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Arsenal have been backed to end 20-year wait for Premier League title by Gary Neville despite 'slow' start to the season.

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• Arsenal primed to win Premier League
• Neville expects them to finish strongly
• Believes attack is a concern for Mikel Arteta

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners have made a steady start to their league campaign which sees them placed third in the table after 12 games, level on points with Liverpool in second and just a point behind table toppers Manchester City. Neville believes Arsenal's defensive strength, bolstered midfield, and impressive wide players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli will be key to their title ambitions and insisted that they would continue to flourish at the business end of the season, unlike last campaign, when they capitulated under pressure which saw Pep Guardiola's men run away with the championship.

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• WHAT NEVILLE SAID

  "I think that Arsenal can win the league this season," He said on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by . "Despite starting slow, the football will come, the football that we saw from them last season. The fact that they’ve started a little bit slower, I never think is a bad thing, they’re sat there in the pack behind [top].

  "But I do think that when the football comes, and it could come after Christmas in March which is the right time, they could be the opposite of last season – a bit of a slow start and stronger finish."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, Neville is concerned about the central striking position, advocating for the recruitment of a top-class striker. He is not convinced with Eddie Nketiah's performance in the Premier League amid fitness concerns of Gabriel Jesus.

  "My worry with Arsenal is a centre-forward, I like [Gabriel] Jesus and [Eddie] Nketiah but for me they are a number two and three, they need a number one," he said.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Arsenal will be back in action against Brentford on November 25 at the Gtech Community Stadium in a Premier League fixture.

Egypt's management team has finally addressed the issue of Mohamed Salah's safety after he was targeted by pitch invaders in Sierra Leone.

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• Egypt responds to safety concerns
• Salah had to be escorted off the pitch by military
• Egypt beat Sierra Leone 2-0

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool star Salah was fortunate to escape unscathed after a group of intruders entered the pitch during Egypt's World Cup qualifying game against Sierra Leone on Sunday. The Pharaohs won the clash 2-0 courtesy of Trezeguet's brace. The security at the ground did not let the invaders come close to the superstar and Salah was later escorted off the field by the military.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A day later, the Egyptian team management has finally responded and assured the superstar's fans and his club Liverpool that the incident was nothing serious, and said the invaders were just passionate Premier League followers. They further claimed that most of the people in Sierra Leone are Liverpool or Arsenal fans, so for them to witness Salah and Mohamed Elneny in action at their home was a rare experience.

• WHAT EGYPT'S MANAGEMENT SAID

  Speaking to , the team manager for the Egypt national team, Mohamed Ghoraba said: "The story of it being an assault is not there at all. Here, the people are very kind and they support Liverpool or Arsenal.

  "For them, Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Elneny are icons, so their presence in the country is something they wish to happen again. For them, that's the only opportunity to have Salah playing in their ground, so it's normal like any fan entering the pitch."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MOHAMED SALAH?

  The Reds star is enjoying a rich vein of form in the ongoing season having scored 10 goals and provided four assists in 12 Premier League appearances. He is currently just three strikes behind Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race. The 31-year-old will be next seen in action against the Cityzens in the league on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola has explained why he never criticises top strikers after Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to victory over Brentford.

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• Guardiola explains why he never criticises Haaland
• Norwegian scored only goal against Brentford
• Manager had hilarious exchange with journalist

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Haaland silenced his critics after an error-strewn performance against Chelsea on the weekend by scoring the only goal of a testing match against Thomas Frank's side in the 71st minute. Guardiola recalled advice a journalist once gave him and explained why he would never want to comment on football as a profession.

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• WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

  "When I was young, I was not a journalist but an old friend said to me 'top scorers strikers score a lot of goals, don’t criticise, he will shut your mouth,'" Guardiola told a press conference.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Guardiola explained that Haaland had been dealing with the recent death of his grandmother. And he admitted that there was no player he would rather a chance fell to than Haaland, despite his recent glaring misses. "Sooner or later he is there. He was out for two months, he lost his grandmother, it is not easy for a human being," the City boss added. "If I have to choose one player [to get a chance] I would choose this one."

