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Former Everton striker Marcus Bent has exclusively told Football FanCast that the Toffees won’t be looking to replace Jordan Pickford this summer.

The England goalkeeper remains Everton’s first-choice, but has been on the bench a couple of times in the Premier League this season following strong competition from on-loan Roma shot-stopper Robin Olsen, who’s turned out 10 times in all competitions.

Pickford was sidelined with a muscle problem but returned to training ahead of the draw against Brighton, suggesting he could be ready to take his place between the sticks for the visit of Tottenham on Friday.

However, reports believe that Ancelotti is keen on bringing in Napoli’s Alex Meret, which would see the pair reunite following the Italian’s previous spell at the Stadio San Paolo, although only should Everton cash-in on 27-year-old Pickford.

But Bent told Football FanCast that Pickford is the best man for the job at Goodison Park despite his occasional mistake:

“He’s a young boy. He’s done wonders for the team, he’s England number one.

“He’s made mistakes, but all keepers make mistakes. But he always bounces back because he’s strong, he’s mentally strong.

“I don’t think changing him will change anything. Maybe getting in a number two to help him improve on and off the pitch, but he’s still growing. I think he’ll still do really well next season.”

But does Bent think that Pickford still has Ancelotti’s trust despite his errors?

“I think so, I don’t know so, but I think so,” he added. “Being in football and around football I think he’s a big part of the side. I don’t think we’ve got a goalkeeper in there that can replace him.

“I don’t think there’s anyone better than him. You’d kick yourself if someone came in and made mistakes. His place is secure.”

Manchester United could not find a way past Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday, the clash in Yorkshire ending 0-0.

Chances were certainly at a premium and here is how we rated the Red Devils throughout the game:

Starting XI

Henderson – 6/10: It was not an extraordinarily busy afternoon for the United stopper, only being forced into three saves according to WhoScored. His distribution was impressive though.

Wan-Bissaka – 7/10: Probably the most reliable of United’s defensive options, the former Crystal Palace man provided five tackles and two clearances as he dealt with the threat of the ever-dangerous Jack Harrison relatively well.

Maguire – 6/10: Again, not the busiest afternoon for the Red Devils’ captain, Leeds being restricted to just three shots. He was dominant in the air throughout the game but really should have scored with a free header in the first half and he was also booked.

Lindelof – 6/10: Not tested all too much, the Swede was solid if unspectacular. He produced three clearances as the hosts were kept at arms’ length throughout the majority of the game.

Shaw – 7/10: Like his fellow full-back, Shaw impressed at Elland Road. He was very effective going forwards, racking up one of the highest pass completion rates in the visitors’ side, whilst contributing a fantastic five key passes.

Fred – 7/10: Far better defensively than going forwards, Fred was instrumental in keeping Marcelo Bielsa’s troops quiet. The former Shakhtar man contributed three tackles, three interceptions and three clearances. He was also a reliable presence on the ball.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/the-latest-man-united-transfer-rumours-and-news-from-old-trafford-fofana-solskjaer-van-de-beek-wwodward” title=”The latest Man United transfer rumours and news from Old Trafford…”]

McTominay – 6/10: After scoring twice and notching an assist in the reverse fixture this season, the Scot would certainly have been wanting to rack up a similar contribution in Yorkshire. That was simply not possible though, completing just 30 passes throughout the match.

Fernandes – 6/10: Arguably one of Fernandes’ worst performances for the club since joining last January. He had five shots throughout the clash but did not get any of those on target – an aspect that was somewhat synonymous with the majority of United’s attack play.

James – 5/10: Playing at a stadium where he could have potentially have been an employee, the young winger could barely get involved. He did not have a single shot and when presented with a chance to score in the second half, he dallied for too long before he was tackled by Ezgjan Alioski.

Greenwood – 7/10: The United academy graduate was probably the brightest spark for the visitors at Elland Road. On numerous occasions, he looked the biggest threat for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men but was regularly denied by Illan Meslier.

Rashford  – 6/10: Whilst still clearly finding his way back to full fitness, Rashford looked off the pace against Leeds. He struggled to find any room to work in and accumulated the worst pass accuracy rate of the Manchester United starting XI at just 69.2% before eventually being replaced.

