More ambitious than ever before under FSG in the transfer market, Liverpool may now offer a play-plus-cash deal to sign yet another key target for Arne Slot.
Jurgen Klopp delivers "insane" Wirtz verdict
Slot has been given the keys to the kingdom so far this summer with his Premier League medal acting as his right of passage. Jeremie Frimpong became the first to arrive to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold before the Reds then took things to an entirely new level by signing Florian Wirtz. Since then, Milos Kerkez has also arrived alongside third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
It’s the type of spending spree that Jurgen Klopp only saw once during his time at Anfield when Liverpool signed Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho in the space of six months before winning both the Champions League and Premier League.
He's like Salah & Isak: Liverpool join the race to sign £43m "superstar"
Liverpool may need to enforce further change up top this summer.
ByAngus Sinclair Jun 30, 2025
The German, having seen the impact of top signings at the club in the past – albeit not without the sacrifice of Philippe Coutinho – recently had his say on Wirtz’s big-money arrival.
Klopp told reporters: “There’s no question about it, it’s an insane sum. One that a player at Liverpool is aware of if things don’t go well for two or three games.
“We all agree that we’re talking about a great player here. I know I once said that I’m out if we pay 100 million euros for a player. But the world is changing. That’s just the way the market is.
Bayer Leverkusen's FlorianWirtz
“He’s an outstanding player who can give any club something great. Whether he’ll make the reigning English champions even better remains to be seen.”
Even after spending that “insane sum”, however, those at Anfield may not be done with their spending. Reports are now suggesting that Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes could even decide to offer a swap deal to land one particular target.
Liverpool "could" offer swap deal to sign Guehi
According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool “could” offer a player-plus-cash deal to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace this summer. The England international has found himself on the Reds’ radar following reports that Jarell Quansah is set to join Bayer Leverkusen and amid concerns that Ibrahima Konate could leave following the end of his current deal next summer.
With fresh talks set to take place this week, Guehi remains one to watch as Liverpool aim to solve a potential centre-back problem in bargain fashion.
With just one year remaining on his current contract, Crystal Palace are reportedly demanding just £45m to sell their star defender this summer. Liverpool, however, are still looking for that valuation to drop before making their move to sign Guehi as Edwards and Hughes continue their ruthless streak.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehi
Described as “great” by England teammate John Stones at the Euros last summer, Guehi’s first move back to a top English club since leaving Chelsea has been a long time coming, but now he could be on his way to the home of the Premier League champions.
Brits and Bosch lead South Africa’s batting charge; Deepti impresses with the ball for India
Shashank Kishore07-Jul-2024
A steady drizzle ensured no play would be possible in the second innings•BCCI
No result A potentially engaging contest was robbed of its conclusion as the second T20I between India and South Africa was abandoned halfway through courtesy a steady evening drizzle in Chennai.It was the kind of rain that wouldn’t take players off most times. However, the sharpest spell of the evening – a steady five-minute drizzle – coincided with the innings break – forced the ground staff to cover the playing surface. But it continued to mizzle on and off for the next hour, forcing the umpires to pull the plug.It left India, who made as many as four changes to their XI, with more questions than answers, while South Africa could be fairly satisfied after a second good workout with the bat, having followed their 189 for 6 two nights ago with a compelling 177 for 6 on Sunday evening.They go into the series finale on Tuesday with an opportunity to seal the series, a significant result if it comes to fruition given this is their last assignment before the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September.Hello, Uma ChetryAssam played their first domestic tournament in 1948-49. It took them nearly 76 years to produce the first India player (Riyan Parag), but on Sunday, they doubled that tally as Uma Chetry, the 21-year-old wicketkeeper, was handed a cap in Richa Ghosh’s absence