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Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has revealed that Glasgow Rangers have failed to match UEFA’s wage-to-turnover ratio this season.

Maguire reveals UEFA issue

The Gers have spent £43.3m on wages across the 2020/21 campaign, which represents 73% of their turnover – UEFA want clubs to hit 70% or below.

However, speaking to Football Insider, Maguire believes the Gers have actually done well this term given the effects of the ongoing global pandemic. He said:

“The UEFA target rate is below 70 per cent. But given that the 74 per cent contains an element of Covid in the sense that they weren’t able to play all matches last season in front of a paying crowd.

“It would have been lower if that wasn’t the case. So I think it’s a pretty decent achievement all-round.

“West Ham’s was 94 per cent, Everton’s was 91 per cent and we’re seeing some horrendous numbers coming through south of the border.

“Given that the Scottish clubs are more reliant on ticket sales than English clubs because the TV deal is worth much less, it’s good work from Rangers.”

Still promising

Normally, those figures would be particularly alarming for Ross Wilson and co, and even in this current climate they will want to improve on those numbers as soon as possible. However, as Maguire explains, the Gers have been deprived of having fans at Ibrox, which is an important source of income for the 55-time Scottish champions.

An appearance in the Champions League group stage next season would only boost the Gers’ coffers. This is a promising time to be a Rangers fan or to be involved with the club – everyone must work to make sure the Gers remain on top of their finances.

In other news, some Rangers fans hammered this man’s performance against Celtic.

Ahead of the Premier League clash against Leeds United on Saturday afternoon, Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has confirmed that Bjorn Engels has been passed fit.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference before the game against Leeds, Smith confirmed: “Bjorn Engels had a back spasm last week, that’s why he was off the bench but he’s fine.”

While Engels’ return is hardly game-changing for Villa given how Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa have firmly established themselves as the club’s first-choice centre-back partnership, the big Belgian’s fitness should come as a welcome relief for Smith.

With Engels ruled out against Leicester last week, Villa were left without a single centre-back option in the bench, and given how the Midlands club have just begin to suffer some injury problems recently with the likes of Jack Grealish and Matty Cash, Smith would no doubt have been praying that nothing happened to his defenders.

Villa are very much in the race for a Europa League and even Champions League place next season – they find themselves just nine points off fourth-placed West Ham but with two games in hand – and so any injuries now take a much more significant meaning.

Given the club’s lack of real depth in central defence, even having someone like the 6 foot 3 Engels out for an extended period of time – who hasn’t played for the club since March 2020 due to injury and the form of others – would be a massive blow.

It’s exactly why news that the £55k-a-week earning ace will be fit to take his place on the bench once again will have Smith with one less thing to worry about as Villa look to cap off a real statement season.

With Sunderland’s 48-year-long trophy drought now dead and buried, the Mackems can start looking towards a brighter future under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.

Sunderland’s new owner has immense hunger and the club are already reaping the rewards from a change in hand at the top.

What’s the word?

Louis-Dreyfus hasn’t really had a chance to be involved in Sunderland’s recruitment yet but the club are already targeting new players ahead of next season.

Jermain Defoe has been mentioned as someone who could come to the Stadium of Light, but for now, the focus is on youth.

According to Chronicle Live, the Black Cats have taken Gateshead’s Danny Greenfield on trial for two weeks.

The 20-year-old has caught the eye in the middle of the park for the National League North side and is being watched by a number of EFL sides.

Sunderland have been the first to act and will now take a closer look at Greenfield over the next fortnight.

The midfielder was once on the books of Manchester United and Barnsley.

Louis-Dreyfus vision in place

It’s thought that if Greenfield does sign for the Mackems on a permanent basis then he’ll initially link up with the U23 side.

This has been a part of the club that’s been neglected by the previous owners so it bodes well that Louis-Dreyfus is already looking to build on the academy.

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He said when he first joined the club: “I look forward to supporting our new academy leadership group as we strive to deliver a best-in-class youth system with a clear talent pathway through to the senior squad.”