Substitutes

Pogba – 6/10: Replaced Daniel James with just under 15 minutes of regular time remaining but did not really affect the game all too much.

Cavani – 6/10: The Uruguayan replaced Rashford towards the end of the tie but like Pogba, did not get involved too much.

Van de Beek – N/A: Introduced for Fred with just one minute remaining, the Dutchman was not on the pitch for long enough to earn a score.

Fans of Liverpool have been reacting to a post on Twitter, which relayed a report regarding Liverpool’s alleged interest in a summer move for Aaron Ramsey.

According to a report by CalcioMercato (via The Express), Ramsey could be set for a return to Premier League football in the shape of a move to Liverpool, who are facing the prospect of losing Georginio Wijnaldum on a free transfer when his contract expires on Merseyside this summer.

It is said that a move for the £187,000-per-week Juventus midfielder, who has scored two goals and registered four assists over his 18 Serie A appearances so far this season, would suit Jurgen Klopp’s side, due to the 30-year-old’s “potential availability” and “proven Premier League quality”.

However, after Empire of the Kop relayed the reports on Twitter, fans of Liverpool flocked to have their say on the matter, with many appearing to be distraught at the prospect of the Reds making a move for Ramsey this summer, brandishing the news ‘ridiculous’ and ‘silly’.

So, what exactly did these Liverpool fans have to say in reaction to the reports regarding Aaron Ramsey?

“A serious club wouldn’t get a finished player such as this one.”

@SheikhSadio

“Silly to replace Gini with a player the same age, on ridiculous wage & injury prone. Nar, we should pass.”

@AngryLittleMan1

“Too injury prone, no point.”

@Evans_sly

“This guy is broken more times than Matip!”

@76Hangman

“Last thing we need is another sick note.”

@haggisjoseph

“Absolutely not.”

@MattMumford

“NO.”

@ejaz_k_

“Gets to many injuries.”

@mucko7416

In other news: these Liverpool fans were left appalled by this “depressing” transfer news – find out more here!

According to Duncan Castles of the Transfer Window Podcast, Kylian Mbappe remains interested in a move to Manchester United but his first choice would be to swap the French capital for Anfield this summer, if he doesn’t stay in Paris.

What’s the word?

Castles revealed that the PSG superstar prefers a move to the Premier League if he does decide to leave Ligue 1, despite interest from both Barcelona and Real Madrid.

He explained that although Mbappe likes Manchester United as a club, the lure of Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool is stronger and as such, that would be his preference.

Any deal to bring the 2018 World Cup winner to England would be tough though, with the financial pulling power of Real Madrid set to be a key obstacle for both clubs, and given that he’s rated as a £162m player, he won’t come cheap.

The solution to United’s attacking problems?

Kylian Mbappe’s reputation speaks for itself and at the age of 22, many have tipped the Frenchman and Norwegian superstar Erik Haaland, to take over the long-term battle of best in the world status from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

He has been in scintillating form this season and scored 23 goals in 31 appearances across all competitions this campaign, with his hat-trick in a 4-1 win away at Barcelona in the Champions League round of 16 first leg tie attracting even more attention from his numerous admirers.

There is no doubt that United should seize the opportunity to sign a player of Mbappe’s calibre if the opportunity arose, and Ed Woodward must do everything to fight off the old enemy should a bidding war come into play.

Speaking on TalkSPORT during Mbappe’s incredible performance over Barcelona, former Republic of Ireland international David Connolly was full of praise for the Frenchman, saying: “His finishing ability was brilliant. He had the lot tonight and he was almost unplayable.” and that’s not the first, and likely won’t be the last, time that the forward has shone on a big stage.

The PSG superstar would seamlessly slot into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s counter-attacking style of play, and his ability to play on either flank, as either a second striker or main centre forward could add a frightening new dimension to United’s attack.

He could also be the long-term successor to Edinson Cavani and become the focal point for United’s forward play for many years to come.

Although in the meantime, with the Frenchman predominantly used as a left forward, he could be an incredible alternative to the likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.

With Manchester City running away with the Premier League title this season and a possible resurgence on the cards for Liverpool next season, Mbappe is the next marquee signing that Woodward must make to get his side in a position to consistently challenge for top prizes again.