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• 'MY LIFE IS BETTER'

  Asked why he never wanted to be a journalist by a reporter in the press conference, Guardiola responded: "I am a manager. My life is better than yours. But nothing personal with you."

The Spaniard appeared at the crucial moment to preserve City's long unbeaten run at home, but could not prevent them dropping two crucial points

When Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne are not up to the challenge, at least Manchester City can always rely on Rodri to get them out of trouble, and it was the ex-Atletico Madrid man who stepped up again to earn the Premier League champions a point against Chelsea on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola's side were rattled by a determined Chelsea, and after getting away with some very open defending, they finally fell behind at the end of the first half by the feet of some familiar faces. Cole Palmer combined with Nicolas Jackson, who in turn found Raheem Sterling, who beat his old team-mate Ederson to give Chelsea the lead.

Ederson kept Chelsea in the game with some world-beating saves, twice thwarting Sterling, and City dominated the latter stages of the game. Haaland could not hit the target, however, despite his many shots, but Rodri was the pinball wizard, slamming in an equaliser in the 83rd minute.

City could not find a winner and dropped points in the league for the first time in seven games, giving oxygen to Liverpool and Arsenal in the title race.

GOAL rates City's players from the Etihad Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Ederson (8/10):

  Made four top draw saves, thwarting Jackson, Sterling twice and Chilwell.

  Kyle Walker (6/10):

  A bad first half but kept leading City down the right in the second and it eventually paid off.

  Manuel Akanji (5/10):

  Struggled to handle Sterling.

  Ruben Dias (5/10):

  Pushed up too high and was caught out by Jackson's through-ball to Sterling.

  Nathan Ake (6/10):

  Had an intriguing battle with Palmer. Bolstered City's attack each time they went forward.

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  Midfield

  Kevin De Bruyne (6/10):

  Couldn't work his usual magic and didn't combine well with Alvarez. Improved when Bernardo came on.

  Rodri (8/10):

  Held things together after the break, and had the presence of mind and killer touch to grab the equaliser.

  Phil Foden (7/10):

  Created most of City's danger in the second half.

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  Attack

  Julian Alvarez (5/10):

  Another big game which he struggled in, and he was eventually taken off for Bernardo.

  Erling Haaland (4/10):

  Definitely did not bring his shooting boots. Had 10 attempts but only tested Petrovic twice. Two of the chances he really should have buried.

  Jeremy Doku (5/10):

  Lively but also chaotic. This was one game where City missed the injured Grealish and the tactical intelligence he provides.

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  Subs & Manager

  Bernardo Silva (7/10):

  Brushed off his ankle knock in Copenhagen to help City push for the equaliser.

  Pep Guardiola (6/10):

  Was hamstrung by the midweek injury blows, but not starting Stones was a mistake. His one change rescued a point, but now his side have given some hope to Liverpool and Arsenal.

The two Angel City stars sat down with GOAL to talk about playing with their idols, off-field life and everything in between

"Life is so much different than I would have ever dreamed of and, at such a young age, it's crazy to think about how things can happen so quickly."

If there's a sentence to describe the ongoing journey of the Thompson sisters, that's the one. It's all happened, and continues to happen, so quickly for two of the brightest young stars in American soccer.

Older sister Alyssa, the 19-year-old superstar-in-the-making whose reflection gave us our intro for this story, is one of the future faces of the U.S. women's national team, a player with a World Cup already on her resume. Younger sister Gisele, 18, is following right behind. She's already joined her sister at Angel City FC and is oh so close to making her own USWNT debut. Two sisters, two journeys, but both seemingly headed for the same place: the very top.

And, as Alyssa says, it's all happened rather quickly. Just two short years ago, the sisters broke onto the national scene by becoming the first two high school athletes to sign NIL deals with Nike. Now, with both still in their teenage years, both seem like seasoned veterans and feel the pressure to act like they are exactly that.

