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West Ham target Eddie Nketiah is still to agree a new deal with Arsenal, according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The lowdown

The Athletic reported last week that Arsenal had presented young striker Nketiah with a contract offer.

He has only 12 months left on his contract, and the Gunners are looking to ‘protect their investment and grant themselves some flexibility’.

The England Under-21 international made 17 Premier League appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side last season, but only four of those were starts.

He scored two top-flight goals, adding another three to his tally in the Europa League and one in the League Cup.

The latest

Romano tweeted that ‘there’s still nothing agreed’ between the 22-year-old and the North London outfit.

West Ham are among the clubs named as ‘interested’ parties, and may be taking encouragement from the delays.

Newly-promoted Watford and managerless Crystal Palace are also potential suitors, while Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen have apparently been pushing for a permanent deal for ‘months’.

The verdict

Football Insider report that West Ham are after another striker to provide both cover and competition for Michail Antonio, and Nketiah may be adjudged to fit that bill.

The Hammers were targeting RB Salzburg’s Patson Daka, but the player has apparently rejected their overtures.

Nketiah is admittedly a somewhat underwhelming alternative, but West Ham fans may have to lower their expectations – the most prolific strikers may be reluctant to join if Antonio is to remain the primary no.9, meaning a young player who is happy to play second fiddle while they hone their craft is perhaps the Irons’ best bet right now.

In other news, could this West Ham record-breaker be headed back to his former club? 

Rangers have been heavily linked with Nimes’ winger Zinedine Ferhat in recent weeks and after his asking price was cited as just €2m (£1.7m), Ross Wilson should definitely look to bring him to Ibrox this summer, as he could be a superb addition to Steven Gerrard’s side.

Rangers were first linked with the Algeria international by Foot Mercato earlier this month and it seems likely that the 28-year-old will be keen to depart following Nimes’ relegation to Ligue 2.

Whilst Transfermarkt values the wide man at £7.2m, a recent report from Midi Libre (via @Fleck_Scout), suggests that he would be available for as little as €2m (£1.7m) this summer.

Considering Ferhat enjoyed a superb season in the French top-flight, contributing six goals and 10 assists for Pascal Plancque’s side, it is something of a surprise that he is seemingly available for such a low fee, and therefore, he could prove to be a bargain option for Rangers this summer.

The Algerian’s performances in Ligue 1 earned him an average rating of 7.21/10 from WhoScored, which was the best of any player at Nimes, whilst it would be enough to rank him as the sixth-best performer in Gerrard’s squad if he had produced the same level of performances at Rangers this season.

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Gerrard will be very keen to add depth and Champions League quality to his squad ahead of next season and given that Ferhat managed more assists than global superstars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in Ligue 1 in the most recent season, he would certainly fit the bill.

Whilst Rangers shared the goals around effectively this season and ran away with the title, only James Tavernier (20) boasts more goals and assists in the league than Ferhat this season, with the likes of Ryan Kent (15), Ianis Hagi (15) and Alfredo Morelos (14) just falling short of the Algerian’s impressive return.

Given that the 28-year-old was able to contribute those sorts of numbers in a side which managed just nine wins all year, he could prove to be devastating in a side such as Rangers who will surely be favourites to make it back-to-back title wins next season given their dominance this campaign.

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Therefore, if Ferhat is indeed available for as little as £1.7m this summer, Wilson should definitely be looking to bring him to Ibrox.

And, in other news… Forget Ferguson: Wilson should seal Rangers swoop for “top player”, he won’t cost a penny

Rangers have been linked with a move for Deportivo de Cali winger Santiago Moreno recently and former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has tipped him to be a hit in Steven Gerrard’s side should he make the summer switch to Ibrox.

The Gers were linked with the Colombian youngster by The Telegraph earlier this month, with Southampton and Leeds United also touted with an interest in the 21-year-old, whose performances have earned him comparisons with Liverpool star Sadio Mane.

When speaking to Football Insider recently, Campbell suggested that it would be a “masterstroke” by Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson if they were able to sign him this summer, saying:

“It sounds like it could be a really smart signing.

“They have gone down that route before and got a lot of bang for their buck in Morelos.“Getting another guy in from Colombia could be great. He will be able to relate to Morelos and they will both speak the same language. They could really help each other off the field.“I think it would be a masterstroke signing in all honesty.“Of course he has to have quality as well. He has to be able to add to the fantastic squad Steven Gerrard already has up there. If Rangers manage to get that one over the line, I am sure he will do just that.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-rangers-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Read the latest Rangers transfer rumours and news!”]Moreno appears to have plenty of potential as, despite being just 21, he has already made 50 senior appearances for Deportivo de Cali, in which he has contributed an impressive 10 goals and seven assists.The winger predominantly features on the right-hand side and could compete with Ianis Hagi in that position in Gerrard’s side next term, as the Gers are arguably low on natural right-sided options other than the Romania international.[freshpress-quiz id=“593776″]Whilst reports have suggested that he will cost at least £2.6m this summer, he is clearly highly-rated in Colombia and could add some real strength in depth at Ibrox, which Gerrard will need next season if his team are to be a success in domestic and European cup competitions as well as the Premiership.In other news… Rangers dealt huge transfer blow with “fantastic” star, Gerrard will be fuming

Leeds United star Raphinha has lauded Robin Koch on social media following an excellent performance in the Whites’ impressive 3-1 win over Tottenham on Saturday.