due to concussion.Chetry was in action almost immediately. Everyone thought she had effected a smart stumping when Tazmin Brits, the top scorer from two nights ago, ran down to a Sajana Sajeevan slider. Even as an ecstatic Chetry celebrated her first dismissal, the third umpire brought her some agony.A tiny fraction of Chetry’s glove was in front of the stumps when she collected the ball, which meant Brits wasn’t just not out but also had a free hit. On 5 then, Brits built on to make a 36-ball half-century, looking in sparkling touch for most parts.It was in sharp contrast to her struggles in the series opener, where she took nine balls to get off the mark and had limped to a run-a-ball 25 after 10 overs, before a sensational late acceleration brought her 81 off 56 balls.Wolvaardt’s blazing startSouth Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt offset any early pressure there may have been on the team with three back-to-back boundaries off the third over. Each of them was high on aesthetic appeal, her timing and placement precise enough to thread the tiniest of gaps on the off-side ring.She would also be lucky to survive a leading edge that nearly popped to point as Arundhati Reddy, who replaced Renuka Singh in the XI, had a tough beginning.But Wolvaardt’s innings was cut short soon enough, when she found the safe hands of Radha Yadav at backward point as Pooja Vastrakar struck in the fifth over to break a dangerous opening partnership. Wolvaardt’s contribution to the 43-run stand was a robust 12-ball 22.Deepti Sharma picked up the key wicket of Marizanne Kapp•BCCI
Deepti leads India’s spin chargeMarizanne Kapp didn’t take long to settle in like she did the other night. She welcomed Delhi Capitals team-mate Yadav by muscling two hits down the ground in her opening over as South Africa ended the powerplay on 66 for 1. But India weren’t throwing in the towel, ably hitting back courtesy their spinners, especially Deepti Sharma.Deepti did what the other spinners couldn’t – get balls to bounce off a length while also cleverly varying her pace – and Kapp fell in trying to step out and hit through the line to one such delivery, only to find Sajana at mid-off. Then India slipped in a few tight overs with Shreyanka Patil, who replaced legspinner Asha Sobhana, joining in.Anneke Bosch took a while to adjust to the pace of the surface, but it helped that South Africa had Brits bring up a half-century. Then, Chetry redeemed herself with a stumping to dismiss Bosch as she charged Deepti, only to be beaten by sharp turn. To Chetry’s credit, she stayed low and collected the ball at shin-height to effect the stumping.It was a near double-strike as India then prised out the dangerous Chloe Tryon as she tamely lobbed a return catch to Radha. At 131 for 4 in 15 overs, South Africa needed a big finish to get near the 189 they made on Friday. It wasn’t until the 19th that they got that, when Shreyanka was hit for four fours in a 20-run over by Bosch, who more than made up for a sluggish start to finish with a 32-ball 40.Annerie Dercksen then finished the innings off in a blaze of boundaries, three of them off Vastrakar, to take South Africa to 177 before the rain came down and killed what could’ve been an exciting chase.
علق عبد الواحد السيد، مدير الكرة السابق بنادي الزمالك، على الأزمة المثارة مؤخرًا بشأن شكوى نادي أوليكساندريا الأوكراني، بعد تأخر القلعة البيضاء في سداد قيمة صفقة انتقال اللاعب خوان ألفينا.
وتأتي هذه الأزمة في وقت صعب يمر به الزمالك، في ظل تراكم الضغوط المالية وعدم حصول اللاعبين والجهاز الفني بقيادة يانيك فيريرا على مستحقاتهم منذ فترة.
وقال عبد الواحد السيد في تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعيب” على قناة “mbc masr”: “عندما تعود أرض 6 أكتوبر لنادي الزمالك، النادي سيسدد كل المستحقات، لأن أزمة هذه الأرض بالنسبة للنادي كبيرة جدًا، هذه الأرض بالنسبة للقلعة البيضاء حياة أو موت”.
طالع أيضًا | شوبير عن موقف الزمالك القانوني من أرض أكتوبر: الموضوع أصبح “سيادي”
وأضاف: “كانت هناك اتفاقات تسير بشكل معين وأموال تدخل النادي بشكل معين بسبب أرض الفرع الجديد، وتسد احتياجات الفريق، الآن بعد سحب الأرض المستثمرون خافوا، لذلك أكرر أن هذه الأرض ستحل أزمات النادي ولن نسمع عن أزمات مادية أخرى”.
واختتم: “لو النادي الأوكراني تقدم بشكوى ضد الزمالك بسبب مستحقات صفقة خوان ألفينا بيزيرا، فإن الشكوى تستغرق سنوات في الاتحاد الدولي حتى يتم حسمها، لكن أريد أن أوضح بأن الزمالك لم يدفع أول قسط في هذه الصفقة لأن قبل موعد الدفع تم سحب الأرض من النادي، وكانت هناك مستحقات سيتم دفعها للاعبين تأجلت”.
If you were to ask Arsenal fans what they need this summer, we’d hazard a guess that the majority would be crying out for a new striker and winger this summer.
However, while those fans certainly aren’t wrong, it does now look like the Gunners will need to further bolster their midfield as well.