In their hearts, though, there are still some aspects of teenage life desperate to break through. There's the fun, the moments by the beach, the shopping trips with friends and family. Those moments are still there, of course, but there are new moments, new memories, being created every day, ones that the average teenagers their age can never even fathom. Those moments are coming alongside icons, idols, legends. Some of those legends are players that the two now call teammates, which is still a bit weird to both of them.

It's all happened so fast, as Alyssa says. There's been little time to adjust to it all. But, on the other side of it, this is the life they've been working for. Years and years of effort have gotten them here. It's going quickly, but this is also just the beginning.

"It's definitely hard when you're doing it alone," Alyssa Thompson tells GOAL, "but it's so much easier when my sister gets to do it with me."

Ahead of the 2024 NWSL season, GOAL sat down with Alyssa and Gisele Thompson to discuss their rise, their lives, and what makes them so much like, and so different from, just about everyone else their age…

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  Lessons from Alyssa's rookie year

  At the time she essentially became the most expensive player in NWSL history, Alyssa Thompson was a senior in high school. Earlier in that senior year, she'd made her USWNT debut. By April, she was back with the USWNT and, in June, she was named to the World Cup squad as far and away the youngest member of a star-studded squad.

  By the time 2023 was all said and done, Alyssa had gone from high schooler to superstar. She scored four goals in NWSL and earned seven more caps with the USWNT, taking her total to nine. And, while all of this was going on, Gisele was watching somewhat patiently, eagerly awaiting her own chance.

  Before 2023 came to a close, the sisters officially became teammates again as Gisele signed with Angel City. It was a foregone conclusion, really. She had trained with the senior team before and was always seemingly destined to begin her professional career right alongside her sister.

  "I was in preseason with them," Gisele tells GOAL, "so I kind of got the experience without actually being on the team. I learned that you always have to be on. You can have your off days, but always being at your best is important because everyone expects so much from you all the time.

  "It is hard but also making friends off the field and having that positive environment around me has made it so much easier for me to be a professional. It is fast-paced, and they're all very physical, but I think playing with boys has helped us make it an easier transition into this game."

  Gisele has a point. The Thompsons initially rose to prominence during their time in MLS NEXT, where they competed against some of the top boys in the country. That experience prepared them physically for what was to come, but jumping to the pro game is a different animal altogether. These are the best of the best. Physically but more so mentally, being a professional soccer player is very, very hard.

  That was one of the lessons Alyssa tried to teach her younger sister from her own rookie season. It sounds a bit silly, a 19-year-old serving as the wise mentor, but, in this scenario, it works. It's what being an older sister is all about, after all.

  " I think the thing that I needed to get adjusted to the most was just being a professional and just being in that environment," Alyssa tells GOAL. "And I told Gisele like, 'When you're professional, they expect you to be professional. It's not like, just because you're young or whatever, they'll give you some grace. Once you're in, you're in and I think Gisele has learned from that and I've told her that. You really have to be a professional."

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• 'They call me their teammate now!'

  Some of the biggest tests of professionalism haven't come on the field, but rather off of it. Both Alyssa and Gisele have had moments where they've been just a little starstruck.

  How couldn't you be? The two will have grown up watching and idolizing the likes of Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz. This past summer, Alyssa played alongside them at a World Cup. It was all a bit of a shock, and understandably so.

  "I think my first or second camp is when I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm here right now with the people that I've watched since I was younger'. It's crazy to think that I was on a team with them," Alyssa says. "They called me their teammate! Being at the World Cup with them was so surreal and I couldn't believe that I was able to get to that point. I feel like I'm such a big fan of theirs and being able to just learn so much from them and grow as a player because they're there with me was really cool."

  Gisele, not to be left behind, is on an Angel City team loaded with international stars, players like Christen Press, Amandine Henry and Sydney Leroux. She was also recently a member of the USWNT's Gold Cup squad as a guest for training, allowing her to rub shoulders with the best in the country ahead of her imminent international debut.