Indeed, the new owner has been keen to act where others haven’t. He has built a completely new structure at the academy level and is now looking to bring in fresh faces too.

This marks a huge change at the Academy of Light. In recent years, we’ve seen Sunderland as a place where young players are quick to depart. They failed to win a single game last season and you can hardly blame them considering the players they’ve lost.

During Stewart Donald’s tenure, he witnessed Josh Maja, Sam Greenwood, Bali Mumba, Luke Hewitson, Morten Spencer, Joe Hugill and Logan Pye all depart.

However, Louis-Dreyfus has a different vision. He wants to supply young players for the first-team and that may well start with the addition of Greenfield.

He seemingly has a bright future ahead of him and has produced some promising performances for Gateshead this term, registering two assists and scoring once; a wonderful volley from outside the box.

Their player-manager Mike Williamson, once of Newcastle, only has good things to say about him: “He’s done extremely well since he came back, and he is improving so much. We have given him a new contract and told him that he will get opportunities in the side,” he commented.

“He has grabbed it by the scruff of the neck, and he has so much ability,” Williamson concluded.

Greenfield is clearly very gifted; he’d be a smart way to start Louis-Dreyfus’ long-term vision in the north-east.

AND in other news, Forget Gooch: Sunderland star who made 8 key passes was their true hero at Wembley…

Said Benrahma let David Moyes down terribly after turning in an indifferent display as West Ham United beat Burnley 1-0 through a Michail Antonio goal.

Moyes opted to hand Benrahma only his fourth Premier League start following the forward’s summer arrival on loan from Brentford, partnering the Algerian with Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals in behind Antonio at the London Stadium.

Benrahma began promisingly when his pass split the Burnley defence to find Bowen on the edge of the box, who kept play alive well with a ball out to Fornals for the Spaniard to deliver a teasing delivery that found Antonio to score an easy tap in after nine minutes.

Benrahma continued to look lively in the opening stages with his confidence clearly up, yet saw his input reduce the more the game wore on and departed the field in the 68th-minute having failed to score his first goal in claret and blue.

The 25-year-old saw his afternoon end after offering just a single shot which, while on target, failed to cause Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope any issues with the four-time England international able to able to deal with the danger posed without leaving his spot.

Despite carving the Clarets defence open in the lead up to Antonio’s match-winning effort, Benrahma also left the field without a key pass beside his name on a day Declan Rice would bag four from the holding midfield role, Bowen would provide two and defenders Craig Dawson and Vladimir Coufal each offered one, per WhoScored.

Moyes will have been further frustrated to see Benrahma only manage to register a mere two touches inside the Burnley box, plus five on the periphery, as the attacker (16) ended his match having been outpassed by Irons shot-stopper Lukasz Fabianski (17) on his return from a thigh injury.

Benrahma will need to improve his end product and time spent in the visitor’s box for his move to east London to be a success, with the £20m-rated attacker further misplacing five of his six attempted crosses, per SofaScore.

Tame efforts from the wide positions have been a custom of Benrahma’s time at the London Stadium so far, with today’s successful cross his first in claret and blue after eight prior misdirected attempts in nine Premier League appearances.

His major redeeming quality from the Burnley affair came on the ground with success in four dribbles for a joint game-high record with Bowen, and having attempted fewer (5) than the former Hull City star (7).

It was by far and away Benrahma’s best day in terms of dribbling, having averaged just 1.5 successful runs from 2.2 attempts a game in the top-flight this term, but ultimately proved to be another day without any direct output and true time spent in the area that will have left Moyes feeling let down again.

AND in other news, West Ham may be targeting a new Modibo Maiga in their search of Sebastien Haller’s replacement.

With the transfer window reaching its conclusion, Celtic are working on two deals before the deadline closes.

What’s the word?

Late last night we received word that Jonjoe Kenny was set to join the Hoops on loan from Everton. However, another loan deal could be on the cards for Neil Lennon’s side.

On Deadline Day, it was reported by Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph that Celtic were interested in signing Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga.

