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Rangers legend Ronald De Boer believes he knows the best way for Steven Gerrard to overhaul their rivals at the summit of the Premiership table in years to come, but admits that his plan will not be an immediate fix.

De Boer is coaching the Ajax Under-19 team, and the club has seen a number of its academy graduates emerge as first team regulars — something that Rangers can benefit from, in his eyes.

Mixing youth with player investment is what helped Ajax reach the last eight of this year’s Champion’s League, and the former Rangers star is a big fan of “giving the kids time”.

It may not be ideal for the Ibrox club, as establishing success this way would take patience and time, but De Boer believes that fans would prefer to see local young players winning trophies for the club.

He told the Daily Star: “I am in favour of giving the kids time.

“At the end of the day, when you bring through your own players your club will be so healthy.

“It is also great for the fans to have local boys in their team. That is something special.

“If you put a lot of money into the youth system like we do at Ajax then in the end you will get the results.

“When that is working properly, when you have good youth coaches, then you will always be a very healthy club.”

Of course, when you are in charge of a club where your city rivals are winning titles and trophies year upon year, the need for fans to see instant success is very demanding.

Gerrard has said he wants to have funds available to buy players this summer, that can see Rangers challenging Celtic in the league next year.

To do that, he would need a sizeable budget, and is already trying to cool expectations with comments claiming an inability to pay substantial fees for players like Ryan Kent.

If that is the case, then it would seem a long way from the type of money he will need to mount a realistic title-winning campaign, so De Boer’s long-term strategy may be more prudent.

De Boer added: “Sometimes you have a good generation and you have four or five players who come through to the first team.

“But you are also doing well if you have one or if you are lucky two coming through into the first team. That is a very healthy situation.

“I think Rangers should look to do it more and not just focus on signing players for the first team.

“It always starts with the foundation and the pillars of success are the youth.”

With the talented youngsters starting to knock on the door of the first team, some of who are coming through the reserve side, while others are currently out on loan, it is something that may pay off for Rangers.

Players like Glenn Middleton and Greg Docherty are excelling this year, and could be ready to make the transition after the summer.

If Gerrard can get a good blend of youth and sensible recruitment, maybe Rangers will become the dominant force they once were in Scottish football.

What do you think of De Boer’s comments Rangers fans? Is he right to suggest your club play the long game in your pursuit of league titles? Let us know below…

With five games of the season left to play and each match as important as the next, Portsmouth have it all to play for in the final weeks of the League One season.

All eyes are on the 27th April, though, where Pompey face off against Sunderland in what could be the game that decides which team take the second automatic promotion in the League One table, and with Kenny Jackett’s side riding high after their EFL Trophy win over the Black Cats, it’s hard to predict who will walk away the victors that day.

The upcoming Easter games will have a big effect on who will have the best chance of finishing in the top-two with Barnsley also in contention for the spot but with an extra game played over Portsmouth and Sunderland, and for Pompey, they have been given an advantage over their northeast rivals for Friday.

Sunderland’s game against play-off hopefuls Doncaster Rovers has been selected for Sky Sports coverage, meaning the game will kick-off at 5:15 PM rather than the standard 3:00 PM start, and if Portsmouth can get a result over Burton, it will add extra pressure to the Black Cats.

After last week’s incredible 5-4 loss to Coventry City, Sunderland are starting to show some cracks heading into the final games of the season, and Portsmouth taking a three-point lead ahead of them in the table before Jack Ross’ side can respond will affect the Black Cat player.

Portsmouth have a great chance to head into the top two of the League One table, and winning against Burton will strengthen their case in what could be a frantic end to the season.

Portsmouth fans, can Pompey seal a top-two finish? Let us know!

The dream run under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is well and truly over for Manchester United.

Now, the nightmare begins. As the club aims to wake up from this torrid phase, they need to face their demons and extinguish the burdens holding them back.

Right now, there are too many players underperforming for United. But in their shocking drubbing to Everton, one senior figure was baffling. Nemanja Matic, their oldest starting player, showed little signs of experience with a dreadful display. Not only did the former Chelsea man to fail to dominate the game, he was also run ragged by the energetic Everton midfielders.

Matic – somehow still valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt – could barely stitch a few passes together, mostly distributing sideway while adding a slow tempo to United’s attacks. To make things worse, he was shocking defensively, being unable to make proper tackles and had zero interceptions in the game.

Even a relatively slow midfielder like Gylfi Sigurdsson managed to outmanoeuvre him multiple times, most noticeably in the goal.

The Serbian barely contributed anything going forward, horribly scuffing an easy chance from just outside the box to add to the Red Devils’ embarrassment. It’s high time he’s moved onto being considered a backup option rather than an important figure.