  "I think being able to go to camp with them and just learn from them was such a great experience," she says. "It was very nerve-wracking because I've watched them play and I know it's a very tough environment because everyone expects a lot from you. Just having them all there and encouraging me was super helpful throughout the whole entire camp."

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  Following the Williams sisters

  It's not just teammates that have left the two teenagers starstruck. Being in and around the USWNT introduces you to some of the best of the best of the soccer world, but the team's reputation also brings players into contact with celebrities from all walks of life. It doesn't hurt that the two play in LA, either, for a star-studded ownership group that includes Natalie Portman, Mia Hamm, Eva Longoria, Sophia Bush and Serena Williams.

  And it was Williams that left Alyssa the most speechless the first time she encountered the tennis icon.

  "I don't think she knew who I was, but when I met Serena Williams, I was like starstruck," she says with a laugh. "I've never been like that! I couldn't believe she was at our game and I was just like, 'Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm meeting her right now'! because we have looked up to her and Venus for so long. Just being able to see sisters do it at a high level like we want to be and be considered the best in the world. It was so cool to meet her."

  Gisele, meanwhile, had her biggest fangirl moment when meeting another soccer superstar: Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford.

  "He didn't know who I was, but just like being able to see him and be able to talk to him about just soccer. He was so young when he came through, too, so it was just so amazing. Looking up to him and watching him play made it even more incredible."

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  Stepping into the spotlight

  Part of being in the spotlight is everything that comes with it: the sponsors, the pressure, the expectations. Those are weights on just about any professional athlete, even more so when those athletes aren't yet 20.

  "It's obviously hard," Alyssa says, "but we have such an amazing team around us. Our family is our number one support system. Our agents have been super helpful with just being able to pick out brands and partners that we'll have longevity with. We are just super excited that we get to have these opportunities and super grateful that they're all coming our way."

  Gisele adds: "Yeah, I also think it is really hard but like it's super fun, too. Having partnerships that we align with and use in our everyday lives makes it so much easier. It's also about having a balance with it, like not only soccer-related but also having other things outside of soccer is very helpful for us."

  The sisters' latest partnership is close to their heart. The Thompsons recently partnered with TOCA, a tech-enabled soccer experiences company that features Harry Kane, Leah Williamson and Abby Wambach as ambassadors. The two sisters, who trained at TOCA during their youth careers, have signed a multiyear deal that also sees them become stakeholders in the company.

  "It's amazing being able to partner with TOCA," Alyssa says. "We went there when we were like really young, like seven and eight, and I think it helped us so much and we had so much fun. The trainers were really, really excited for us to be there and really helpful with just making us better. I think it's amazing that we get to be named with these amazing people and such iconic legends. We're just super grateful and excited to be a part of it."

Brighton and Hove Albion would be willing to sell reported Aston Villa target Yves Bissouma if ‘a decent offer’ arrived. 

That’s according to journalist Alex Crook, who was speaking to GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has described Bissouma as Villa’s ‘top target in defensive midfield’ after a pursuit lasting two transfer windows.

After seeing a £35million bid turned down in January, Evans reported that Villa would ‘consider another push’ for the Malian in the summer.

On Monday, Villa announced that they had secured the signature of Boubacar Kamara following the expiry of his Marseille contract.

Kamara can play as a defensive midfielder, but Steven Gerrard may yet to look to deploy him as a centre-back.

Indeed, Football Insider have previously claimed that the Villa boss is dissatisfied with one of his existing options in Ezri Konsa, while Kamara is a capable defender.

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The latest

Crook urges Villa supporters to ‘keep an eye on’ the 25 year-old Bissouma ahead of the summer transfer window.

He tells GMS that Brighton have potential replacements at their disposal already and so may be open to letting him leave for the right price.

“Yves Bissouma’s one to keep an eye on, because I think Brighton, if they get a decent offer from someone like Aston Villa, they would be willing to sell, because they’ve got Caicedo, who’s come into the team at the end of the season and played quite well,” he said.