We say this as Jorginho has already joined Flamengo, and contract talks with Thomas Partey are reportedly not advancing, so even though Martin Zubimendi’s transfer is all but wrapped up, the North Londoners should probably be looking to sign another central midfielder.
Fortunately, recent reports suggest that is going to happen, with Arsenal now linked to an exciting star compared to Chelsea’s incredible Moises Caicedo.
Arsenal looking to sign new midfielder
While the news concerning Partey’s negotiations is relatively recent, Arsenal have been linked with plenty of midfield options over the last few weeks and months, such as Andrey Santos and Adam Wharton.
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However, with the former now integrated into the Chelsea set-up and looking likely to make his competitive debut for the team at the Club World Cup, and the latter valued at up to £80m, neither feel like realistic targets.
Moreover, neither youngster has really been compared to the brilliant Caicedo, unlike Lucien Agoume.
Yes, according to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal are incredibly interested in the dynamic Sevilla star.
The story has revealed that the Gunners have already been in contact and held talks with the player’s representatives over the prospect of a transfer this summer.
Reportedly, the 22-year-old would be open to joining the club and can see a future for himself at the Emirates, and it might not cost the Gunners much at all, with other reports from Spain claiming he could be available for just £17m.
It might not be the most exciting of transfers, but Agoume looks set to be a star, and given the fact he’s already been compared to Caicedo, he’s a player Arsenal should be looking to bring in.
How Agoume compares to Caicedo
There are a plethora of reasons why Arsenal should be looking to sign Agoume this summer, but before we get to them, it’s crucial to examine this comparison to Caicedo and where it comes from.
Well, in this instance it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before creating a list of the then most comparable players for each one.
In this case, it was concluded that the Chelsea star has been the second most similar midfielder to the Sevilla star across the last 35 days.
Agoume & Caicedo
Statistics per 90
Agoume
Caicedo
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.14
0.10
Progressive Passes
5.74
5.78
Progressive Carries
1.23
1.16
Shots on Target
0.09
0.08
Expected Assists
0.07
0.08
Passes into the Penalty Area
0.81
0.91
Shot-Creating Actions
2.55
2.63
Goal-Creating Actions
0.21
0.24
Tackles
2.98
3.06
Blocks
1.28
1.32
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season
The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to non-penalty expected goals plus assists, expected assists, tackles, blocks, progressive carries and passes, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.
And then, on top of being statistically similar to one of the leading midfielders in the Premier League, the “10 out of 10 talent,” as he was dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is also reasonably versatile.
So, while he does tend to thrive as a six, thanks to him being such a “good dueller,” per analyst Ben Mattinson, he could start in a more central role, and he’s even played in more offensive areas, which is where he can really leverage his impressive passing range.
Ultimately, while he’d likely be a backup option for at least a season or two, Agoume’s talent is undeniable, and therefore, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign him this summer before someone else gets there first.
Benjamin Sesko has now made "unusual" demand in Arsenal transfer talks
The Slovenia international wants something out of the ordinary.
The trend of low scores continued in New York as India’s attack defended a total of 119 against Pakistan
Alagappan Muthu09-Jun-20241:18
Kumble: Bumrah creates pressure on any surface
One team had Jasprit Bumrah. The other didn’t. And that was that. That was the difference. His legend is littered with incredible displays. But this will feel sweeter, not merely for the fact that it came in a T20 World Cup match against Pakistan, but for the fact that without his intervention this game would have almost certainly had a different ending. India defended 119. Pakistan lost after being 80 for 3. The finalists of the 2022 tournament are in serious danger of an early exit.Boom in BluePakistan need 40 runs off the last 36 balls with seven wickets in hand. ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster gave them a 93% chance of victory then. Poor thing. It’s been left on the fritz. Bumrah’s discipline, his calmness under pressure, his extraordinary skill, not just in delivering the right ball but in understanding what the right ball is, confounded man and machine alike In New York.Ironically, all this happened because Bumrah refused to go searching for wickets. He just bowled what he thought would be unhittable – which was the back of a length delivery – and by doing it consistently he made Pakistan desperate. He forced them into a corner, which to be fair is their happy place in World Cups, but that wasn’t the case here. Here, there was only panic.Related
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Babar: 'We were not up to the mark'