It’s thought that the 21-year-old will find out later whether he is free to leave for a temporary switch. Two Premier League club’s are also eyeing a move for the young defender.

Sky Sports claims that he is one of a number of defenders the Bhoys are considering before the window closes.

Forget Duffy

Signing another centre-back in January is of utmost importance for Celtic. They have been shocking in that department this season, shipping 19 goals in six Europa League outings and letting in 13 more than Rangers domestically.

It’s been a horror show for Celtic and a large part of that has been down to Shane Duffy. The Brighton loanee has made numerous blunders in recent weeks and months. He was nearly sent off in the Old Firm derby and is making a succession of lacklustre errors.

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Signing Tanganga, therefore, would be a huge bonus. Not only can he play in the middle but he’s also a capable full-back so like Kristoffer Ajer, would provide Lennon with an enormous amount of versatility.

Unlike Duffy, his decision making seems to be better and pivotally, quicker. After his Spurs debut last year, Tony Cascarino commented: “He runs with pace and you can tell he sees things quickly, he gets there. He made a couple of last-ditch challenges.”

This has the potential to be huge for Celtic. Duffy is typically a slow player and relies on his big frame to outmuscle defenders. Tanganga, though, is not only physical but can use his pace to recover and make important tackles.

If Celtic can sign the £25k-per-week youngster, it would be a great way to end the window.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Soro: Celtic must make late swoop for 28 y/o brute likened to Vieira…

After signing from Manchester City back in January, it’s fair to say it’s been a slow and gradual start to life at Leeds United for Ian Poveda.

Marcelo Bielsa has been reluctant to throw him straight into the deep end at Elland Road, and this season has seen him make only seven appearances in the Premier League – none of them have seen him play more than 45 minutes either.

Competition for places on the right-hand side is significant, particularly with the Whites bringing in Raphinha in the summer transfer window too, with the Brazilian already showing flashes of his potential.

But with reports claiming that Leeds are contemplating making a move for Wolves speedster Adama Traore, it’s Poveda who may be looking over his shoulder at potentially having to battle against yet another wide player for a starting spot in Bielsa’s eleven.

At just 20, the starlet has got plenty of time to really make his mark at the club, and there’s absolutely no questioning the kind of natural talent that he has.

Described as someone who can create “moments of magic”, Poveda’s rapid decision-making has been widely praised, and his speed and low centre of gravity marks him out as someone who could develop into one of the Premier League’s most dangerous wingers.

But before that, his short-term development must take priority, and with him hardly featuring in the top-flight on a regular basis – he hasn’t even come off the bench in the last three games – it’s surely time for Bielsa to make a ruthless call.

The January transfer window is just right around the corner, and there’s a real opportunity for Leeds to let him go out on loan and get some much-needed first-team football week-in and week-out.

At Elland Road, with the stakes so high, it’s unlikely he’s going to get a run of consistent games under his belt, and Bielsa would do well for the youngster’s long-term career by making a major decision right now.

According to La Nazione (via Sport Witness), Leeds are now preparing to make a loan offer for Fiorentina’s Erick Pulgar.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days and weeks have suggested Marcelo Bielsa’s side are on the look-out for an new central midfielder, with Pulgar’s name consistently being linked with a switch to Elland Road.

Now, Italian publication La Nazione has claimed that Leeds are ready to make their move for the Chile international, proposing a loan move until the end of the season and without an obligation to buy at the end of it.

Answering Bielsa’s prayers

Leeds only have to look back to twelve months ago to see the perils of bringing someone in on loan during the January transfer window and having an ‘obligation’ to buy at the end of it – the Jean-Kevin Augustin ordeal is still fresh in the memory.

So by ensuring they don’t have that fixed attachment in a deal to sign Pulgar, would mean if his short spell in the Premier League doesn’t quite work out, Leeds can simply wave goodbye to him at the end of it all.

Bielsa has a really dearth in options in that Kalvin Phillips role, with Pascal Struijk really the only player who the Leeds boss has used in that all important holding midfield role.

Whilst Pulgar can play a bit further forward too, the 6 foot 2 machine may be seen by Bielsa as someone to provide vital cover to his talisman, Phillips.