“They’ve got Mwepu, who they think can have a decent second season as well.”

The verdict

Kamara and Bissouma are different players. Based on their respective WhoScored profiles, Bissouma is markedly more combative, and while he can dribble effectively, passing isn’t as big a part of his game.

The signing of one, then, doesn’t necessarily preclude a move for the other, especially if it’s on favourable terms for Villa.

With his contract due to expire in 2023, Brighton’s negotiating position is getting weaker.

The £31.5million-rated Bissouma showed Gerrard and his staff just how good he can be in the manager’s first game in charge back in November.

Villa may have run out 2-0 winners that day, but Bissouma picked up the highest SofaScore rating of any player in the Brighton side after he won ten out of 14 ground duels, produced a whopping seven tackles, completed all three dribbles he attempted and misplaced just four passes. It was a midfielder masterclass Gerrard would be proud of himself.

In other news, Gregg Evans heaps praise on one Villa star after what he did vs Man City.

Leeds United remain firmly in the race for the signing of Aberdeen youngster Calvin Ramsay this summer, according to reports from Italy.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Ramsay

The Whites have been linked with a move for the 18-year-old following some impressive performances for the Scottish Premiership club.

The teenager made two league appearances in 2021/22 and seven in all competitions, and has been described as an ‘elite’ player by Pittodrie chairman Dave Cormack.

It appears as though Leeds continue to view the right-back as a long-term transfer target, with reports of their interest refusing to go away.

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The Latest: Leeds still interested in Ramsay

According to Italian outlet Tutto Bologna Web [via Sport Witness], the Whites remain in the conversation regarding Ramsay, but that also remains the case with Bologna and Liverpool.

However, it is suggested that Aberdeen could be looking to increase their asking price for the player amid the renewed interest of two Premier League clubs.

The report suggests that a heightened asking price could eliminate Bologna from the equation, coming as an undoubted advantage for Leeds.

The Verdict: Hugely exciting prospect

Ramsay looks like an exceptional prospect, and it would feel like a significant coup if he opts to join Leeds over Liverpool it would feel significant, given the Reds’ current standing in the European game.

The Whites need to be looking at long-term right-back replacements for Luke Ayling, who turns 31 later this year, and the Aberdeen youngster could fit the bill perfectly, slowly becoming a regular in years to come and suiting Jesse Marsch’s style of play with his attacking forays.

There would surely be more chance of him earning playing time at Elland Road than at Anfield, too, considering that Trent Alexander-Arnold is virtually unmovable in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI and is still only 23 years old, therefore looking set to nail down the position for another few years yet.

Leeds also set a Premier League record for the most teenage debutants in a season (eight) in 2021/22, so there is a clear first-team pathway for Thorp Arch’s top talents.

In other news, a worrying Leeds transfer update has emerged. Read more here.

Celtic are still hot on the pursuit to sign former loan stars Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers on a permanent basis this summer, claims Record Sport.

The Lowdown: Successful loans

Both players enjoyed massively successful loan spells at the Glasgow outfit during the 2021/22 season.

Having arrived from Portuguese giants Benfica, Jota scored seven goals and produced eight assists in 24 league appearances for the Hoops. As a result, the 23-year-old was rated Celtic’s third most valuable player this season, with a stunning 7.56 SofaScore rating.

Arriving on loan from Premier league side Tottenham, Carter-Vickers played 33 games in the Scottish Premiership, where he contributed to the side’s Championship winning campaign with 4.2 clearances and 1.2 interceptions per game, earning himself a 7.33 match rating (via SofaScore).

The Latest: Celtic still in pursuit

According to Record Sport, Celtic are continuing in their pursuit to sign former loanees Jota and Carter-Vickers. Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou personally wants the pair signed up on a permanent basis.

It is understood that a £6.5m fee was included in Jota’s loan agreement from Benfica, whilst Carter-Vickers is available for an initial £6m, with future add-ons raising the price to £10m.