Indeed, even Scott McTominay and the occasional mistake-prone Fred are more mobile, assertive and hard-working than him.

It seems the recent injury might’ve taken away too much from Matic’s game. If Solskjaer really wants his team to be the most hard-working in the league, the lethargic Serbian isn’t someone he can trust anymore.

United fans, do you think Matic should be used as a backup now? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Tottenham fans on Twitter want to see Youri Tielemans arrive at the club, after the midfielder tore north London rivals Arsenal apart in the 3-0 win on Sunday.

The on-loan Monaco star opened the scoring with a thunderous header after a well-timed run, and was a constant threat throughout with his forward-thinking play and dangerous passing.

Son Heung-min to Arsenal? Surely not! Bhav explains why the Spurs man should make the unthinkable switch in the video below…

The Foxes managed to secure the 21-year-old Belgian international on a loan deal back in January, a window in which Spurs made no additions but did offload another Belgian in Mousa Dembele; a questionable decision given their lack of midfield depth right now.

Tielemans, formerly of Anderlecht, has been an instant hit at the King Power Stadium, scoring three goals and assisting four more in just 11 appearances – he seems to fit right into Brendan Rodgers’ style of football.

Tottenham are reportedly interested in signing Tielemans this summer, as too are Manchester United, and Mauricio Pochettino could certainly do with a player of his calibre.

After watching him make a mockery of their biggest rivals, Tottenham fans on Twitter are keen to see Tielemans arrive at the new White Hart Lane…

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According to Le10 Sport, Manchester City are monitoring Strasbourg right-back Kenny Lala with a view to a summer move, although Arsenal are also interested in signing the defender.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Citizens have been keeping a close eye on the 27-year-old, who has been in impressive form this season with four goals and ten assists in all competitions.

Pep Guardiola reportedly sees Lala as a potential back-up to first-choice Kyle Walker, and he shouldn’t cost the reigning Premier League champions a huge sum of cash either – Lala is expected to cost in the region of £13m.

Relive all the drama of Man City v Spurs through the eyes Spurs’ fans in the video below…

Lala is under contract with the Ligue 1 side until 2021, but with Danilo looking likely to join Inter, City will be in need of another right-back to keep Walker on his toes.

Deviating from the strategy?

Why are Manchester City targeting a 27-year-old to play second fiddle to Walker, who himself is a year older?

Guardiola’s side have been impressive in the market in recent years, signing young players such as Aymeric Laporte, Benjamin Mendy, Ederson and Oleksandr Zinchenko to form a spine that should help the club compete at the top for many years.

So, their decision to target a 27-year-old seems odd, in that respect. Guardiola should really be targeting a player roughly four or five years younger than Walker, who will be able to replace the former Tottenham man when his powers start to wane.

In addition to that fact, if they do sign Lala, City will probably need to replace the pair of him and Walker around the same time in a few years.

This is a strange deviation away from City’s usual strategy in the transfer market, and wouldn’t represent good or sustainable business for a club who always seem to take the right steps in terms of recruitment – no matter the bargain fee of just £13m.

It has been yet another dramatic week to be a Leeds United supporter, hasn’t it?

The Whites created national headlines against Aston Villa last Sunday following Mateusz Klich’s controversial goal last Sunday which sparked a five-minute melee at Elland Road.

Although Marcelo Bielsa sportingly allowed opposition player Albert Adomah to walk-in an equaliser straight from kick-off, the actions of Patrick Bamford during this particular period of hysteria has created a serious problem for his manager.

After being found guilty of ‘successful deception of a match official’ by the Football Association following an altercation with Anwar El-Ghazi, the 25-year-old was handed a two-match ban on Thursday (via the BBC).

With Bamford suspended for Leeds’ clash with Ipswich Town at the weekend as well as the first-leg of their play-off semi-final, Bielsa must consider giving Izzy Brown the opportunity to prove himself.

The Chelsea loanee has only featured once for the Whites this season following a myriad of injury issues but could be in line for a return to first-team action having played on several occasions for the club’s under-23 side in recent weeks.

If Brown is indeed handed his first start for the Yorkshire-based outfit on Sunday, he could force his way into Bielsa’s plans for the play-offs by delivering a stand-out performance at Portman Road. An undeniably talented player, at his very best he can be a real menace as his outstanding versatility has seen him thrive in a number of different positions during his career.

Having failed to win any of their last three games in the Championship, Leeds are in desperate need of a spark heading into the defining period of their season and may just uncover the missing ingredient in their push for promotion by taking a risk and playing Brown.

What do you think Whites fans? Should Bielsa start Brown against Ipswich on Sunday? Or is it too much of a risk to play him giving his recent history of injury problems? Let us know below.