Injuries and suspensions will really take their toll over this long Premier League season, and if Phillips was to miss a significant period of time, it could spell major trouble.

Pulgar on a six-month loan would go a long way to addressing that, and given they are set to only target him on loan and not permanently, it would give the Whites a security blanket if things don’t work out. It really would be a Victor Orta masterclass.

Meanwhile, Leeds United are facing a transfer battle for this Serie A sensation…

Glasgow Rangers sporting directing Ross Wilson has potentially received an update on the worst news imaginable as Steven Gerrard has been tipped to take the reins from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp when his contract runs out in 2024.

What’s the word?

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Premier League striker Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Fenway Sports Group will be keeping close tabs on Gerrard as they consider Klopp’s eventual successor.

“I feel like Steven Gerrard’s doing himself no harm,” he said. “I really do feel that he will be the next manager after [Jurgen] Klopp.

“What he’s doing now, Liverpool executives and Liverpool owners will be looking at Steven Gerrard, keeping an eye on him in the corner of their eye, knowing they’ve got a perfect replacement for when Klopp wants to call it a day.

“I think the Scottish league is a good league and there’s some tough teams in there.

“The way he’s got that Rangers team playing and the way they’re working for him, I mean, a club like Liverpool will see that and they’ll know he’s got the attributes and that’s what you need sometimes.”

This isn’t the first time that Gerrard has been billed as the “perfect” replacement for the current Reds manager. If anything, far from it, as Celtic fan and talkSPORT pundit Alan Brazil insisted he has “all the credentials” to take over at Anfield, with Benfica boss Jorge Jesus saying they share similar playing styles.

Worst news imaginable

Without wanting to sound too dramatic, the timing couldn’t be any worse for Wilson. Several senior players are out of contract at the end of the season, with Leon Balogun, Steven Davis, Jermain Defoe and Allan McGregor’s current deals set to expire in the summer.

At a time when the Rangers chief should be focusing his full attention on sorting out any incomings, outgoings and entering into contract negotiations with players’ representatives, rumours that the reigning Premier League champions are circling over one of his most prized possessions is the last thing he needs to be hearing right now, especially when you consider the fact that he could face a bidding war for Rangers winger Ryan Kent in the not too distant future.

Even so, it’s easy to understand why Gerrard continues to be linked with the Liverpool job. The former England international will have been well aware of the size of the task that lay ahead after he replaced the sacked Pedro Caixinha on a permanent basis. And he has transformed the Gers into a team that plays an exciting, attacking brand of possession-based football, with a real emphasis on the full-backs bombing down the wings, in what has still been a short amount of time.

It seemed like such a bold step at the time to leave his role as Liverpool’s U19s coach to take charge of the Ibrox outfit but it seems to be paying off for now at least, as Rangers are currently enjoying a 20-game unbeaten run in all competitions, dating back to the 1-0 win away at Aberdeen FC at the start of the season.

However, Gers fans will be hoping it won’t prove to be an unwelcome distraction as Gerrard’s side bid to stop their arch-rivals Celtic from winning an unprecedented ten Premiership titles in a row. One thing’s for sure, he will have to start winning silverware if he is to define his career as a manager. Failure to do so may force him to go down an entirely different route.

AND in other news, Gerrard can solve Glasgow Rangers’ glaring weakness by promoting Leon King…

An interesting name has emerged as a potential long-term striking target for Tottenham Hotspur this week…

What’s the word?

According to Eurosport’s Dean Jones, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is eyeing up a move for Brentford forward Marcus Forss as the 21-year-old goalscoring sensation is attracting interest from several elite clubs, including Borussia Dortmund.

It’s claimed that the Finland international is quickly becoming one of the EFL’s most talented starts, which is an opportunity the tough-negotiating Levy does not want to pass on.

Spurs’ own Werner?

Forss is quite the enigma. He’s started just five matches in all competitions and has scored seven goals. In the Championship alone, he has managed a goal every 69 minutes, per Transfermarkt.

