think this would be one of the shrewdest moves Villa could make this summer.

Ampadu has had his fair share of game time for the Blues and has impressed when given the chance, but despite being a regular in the Welsh squad, there has to be an element to consider where it might be time for Ampadu to get some regular first-team football as he looks to develop.

Villa will be looking for players who can slot in across various positions too as Smith looks to maximise the potential of signings he makes, and Ampadu fits right into that mould being comfortable both in the middle of the park and in defence.

Ampadu is highly thought of for a reason at Stamford Bridge, and while he will eventually become a star for Chelsea, a season with a club that holds the stature of Villa could be the perfect move all around.

The youngster is one of those players who is calm on the ball beyond his years, and with a season under his belt of regular football in the system Smith likes to employ, it could well set him up nicely to make a place in the Chelsea XI his own in the coming years.

Since Ralph Hasenhuttl took the reins at Southampton, there have been many success stories at St. Mary’s.

And none arguably bigger than that of the emergence of Yan Valery, who has only gone from strength to strength following his debut in Mark Hughes’ final game in charge against Manchester United last December.

A former Southampton captain is now tipping the 20-year-old to become one of the best in his position in the Premier League.

“He reminds me of Kyle Walker and the best full-backs in the Premier League, who are now more offensive,” Jason Dodd told the Daily Echo. “They’re good at going forward and bombing on – and he’s got that in abundance. He’s got a great shot on him and is quick. He’s performing really well and deserves the plaudits he’s getting.

“He’s got all the credentials you need,” the ex-Saints skipper later added.

Indeed, going forward, Valery has shown his quality, even managing to grab a couple of goals in the process, including a wonderful strike against Manchester United in a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford.

If he can continue to improve defensively, something which Hasenhuttl believes he is already doing, then the French youngster could go on to become one of the leading right-backs in the division.

As Dodd has pointed out, Valery looks as if he has all of the tools and now just needs to strike that perfect balance between defence and attack.

Southampton fans, how impressed have you been with Valery this season? Join the discussion by commenting below.

[ad_pod ]Harry Maguire has had an excellent couple of seasons since joining Leicester and he’s quickly become one of the most highly rated defenders in the Premier League.As a result, he’s now reportedly taken the interest of Manchester City who could hijack Manchester United’s plans to sign the 26-year-old, per The Daily Mail.Traditionally, football fans would be concerned about losing one of their star players. However, that isn’t the case with a selection of Leicester supporters who, bearing in mind a potential £75m price tag,Âwere keen to see him leave.Reacting to the news on Twitter, one fan said he’d drive Maguire to City himself, claiming it would fund most of the Foxes’ summer spending.Two further supporters chose to focus on the fact that Leicester had plenty of cover for the centre-back, hinting Filip Benkovic and Caglar Soyuncu could come into the team as replacements.Maguire was exceptional for England at the World Cup last summer but his performance levels dropped slightly during the course of the 2018/19 campaign.

In total, he played in 31 Premier League matches this term.

Here’s the best of the debate.

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Leeds fans have taken to Twitter in fury after Marcelo Bielsa was asked if he’d be spying on Derby again, with both teams now set to face each other in the play-off semi-finals.

The former Marseille boss came under fire back in February after a member of Leeds’ staff was spotted outside the Rams’ training ground, before he later admitted to sending a spy to watch every single side his men have faced this season.

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The English Football League hit Leeds with a whopping £200,000 fine for their actions, which Bielsa paid in full himself.

So, having had to shell out such a sum, it is no wonder why Bielsa didn’t take kindly to being asked if he’d be spying again, and then to be told he has no sense of humour after the journalist in question said he was only joking.

Let’s see what the livid Leeds fans on Twitter have been saying about the incident…

The picture at Ibrox is getting clearer and clearer with every sensible decision and smart signing that Steven Gerrard makes. The Liverpool legend is doing a fine job at Scotland’s most successful club, but ahead of the 2019/20 season, he cannot afford to overlook young Greg Docherty, the 22-year-old midfielder who shone for Shrewsbury this season.

Ahead of what promises to be a massive Scottish Premiership title race next season, Rangers are recruiting well. Both Jordan Jones and Jake Hastie have signed pre-contract agreements, and in this Scottish Sun article, Gerrard has been talking about his squad and what he expects of certain players next season. One player not mentioned is Docherty, who has all the makings of an Ibrox icon.

The young midfield man provided an impressive 21 combined goals and assists for Shrewsbury in his time at The New Meadow as he featured 50 times for them in all competitions. Now it will be time for him to step up. The Shrews avoided relegation with Docherty in the middle of the park and the next step for the Scottish U21 international will be to star for his parent club at Ibrox.

What Docherty would add to Ibrox is a lot more than just the goals and assists. The 22-year-old has a presence about him when he plays, demanding the ball and dictating play in a way that makes fans sit up and watch. If he could get going and get a run of games together at Ibrox then there’s no telling how far his potential can take him, and it could be a worrying time for the likes of Steven Davis and Ryan Jack next season.

Steven Gerrard simply cannot afford to overlook Docherty. His future is incredibly bright, and whilst the Scot may not have it in him to one day make it at a top club in the Premier League, in Scotland he can be the cream of the crop and help turn Rangers back into the dominant force that the Gers used to be, usurping Celtic in the process and winning back the Glasgow bragging rights.

Gers, are you backing Docherty to get much of a chance next season? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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Brighton’s Anthony Knockaert has won the Carling Goal of the Month for his strike against rivals Crystal Palace, who are perhaps right to be bitter about the Frenchman’s success.

The M23 derby – although you won’t hear it called that by either set of fans – between the Eagles and the Seagulls is one of the most confusing yet bitter rivalries in the game, a statement proved by Knockaert’s dodgy challenge on Luka Milivojevic just seconds into their March clash.

The former Leicester man slid studs-up into the Palace captain, who was caught in an area no man wants to be. Knockaert perhaps only evaded a red card because the referee barely had time to drop his whistle before it happened and so the winger remained on the pitch to score a worldie in the 74th minute.

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Cutting in on his left, the diminutive wide-man hit a perfect curling strike into the top right corner, leaving Palace ‘keeper Vicente Guaita absolutely no chance – a strike which has been recognised in award form.

Here’s what the Selhurst Park faithful, who feel he shouldn’t have even been on the pitch, had to say about it…

Chelsea have a lot of big decisions to make this summer with a transfer ban currently hanging over their heads, while the futures of various players remain uncertain.

And one of those players includes Pedro, who is said to be attracting interest from two Serie A giants.

The Breakdown

The Daily Express reports both AC Milan and Inter Milan are keen on the 31-year-old, though Chelsea could be reluctant to sell due to the sanction handed to them by FIFA.

The Blues, of course, could still end up getting their ban frozen. But even if they cannot, they should still consider selling Pedro in order to give some younger names the chance to impose themselves.

Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic, for example, could easily be Maurizio Sarri’s first-choice wingers next season if Pedro ends up leaving alongside Eden Hazard.

Meanwhile, there is still Willian and other players out on loan and in the youth ranks who could take up cover spots if Sarri is worried about numbers amid the transfer ban.

Perhaps not the most glamorous crop of wide men to some Chelsea supporters, but the Blues have to make something work should Hazard leave and their transfer ban remain in play.

And by moving on Pedro to allow the likes of Hudson-Odoi and Pulisic to get genuine opportunities, they could end up doing just that.

Ultimately, the duo could be the club’s future with their talent, but they will not get the chance to show and prove that until some of the older names in the squad such as Pedro are moved on.

Chelsea fans, should the club keep hold of Pedro? Join the discussion by commenting below.