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Will Toby Alderweireld be leaving Tottenham Hotspur this summer?

The Belgium international has a contract in London until June 2020.

The problem, however, is that the centre-back’s release clause will drop to £25m this summer, which is bound to be activated – potentially by Manchester United.

Alderweireld might now be 30 years of age, but he is one of the finest defenders in European football, let alone the Premier League.

The fact that Alderweireld – one short of 50 appearances for his club this season – has not penned fresh terms up until this point suggests that he will be leaving in this summer’s transfer window.

The Tottenham fans, however, have made another plea for the 90-cap ace to think about committing his future to Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they’d come knocking in 2005…

Indeed, in response to a post from Alderweireld following Sunday’s Premier League clash with Everton, the club’s supporters were out in their numbers to call on the former Atletico Madrid ace to remain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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West Ham United are exploring the possibility of signing Aleksandar Mitrovic from Fulham this summer, sources have told Football FanCast.

Manuel Pellegrini is keen to revamp his striking options this summer as the Hammers prepare for something of a squad overhaul.

And the Serbia international has emerged as a major target, with the summer transfer window due to open later this week.

Fulham endured a difficult season in the Premier League and were relegated to the Championship in April.

The 24-year-old, though, scored 11 goals in the top-flight and has experience in the league, having previously played for Newcastle United.

The Hammers, who last summer signed Lukasz Fabianski from Swansea City after their relegation, are now attempting to find out if Mitrovic’s contract, which runs until 2023, contains a release clause.

Of course, if it does, the Hammers would be able to trigger it and enter into negotiations with the striker, who appeared for Serbia at last summer’s World Cup.

West Ham also remain interested in Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez, who first emerged as a target when Marko Arnautovic appeared set to leave for China in January.

He has scored 13 goals this term and his contract does contain a release clause, of £45million, though that drops to £22.5m if Celta are relegated.With one game of the Liga season to go, they are three points clear of the drop zone with a far superior goal difference to 18th-placed Girona.

It remains to be seen if the club would countenance the prospect of making Gomez their record signing this summer if, as appears likely, the Spanish side retain their top-flight status.

Elsewhere, sources have confirmed that Lucas Perez and Andy Carroll remain likely to leave the club this summer, while Javier Hernandez will also be allowed to depart if an acceptable bid is tabled.

The Mexico international scored seven goals in the Premier League in 2018-19 but completed the full 90 minutes just once. He was on the bench for the final three games of the campaign, against Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Watford; West Ham won every game.

He is valued at £10m and it is unclear if any interested parties have registered an interest in signing him.

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According to Il Mattino, via Sports Witness, Tottenham Hotspur defender Kieran Trippier has agreed personal terms with Napoli ahead of a potential switch to the Italian giants.

Trippier was excellent at the 2018 World Cup, playing a key role as England advanced to the semi-finals before losing to Croatia.

The 28-year-old entered the World Cup off the back of a strong season for Spurs, but the right-back has had his problems during the 2018-19 campaign.

Trippier has made 37 appearances in all competitions for Mauricio Pochettino’s side this term.

However, there is no getting away from the fact that his performances have been short of the standard that he has previously set.

Il Mattino have claimed that Napoli have now agreed personal terms with the defender.

And it would be fair to say that the Tottenham fans are looking forward to potentially seeing the back of the former Manchester City youngster this summer.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Spurs supporters can be seen below:

Djaniny Semedo might not be a name that many in the football world know about, however, that has not stopped West Ham United from taking note.

According to Portuguese media outlet A Bola, the Hammers are thought to be keen on the Al-Ahli Jeddah striker this summer after impressing for the Saudi Arabian outfit.

The 28-year-old, who is a Cape Verde international, has been in prolific form for his club this season, having managed to score 23 goals and providing eight assists in his 29 appearances.

West Ham need a striker that knows how to find the back of the net this summer. Although there might be doubts about what Semedo could actually bring to the London Stadium, it might actually be worth them taking the risk and trying to sign him.

Take Manuel Lanzini for example.

The Argentine was a relatively unknown quantity when he first arrived at the club, however, he turned out to become an influential figure for the side and has since become a favourite with the Claret and Blue faithful.

He was snapped up from a club playing in the Middle-East.

Obviously, it is difficult to say that Semedo could prove to be a success and turn out like Lanzini has, however, the Cape Verdean has every chance of being able to do so.

He has shown he can find the back of the net on a regular basis and if clubs like Wolves and Everton are also sniffing around, he must clearly have something about him to suggest that he will be successful in England.

West Ham fans, what do you think the club should do? Do you think Semedo could have the same success as Lanzini? Let us know below!