In partnership with NewBettingSites.uk, Football FanCast had a quick chat with former Liverpool, Leeds and Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant this week to catch up on a few of his old stomping grounds. Catch the full video interview and transcript below.
Pennant heaps praise on Arsenal youngsters but raises doubts over title race
Having come through Arsenal’s youth set-up to play his first senior minutes at Highbury, Pennant heaped praise on Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, but did raise some possible red flags for the Gunners.
“Relying on youngsters going into a title dogfight, towards the end of the season, is not ideal. So it’s kind of a double edged sword – it’s great because they’re fearless and going out there with youth and athleticism and they’re hungry to play.
“But then you’ve got, when it comes down to the crunch time, inexperience, how can you handle that? It’s going to be new territory, so yeah it’s a double edged sword.”
Pennant on Arsenal’s summer transfer plans amid links to Isak
Amid cries from fans in North London for a new number nine and constant links to Newcastle star Alexander Isak, Pennant believes the emergence of the aforementioned young stars clears the way for a serious signing up front this summer.
“I think so, you’ve seen now that Nwaneri can be a more than suitable replacement for Saka. You can put him in – like Liverpool throwing in a Gakpo or Diaz – and either/or you’re happy with. So with Nwaneri and Saka they’ve got that right hand side in a good place.
“Lewis-Skelly at left back, he’s proven that he’s more than capable in that position, so again they don’t really need to focus on that.
“So I think that’s helped them going into the market to really now finally focus on a good number nine.”
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He’s a reported top target for the Gunners.
Pennant on Liverpool’s plans to replace Mohamed Salah
With still no sign of a new contract for Liverpool superstar Mo Salah, we asked Pennant if there are any wingers within the Premier League good enough to succeed Anfield’s Egyptian King.
“Semenyo for Bournemouth, he’s looked exciting but he likes to play off the left, but I think he could play off the right as well. Mbeumo is a good option, but when you’re talking about other players rather than Mo Salah, it’s hard to put anyone up near him. Whoever we get, it’s just not going to be the same.
“So will we see someone from the Premier League? Probably not, I think they’ll go abroad to find a replacement.
“Their recruitment is usually spot on. I’m sure as we speak Liverpool are looking for some sort of replacement.”
Pennant on where else Liverpool need to strengthen this summer away from the ‘big 3’
While the majority of the focus at Anfield remains on the futures of Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Pennant, a boyhood Reds fan, believes left-back is also an area of concern.
“This is probably one of the most important spots that Liverpool need to fill in and that’s left back.
“No disrespect to Andy Robertson, absolutely fantastic player, fantastic servant to the club, a left-back legend, probably one of the best left-backs Liverpool have ever had.
“But I think now he’s coming to the end of the tether, still can be a great Liverpool player and part of the team, but to be a top left-back at the moment, he’s coming to the end of that cliff.
“Out there now to replace him, Kerkez from Bournemouth, Robinson from Fulham or even the likes of Ait-Nouri from Wolves, he had a good game (on Sunday) and I think he’d suit Liverpool well.”
|
Liverpool left-back targets |
Current Club |
Age |
G/A in 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Antonee Robinson |
Fulham |
27 |
0 goals, 10 assists |
|
Milos Kerkez |
Bournemouth |
21 |
2 goals, 3 assists |
|
Rayan Ait-Nouri |
Wolves |
23 |
3 goals, 5 assists |
Pennant on Leeds plans to sign Solomon and Rothwell to permanent deals
Having spent a season on loan at Elland Road as a youngster back in the 2003-04 campaign, the now 42 year-old Pennant believes the Whites should be penning loanees Solomon and Rothwell to long-term contracts this summer.
“100 per cent. Especially when you come into the Premier League, you need as much talent as you can. They’re two great players who have helped Leeds immensely.
“When you get players who have got you promoted, you want to keep that core and then invest around that for players who can adapt and play in the Premier League.
“So 100 per cent they need to sign players like that, it’s only gonna benefit them if they can.”
Pennant urges Farke to bring Jack Harrison back to Leeds
With the likes of Joe Gelhardt, Jack Harrison and Rasmus Kristensen – who has been linked with a permanent exit – currently out on loan, it was the Everton winger Pennant picked out as a sure-fire candidate to help Leeds once promoted.
“We’ve seen teams come into the Premier League and not invest in Premier League players who can do the job. The Championship and the Premier League is such a drastic difference.
“So a player like Harrison who’s been in the Premier League and is in and out but knows all about it, I think they need to keep players like that and bring him back in.”