The Lowdown: Leeds see off Spurs

Marcelo Bielsa’s side were looking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat at Brighton last weekend and they did so in eye-catching fashion.

Leeds added Spurs to their recent list of big-name teams from whom they have taken points, with Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo all finding in the net.

Koch started in midfield in the absence of Kalvin Phillips, shining in the role and playing his part in another brilliant result for the Whites.

The Latest: Raphinha hails Koch’s performance

Raphinha was absent through injury, but he was clearly impressed by what he saw from Koch, giving a perfect three-word response to the German’s performance on Instagram:

“What a player.”

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The Verdict: Koch stakes a claim for midfield role

There has been plenty of talk surrounding Leeds signing an alternative to Phillips this week, with others in the squad seemingly not deemed good enough to fill in for the England international whenever he’s unavailable.

Koch is certainly showing Bielsa that he can be a force in that position, though, even if centre-back remains his strongest role moving forward.

He enjoyed an 83% pass completion rate against Spurs, also winning seven duels, two tackles and nine recoveries, as he shone both on and off the ball. It’s little wonder that Raphinha was so glowing in his praise of the 24-year-old.

In other news, some Leeds fans have been hailing one specific player after the win over Spurs. Find out who it is here.

In an exclusive interview with The Transfer Tavern, former West Ham striker Brian Deane has called for Said Benrahma to be given patience at the London Stadium.

The 25-year-old winger recently grabbed his first league goal for the club after what has been a difficult start to life in east London.

After tearing up the Championship last season, much was expected of Benrahma when he joined West Ham.

However, the Algeria international has been in and out of David Moyes’ starting XI and, as already mentioned, only registered his first Premier League strike this month.

Deane, however, does not believe Benrahma should be written off so quickly and has urged for him to be given time.

Speaking exclusively to TT about the former Brentford man, Deane said:

“He’s like [Emiliano] Buendia. He’s that type of player, isn’t he? But in a wide area. Listen, I mean, sometimes you don’t get somebody on fire straight away, but he’s got all the tools.”

Like Benrahma during his final season at Brentford, Buendia absolutely thrived in the Championship this term.

The Argentinian attacker scored 15 goals and provided 16 assists on Norwich City’s way to the title, so it is a fair comparison, with Benrahma doing similar numbers back in 2019/20.

According to a report by Eurosport, Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy still hope they might be able to sign Southampton star Danny Ings – but the situation has gone quiet recently as the Lilywhites also monitor other options. 

Levy still hopes to sign Ings

The 28-year-old has been linked with a move to the Lilywhites sporadically over this last year, but ‘transfer insider’ Dean Jones has provided an update.

He claims in his column for Eurosport that Spurs and Levy still hold hope over possibly signing Ings but continue to check out alternatives – with the Englishman previously touted as ideal for Tottenham.

Speaking to talkSPORT last year, former Spurs forward Darren Bent touted Ings a would-be ‘great signing’ – and another ex-Lilywhite, Jamie O’Hara, branded him a ‘perfect fit’ far more recently (talkSPORT).

Transfer Tavern take

While Ings hasn’t managed to replicate his brilliant form from last season, when he scored 22 goals in the league alone, pundit Ian Wright still recently lavished him praise – hinting he would get chances for both Man City and Liverpool (Wrighty’s House Podcast via the Focus).

Tottenham podcaster Lee McQueen, discussing the links to Ings before the end of 2020, hailed the striker as ‘phenomenal’ whilst claiming he would be an ‘unbelievable signing’ (Last Word on Spurs via This Is Futbol).

However, despite all of these plaudits, would he be a sensible purchase in this different market affected by coronavirus?

The Daily Express valued him at more than £30 million in January, but given Tottenham’s arguably more pressing need for a centre half, it will depend on exactly how much Levy is willing to shell out for a back up to Harry Kane.

In other news: Tottenham plotting swoop for this shot stopper, find out more here.

Noel Whelan has said that Glasgow Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack will be distraught to miss out on the European Championships with Scotland as Steven Gerrard confirmed that the 29-year-old won’t play a part in the tournament.

Whelan says Jack will be distraught

Prior to the Gers’ Scottish Cup fourth round clash on Sunday, Gerrard revealed that Jack will miss the rest of the season and will also be unavailable for Euro 2020 (BBC).

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan said Jack will be gutted to miss the competition, although there may be a silver lining from a Rangers perspective. When asked whether it may be a blessing in disguise, he said:

“On one side, yes. Don’t tell me he won’t be absolutely gutted though that he is not at the Euros.