The Verdict: Good signings

Having formed a core component of Postecoglou’s dominant Premiership winning side, it is clear to see why the Hoops boss is so keen on a reunion with the pair at Celtic Park.

Carter-Vickers was instrumental in Celtic’s back-line, demonstrated by comparisons made to positional peers across Europe, where he ranked in the 84th percentile for aerials won and in the 82nd percentile for interceptions made over the past year (via FB Ref).

Jota was equally important to the Hoops, having finished the season as the side’s top assister. His 2.7 shots and 1.7 dribbles per game added a direct threat to Postecoglou’s attack, with the Glasgow side scoring an emphatic 92 goals in the league this season.

If Celtic can get these signings over the line, they could prove to be more important than any other signings this summer.

In other news: Alex McLeish urges Hoops to get Jota deal done ASAP!

Leeds United are confident of signing RB Salzburg defender Rasmus Kristensen, according to The Yorkshire Evening Post.

The Lowdown: Kristensen links

Phil Hay was the man who broke the news regarding the Whites and Kristensen on Tuesday morning.

The reliable reporter stated that the club have been following the 24-year-old, who Jesse Marsch signed for Salzburg back in 2019.

Kristensen is expected to leave Austria over the coming months for a fee of around £10m, however, Leeds could face competition from Borussia Dortmund and Brentford.

The Latest: Transfer update

The YEP shared an update regarding Kristensen on Tuesday afternoon.

They claimed that Leeds are ‘confident of moving forward with negotiations for the Denmark right-back’.

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The Verdict: Perfect

With Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas sidelined for the foreseeable future, a right-back appears to be needed at Elland Road, and Kristensen looks like the ideal target.

Able to play further forward as a right-midfielder, Kristensen has plenty of experience and success working under Marsch and likes to get forward with an eye for goal.

Described as an ‘aggressive but athletic’ defender, it looks as if he has the qualities to fit in at Elland Road, and by the looks of it, Marsch is on course to get his way when it comes to a reunion with the full-back.

In other news – £34m release clause: Leeds now interested in move for ‘special talent’ who Marsch loves

Former Scottish Premiership striker Frank McAvennie has dropped a Glasgow Rangers concern after what he has now heard from Ibrox on Allan McGregor.

The Lowdown: Big contract update

As per Sky Sports, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team have not opened talks over a new contract for Allan McGregor, whose deal runs out this summer.

Both parties want to open up discussions, but the veteran goalkeeper is not interested in moving to a coaching role.

The Gers face the prospect of losing a whole host of players in the next 12 months, with the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent all entering the final year of their deals.

The Latest: McAvennie reacts

Reacting in a chat with Football Insider, McAvennie has claimed that the situation with McGregor is the Gers’ ‘biggest problem’ at the moment:

“The biggest problem Rangers have at this moment in time, for me, is Allan McGregor.

“What is he going to do? He has won more games for Rangers than any of their strikers have.

“The reports say they haven’t even spoken to each other yet. You have to get round a table and Rangers have to prove that they want him.

“McLaughlin has come in and he’s done alright but he’s no Allan McGregor. No disrespect to the boy.

“He’s been one of their best signings for years. He is worth his weight in gold so it’s like, watch this space now.

“Keepers can go until a fair age. I would be surprised if Rangers don’t make a very good offer to him.

“To replace what he brings, that costs you money. I don’t care who is there, they aren’t Allan McGregor.”

The Verdict: Sign him up!

Even though McGregor is 40 years of age now, he is showing no signs of slowing down, and so the Light Blues need to get a new contract on the table for him as soon as possible.

He was ever-present in the team last season, playing over 4,000 minutes of football in total over all competitions, and keeping no fewer than 17 clean sheets.

The Scotsman was a key player in their memorable UEFA Europa League campaign, where he saved a penalty, made no errors leading to goals and averaged 2.9 saves per game (SofaScore), helping them all the way to the final against Frankfurt.

Nonetheless, the Teddy Bears must tie him down, as he would be very difficult to replace in this window.

In other news, find out how much Josh Tymon would cost RFC here!