Mohammad Rizwan was made to believe that a full length ball was there to play a cross-bat shot. His stumps paid the price. Soon after knocking it back, Bumrah spread his arms wide and broke into a smile. That’s his usual celebration. But he didn’t stop there. He roared. And over 30,000 people at the ground roared with him. He punched the air. Millions joined him. This was the opening that India could build on. This was the crack that would cause the collapse. Rizwan, the set batter, fell for 31 off 44. Bumrah, who had accounted for Babar Azam earlier, also took out Pakistan’s final hope, Iftikhar Ahmed, in the 19th over. Of his 24 balls, 15 were dots. Somehow, even his full tosses proved game-changing.Bumrah’s mastery carved out a piece of history: 119 is the joint-lowest total ever defended in men’s T20 World Cups.The support actIndia waited until the third over to deploy their super weapon. Then they had to wait until the 15th to bring him back. In between, they relied on others to keep the pressure up and two people in particular did that with aplomb. Hardik Pandya and his short-of-a-length offerings were always going to be a threat on this New York pitch with uneven bounce. He stopped Fakhar Zaman before he could play the kind of cameo that would kill chases like these. And then he took out Shadab Khan. Both times the batters were surprised by how high the ball was when they made contact with it. Hardik wasn’t. He just shrugged, as if to say, yeah, I do that. No big deal.Axar Patel was the other unsung hero, bowling the first of the death overs and somehow keeping it to just two runs even though he was up against a left-hand batter with the short boundary on the leg side. Imad Wasim was never allowed to win the match-up as he was fed a diet of non-spinning deliveries that were angled across him and kept bouncing over his cut shots. Bumrah produced the biggest swing in momentum towards India according to Forecaster, 44% at the end of the 19th over. Axar produced the second-biggest swing, his defensive skills earning a 13% bump.Rishabh Pant used his luck and played some creative shots•Getty Images
Pant doing Pant thingsThis was the best pitch to bat on in New York so far. But even that had its perils. Largely in the form of the ball not coming on, and occasionally with uneven bounce. Rizwan and Arshdeep Singh took blows to the hand.A bit of luck is required in these conditions. Pant got that when he survived three catching opportunities in three balls and later survived an inside edge that could have gone onto the stumps. A bit of bravery helps. Pant showed that when he smashed Haris Rauf over extra cover. A bit of imagination doesn’t go amiss either. Pant epitomised that with a flick shot that he played while falling to the floor because that was the only way he knew how to get under a good length ball and put in the gap at fine leg. Later, to Imad’s highly accurate left-arm spin, he brought out the standing reverse sweep.It was tough to bat out there. Pant’s unorthodox methods made him successful; made him stand out. He made 42 off 31 at a strike rate of 135. The rest of India made 70 off 84 at a strike rate of 83.It’s all blue in New York•Getty Images
The footnotesIn the game against USA, Mohammad Amir was all over the place. In this one, he was spot on. Eight of the first 12 deliveries he bowled produced false shots. Early on with the new ball, he beat the bat three times in a row. Later on, with the old one, he was on a hat-trick. Pakistan demoted him to first-change and by the time he came on, India had already lost their two best batters, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli caught off balls that stuck in the pitch, a theme that would continue for the rest of the innings. Amir had a soft entry but he made the absolute most of it. His best work coincided with the best phase of the game for Pakistan, when they strung four overs together between the 12th and the 15th where only eight runs were scored and four wickets were taken. India went from 89 for 3 to 96 for 7. At the halfway stage, Pakistan were ahead. Twenty overs later, they were facing elimination, in part because they weren’t the team with Jasprit Bumrah.
Arsenal have agreed to tie rising star left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly down to a new long-term deal, in what is a major boost for Mikel Arteta, but according to Fabrizio Romano, he’s not the only one poised to commit his future at the Emirates Stadium.
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The teenage defender enjoyed a stellar breakout season over the course of 2024/2025, cementing himself as Arteta’s preferred left-back option with a string of impressive displays, which included excellent showings against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)
Money on new signings
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
He also scored his first senior goal for Arsenal during their 5-1 win over Man City, and his big-game displays have earned Lewis-Skelly an official nomination for this year’s PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Lewis-Skelly earned his first senior caps for England at international level along the way too, so you’d be hard-pressed to find another player who’s enjoyed the 2025 this young man has.
The versatile full-back/midfielder was so convincing, in fact, that Real started to express an interest in Lewis-Skelly amid their repeated links to fellow star Gunners defender William Saliba.