Originally seen as a back-up to £5m summer signing Ivan Toney, the Bees have now started him in their last two league outings, pairing him up with the former Peterborough monster.

David Ornstein at The Athletic has also reported on the Bundesliga giant’s interest in Forss, claiming that there is something Jamie Vardy-like about his physique, movement and finishing.

Forss has even been likened to Erling Haaland as a ‘fox in the box’ who is hard-working and is truly efficient with what touches he does get with the ball, so perhaps it’s not a shock to see why Dortmund might be keen on his services.

Indeed, the combination of the above could also point towards the 21-year-old prodigy being that of a Timo Werner type as if you were to remove the names above, then the ex-Leipzig man would undoubtedly be one of your first guesses.

This is further compounded by Breaking The Lines’ analysis of the Bees striker, who said: ‘Forss also excels at creating space for his teammates via his intelligent movement and quick lay-off passes.’

Back in November 2019, fresh off a successful loan spell with AFC Wimbledon, former Brentford B head coach Kevin O’Connor told Sky Sports:

“Once we got him up to match speed, especially for the B Team, you could see his quality; you could see straight away that he was a finisher and had very good ability with both feet. I think it was only a matter of time before he got in and around the first-team squad.

“He can hold the ball up, he can spin, he’s strong and when he gets half a chance, I expect him to score. He’s clever; he aims for the defender’s legs. He shifts the ball, waits for them to shift their legs and then always shoots in between their legs so the ‘keepers can’t even react. He’s a very intelligent striker in his finishing.”

Forss is even now reaping the rewards on the international stage as he downed 2018 World Cup winners France during the recent break, which can be witnessed here.

He ransacked Spurs midfielder Moussa Sissoko before rampaging through to fire past a helpless Steve Mandanda.

The modern game now, especially at an elite level, requires forwards like a Werner, a Haaland or Vardy, and that’s something very different to Harry Kane, so Levy must do all he can to land the impressive goalscorer in 2021.

AND in other news, Mourinho has totally transformed £27m-rated Pochettino dud into a “sensational” STAR…

It’s fair to say Ollie Watkins has enjoyed an incredible start to life at Aston Villa.

Signed from Brentford in the summer transfer window, the 24-year-old has started like a house on fire for Dean Smith’s side, bagging five goals in his six opening games – including netting a terrific hat-trick against Premier League champions Liverpool in a 7-2 win for his team.

However, things could have been oh-so different for Villa had they managed to secure a deal for Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard. Reports suggested that the Premier League side were one of the teams interested in luring the Frenchman away from Parkhead, with Bhoys boss Neil Lennon admitting interest in his star striker from elsewhere.

He said: “We don’t want Odsonne to go, obviously, and we have had no significant interest in him as yet. There’s always a bit of agitation when the window is open, but speaking to him he seems content enough.”

Like Watkins, Edouard has also enjoyed a fine start to the new season up in Scotland, scoring six times in 13 games across all competitions. Crucially, the France U21 international has had plenty of experience at a high level, whether that be on the international stage or in European competition with Celtic.

In his time at Parkhead, Edouard has scored 13 goals and provided eight assists in 32 games in a mixture of Champions League and Europa League outings, and his ability to both find the back of the net himself and create opportunities for others makes him a complete striker.

It’s no surprise that Lennon has talked highly about his star striker, saying: “He’s hugely important (to us), he’s an outstanding footballer, talismanic almost, he’s so talented, so cool. He’s up there with some of the best we’ve had over the last 20 odd years.”

Valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt, Edouard’s numbers in some key areas are comfortably better than Watkins from this season. As per Whoscored, the Frenchman boasts a greater average in shots (3.7 to 3.3), dribbles (1.7 to one), and pass accuracy too (80.1 to 59.7%).

Watkins has shown plenty of promise in his first few games for his new club, but he still has a long way to go to prove himself at the highest level given that he has been playing in the lower divisions.

Edouard may well have been the lesser risk in the summer.

And in other news, Villa must fend off the competition to sign this Championship star.