And in other news, Man United are reportedly eyeing a summer move for a star winger.

Former Premier League striker Marlon Harewood has urged Wolves to be more adventurous in games in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast.

Having scored just 28 goals in 28 games this season, Wolves are currently one of the lowest-scoring teams in the Premier League. The Midlands club have, of course, been hindered by a long-term injury to Raul Jimenez.

The Mexican forward was Wolves top scorer last term, finishing the Premier League campaign with 17 strikes to his name, and has been sorely missed.

Nevertheless, Harewood has still called for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to show a bit more ambition during games. Speaking about Wolves’ recent approach to matches, Harewood exclusively told FFC:

“I do think they should be more adventurous. They’ve got some really good players there, really good players when they’re on it. It’s just finishing off teams, obviously the striker in that area where he gets in positions where them balls are coming in the box or making a run for someone else to run into the space, they just need that striker to finish it off.

“But they have got a good core of players that I think need to go and push on.”

While Wolves are certainly missing Jimenez, Nuno still has a host of other quality players in his squad to call upon.

The likes of Pedro Neto, Ruben Neves and Adama Traore are all talented individuals, even despite the latter struggling with his final ball currently.

The Spanish winger has failed to score a single goal in the Premier League this season, but he is still managing to complete the most successful dribbles per game (4.1) in English football’s top flight (via WhoScored), a demonstration of the talent Nuno is still working with.

According to recent reports, West Ham United are one of a number of clubs tracking Sparta Prague centre-forward, Adam Hlozek, ahead of a potential summer transfer.

The report by Tuttosport (via Sport Witness) claims that a number of clubs, such as Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Napoli, Juventus, AC Milan and West Ham, are considering a summer move for the 18-year-old Hlozek, who has recently recovered from a long spell on the sidelines due to injury.

However, despite missing a large portion of the season, the Czech Republic international has still impressed over his 10 appearances in all competitions for Sparta Prague, scoring four goals and providing six assists.

In total, despite his tender age, the forward already has 72 first-team appearances under his belt for the Fortuna Liga side, scoring a total of 17 goals and providing 18 assists along the way in his senior career.

And, according to the reports, Hlozek would have already made a move to a top European side if it were not for his injury, with it previously being reported that Sparta Prague would demand at least €15 million (£13 million) to part with the striker.

Transfer Tavern Take

With David Moyes in rather desperate need of a new striker at West Ham this summer, having failed to replace the outgoing Sebastien Haller in the January transfer window, it would certainly appear as if Hlozek is an exciting candidate for an addition to the Scot’s attacking arsenal.

However, with a great number of top-level clubs also reported to be keeping an eye on the 18-year-old, a deal for the Sparta Prague starlet is not likely to be an easy one to get over the line for the West Ham board in the summer market.

In other news: This pundit dropped a claim on GSB’s £82k-p/w West Ham summer target – find out more here!

According to ESPN, Glasgow Rangers are interested in adding Djed Spence to Steven Gerrard’s squad this summer.

Gers eye Spence

The Gers are believed to be interested in signing 20-year-old Spence, who currently plays for Middlesbrough.

The Ibrox outfit are one of several sides interested in the right-back. Wolves are said to be leading the race for him, while Everton are also in pursuit. Boro are believed to be looking for bids of at least £5m.

No need

Spence has been solid for the north-east side throughout this campaign, making 37 appearances in the league (Transfermarkt). Last year, Neil Warnock said he is a player with “enormous ability” (via The Northern Echo) while Jose Mourinho was known to be an admirer during his time at Tottenham.

However, despite all his clear qualities, it would make little sense for the Gers to sign Spence. At right-back, Gerrard already has James Tavernier and Nathan Patterson to choose from – two players who themselves are impressive. Unless the Gers are planning on moving one of those two on, it would make no sense for them to part with such a hefty fee for someone who, realistically, may only be third choice. As such, it seems likely Spence will end up elsewhere than Ibrox.

In other news, Rangers want this goalscoring midfielder.

Gary Cahill and Tyrick Mitchell could return to the starting line-up later this afternoon as Crystal Palace take on Newcastle at St James’ Park.