“They don’t know when they’re going to qualify again. It was maybe a one-off opportunity that he might get to play in the Euros.

“It’s come to a point where it needs to be rectified. He may have got through the Euros with this niggle but, you can never take a risk on an injury like that.

“It’s hard to be competitive, it puts far too much strain on the body.

“Your calf muscle takes a lot of stress and strain when you’re running and putting your body weight on it and pushing off and so on.”

Better in the long run

Jack has been struggling with this calf injury for a while (Transfermarkt) and has missed a number of games – he has made just 24 appearances in all competitions so far this term.

A spell on the sidelines may well allow him to return next season with full fitness and could even prolong his career. He has been an important player for Rangers and has played his part in a successful 2020/21 for the club, scoring twice to take his career tally to 22 strikes.

However, whether he will get another chance to compete in a major tournament with his country is unlikely. This is the first time Scotland have reached a major finals since 1998, after all – it is far from a common occurrence. Although it may be a sensible long-term decision not to play at the Euros, it will be a bitter pill for Jack to swallow in the short-term.

In other news, many Rangers fans lauded this man’s performance against Celtic.

After their last swap deal involving Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan ended in disaster, the Red Devils may have been cautious to complete such transfers once again.

However, TuttoSport have suggested that the Red Devils could send the lesser-seen Donny van de Beek to Juventus in order to facilitate a move for current Bianconeri midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

It’s a move which would make perfect sense, albeit in the process admitting that bringing the Dutchman to Old Trafford was a mistake.

When comparing the two players, Rabiot comes out on top in most, if not all, facets of the game.

According to WhoScored, the former Paris Saint-Germain ace has attempted more shots per game this season – 0.8 to 0.1 – than van de Beek. Those numbers are justified in their respective outputs with Rabiot having scored twice to the Dutchman’s once.

Whilst that lack of goal threat could be a direct consequence of van de Beek’s lack of action and the fact that his position is occupied by Bruno Fernandes, there is not a single attacking statistic in which the former Ajax man is victorious.

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He completes fewer key passes and fewer passes in general, whilst the only positive he has on his Juventus counterpart is that he only has 0.7 unsuccessful touches per game to Rabiot’s 1.3.

Meanwhile, the Frenchman has a far better pass success rate and contributes 3.3 greater defensive contributions per appearance than van de Beek.

They are certainly statistics which could suggest that Rabiot is a fantastic all-around midfielder, a sentiment echoed by Old Lady boss Andrea Pirlo, who has labelled him as a “complete player”.

It appears that Manchester United would be getting a far better player in return, so Ed Woodward should certainly consider jettisoning van de Beek in exchange for Rabiot in a deal which could potentially be far more profitable than the disastrous Sanchez and Mkhitaryan swap.

AND in more news, take a look at which Red Devils legend has saved the club “millions”…

Celtic are thought to be looking at former Borussia Dortmund manager Lucien Favre as an alternative to Eddie Howe.

That’s according to an exclusive report from Football Insider, who have been informed by a Hoops source that the 63-year-old is a real contender for the vacant post, should Howe snub a Parkhead move.

Celtic’s Howe fear

There are fears Howe is having second thoughts over becoming Neil Lennon’s long-term successor, resulting in the Hoops drawing up an alternative shortlist.

Favre has been out of work since December and has held eight managerial positions over the last 30 years.

Transfer Tavern take

Favre averaged over two points per game during his time in charge of Dortmund and boasts a wealth of experience across Europe. He’s also managed in France and Switzerland, however, in regards to the long-term, we think Howe is the smarter option.

Financially, Favre picked up €4.5 million a year with Dortmund, whereas Howe was thought to be closing in on a deal worth £2 million a year at Parkhead. Howe is also 20 years Favre’s junior, so his outlook could be beneficial in the long run.

It remains to be seen how strong Celtic’s interest in Favre is, but it seems as if their eggs aren’t all in Howe’s basket just yet.

In other news: Premier League side set to bid for Celtic midfielder, find out more here. 

Celtic have opened talks with Manchester City’s football partnerships manager Fergal Harkin ahead of potentially becoming the club’s new director of football.

That’s according to an exclusive report from Football Insider, who claim that a Celtic source has informed them discussions are underway with the Irishman over the newly created role.

Two more names linked with the job

Harkin, 44, isn’t the only man who has been linked with the post.

Juventus scout Matteo Tognozzi and former Bournemouth and Huddersfield recruitment chief David Webb are two other names who have been linked with a move to Glasgow.

Transfer Tavern take

Harkin has 11 years of experience at Manchester City in various scouting and recruitment roles, so it could be a big move for him to end his association at the Etihad to move to Scotland.

The report reveals that no deal has been reached as of yet, however, with discussions underway, we feel these are positive off-field steps ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

The quicker a director of football and new first-team manager are put in place, the better the club’s business over the summer could be, as it would give plenty of time to analyse various situations and make some key calls.

In other news, Source drops eight-word Celtic managerial development after Friday development, find out more here.