While most of the attention of the general footballing public will likely be on Old Trafford on Tuesday as Southampton travel to Manchester United, Palace could create some space between themselves and the chasing pack at the bottom of the table, depending on the result on Tyneside.

However, in order to do that, they will have to pick up all three points against a team who have caused Roy Hodgson’s side problems in the past. Palace suffered a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle at Selhurst Park back in November.

With that in mind, here’s Football FanCast’s predicted line-up for today’s trip to Newcastle.

The Eagles have started the new year with a renewed sense of optimism after bringing in a new striker in the form of Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Nevertheless, the Palace boss will probably play it safe as it’s unlikely he is taking anything for granted, meaning Michy Batshuayi will be back upfront after his solid shift against Wolves and he will play alongside the in-form Wilfried Zaha.

To the left of the Belgian in attack will be Eberechi Eze, who scored the only goal of the game against Wolves, while Andros Townsend will most likely replace Jordan Ayew on the right flank.

In defence, Tyrick Mitchell could come in for Patrick van Aanholt, the latter being heavily linked with the Selhurst Park exit on deadline day, with Gary Cahill back as one of two centre-back options with Cheikhou Kouyate.

Elsewhere, Vicente Guaita is a mainstay in Hodgson’s side, which leaves Jack Butland still waiting for his Premier League debut for the club.

Meanwhile, Jairo Riedewald will be the only other change in midfield, with James McCarthy dropping to the bench as a result.

AND in other news, Vicente Guaita’s new contract could be bad news for Jack Butland…

Are you a die-hard Liverpool fan? We bet that you can’t remember some of these Reds players from the Premier League era, ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime.

Of course, things have been much better for Liverpool fans in recent years, thanks to the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp helping to transform the club, and surely fans will have put plenty of players from the Roy Hodgson era to the back of their minds.

The Merseyside outfit won last year’s Premier League title, and the Champions League the season before, solidifying their spot as one of the best sides in European football, which is even more impressive when you consider their struggles in the top-flight not so long ago.

Whilst you might want to forget the likes of Jon Flanagan and Jay Spearing, you’ll have to think back to that Anfield era if you are to score 15/15 on this quiz.

You’ll be shown the career path of one ex-Red, but can you name the player?

And, in other news… Sold for £15m, now worth £1.8m: LFC sold flop Klopp dubbed a “big talent” at the perfect time

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly one of the sides interested in signing Wigan Athletic striker Kyle Joseph this month and if he were to sign, it could prove to be a repeat of the excellent decision to sign Alfie Devine from the Lancashire side during the summer.

According to The Mirror, Spurs are battling it out with Celtic, Rangers and Sheffield United for the 19-year-old, who has impressed with his performances for the League One strugglers this season.

Spurs have already raided the Tics once in recent times, having signed Devine from them during the summer for a minimal fee, with the former FA Cup-winners forced to cash in on a lot of their players due to financial struggles.

The young midfielder became Spurs’ youngest ever player and goalscorer when he marked his substitute appearance against Marine with a goal earlier this month, so it is safe to say his signing has already proved to be a success.

Joseph has been a shining light on what has been a difficult season for Wigan, as they currently sit in the relegation places of the third tier.

In 12 league appearances, the 19-year-old has managed five goals and one assist, averaging a solid 6.88 rating. This also includes a hattrick in Wigan’s 4-3 win against relegation rivals Burton Albion, suggesting that he is establishing himself as a key player with the League One club despite his age, and he could well be important to whether they can stave off relegation to League Two.

However, his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning that Spurs could sign him for a relatively small compensation fee in the summer.

Former teammate Kal Naismith was full of praise for Joseph earlier this season, saying:

“He’ll be a top player, a really, really good player and he works his nuts off not just in the games but all week in training as well, he has a great appetite for the game and a great attitude – I enjoy playing with him, he did a lot of work for me in what was my first game back after not having a lot of training.”

The Scottish U19 international has already shown he can score goals in a struggling side, so looks to have a bright future in the game, and this looks to be a risk worth taking by Daniel Levy and the Tottenham board, as if he can have anywhere near the impact Devine has had since signing, it will prove to be an excellent decision to bring him to the North London club.

And, in other news… Bye-bye Vinicius: Levy can land Kane’s Spurs partner in “outstanding” £18m-rated beast