Myles Lewis-Skelly for Arsenal
His contract was set to expire in 2026, which would’ve undoubtedly piqued Xabi Alonso’s interest further, but according to reliable media sources, Lewis-Skelly won’t be going anywhere any time soon.
The Athletic claim these fresh terms could see Arsenal’s sensation become “one of the best-paid young players in the world”, and you can argue this lucrative new pay-packet is very much deserved.
News of Lewis-Skelly’s extension comes as more welcome news for Arteta, who recently saw Gabriel put pen to paper on a new deal until 2029.
Talks are ongoing over more new contracts, with Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Leandro Trossard, and Ethan Nwaneri all set to be rewarded with new offers to remain in N5 for the foreseeable (Charles Watts).
Ethan Nwaneri set to sign new Arsenal deal with Myles Lewis-Skelly
According to Romano, Lewis-Skelly’s new contract could be immediately followed by Nwaneri penning new terms.
According to the reliable transfer journalist, it is merely a “matter of time” before Arsenal’s fellow PFA Young Player of the Year nominee also signs his extension, following Nwaneri’s own impressive campaign.
The 18-year-old became Arsenal’s youngest-ever debutant in 2022, and he’s followed up that early promise with an array of convincing outings across 2024/2025.
Nwaneri scored nine goals and notched more assists over 37 appearances in all competitions last term, and he’s likely to play an even more regular role in 2025/2026, as Arteta seeks to end the club’s long wait for a league title.
“That’s what we love about him – he’s very aggressive. Before that [goal], he had another action where he made the right choice, he went for it,” said Arteta after Nwaneri scored his first ever Champions League goal in January.
“He never [looks nervous], he’s so composed, calm and confident in his ability. At 17, scoring a really important goal in the Champions League is not very common.”
Clubs can sign one player outside of the draft on a multi-year deal and up to four overall
ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jun-2024
Lizelle Lee was one of Hobart Hurricanes’ overseas players last year•Getty Images
Hobart Hurricanes will have pick one in the WBBL draft later this year after coming out first during the weighted lottery that was not in their favour.The first four picks involved those sides who did not make finals in the 2023-24 season – Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars – followed by the four sides that reached the playoffs. The Melbourne teams finished in the bottom two places last season so had a greater chance of earning the first pick, but will have to wait behind Hurricanes and Sixers.Hurricanes finished sixth last season having taken Shabnim Ismail and Bryony Smith in the draft alongside Lizelle Lee as a direct nomination.Perth Scorchers, who were knocked out in the Challenger, will have the last pick in rounds one, two and four of the draft – in round three, the order is reversed. Picks can be traded between clubs so the order could change. The draft is expected to take place in September.Last season’s first pick went to Sydney Thunder who took South Africa allrounder Marizanne Kapp as a platinum player with Scorchers opting not to use their retention option.Cricket Australia
This year clubs can sign up to four overseas players which would include anyone who joins under the new multi-year pre-draft option. New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr was the first player confirmed under that part of the system after being lured away from Brisbane Heat and signing a deal with Sixers.The pre-draft route in the WBBL essentially replaces the direct nominations option that was in place last year and which most clubs made use of. If clubs opt to sign a fourth player, they would become the first overseas replacement.The draft will again include four price bands: platinum (AU$110,000), gold (AU$90,000), silver (AU$65,000) and bronze (AU$40,000).Next season’s WBBL has been reduced to a 40-game regular season in a bid to manage the workload of the game’s leading players and boost attendances. The tournament is expected to start shortly after the conclusion of the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, which will finish on October 20.Given the proximity of the World Cup to the WBBL season, it remains to be seen how many of the world’s leading players commit to the tournament in Australia.
Celtic are now likely to complete the signing of an “amazing” attacking player soon, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
Attackers the order of the day for Celtic
Brendan Rodgers will know the importance of adding to his squad and making his team even more of a force next season, in order to prevent Rangers from closing the gap in the Scottish Premiership, and perhaps more excitingly for the Hoops to improve in the Champions League.
Celtic appear to be prioritising attacking signings this summer, with Benjamin Nygren strongly linked with sealing a move from Nordsjaelland to Parkhead.
Meanwhile, Evan Ferguson has emerged as an audacious transfer target for the Hoops ahead of next season, with the Brighton striker’s stock falling over the past 12 months, following a tough spell out on loan at West Ham.
That’s not to say that the Republic of Ireland international couldn’t be a fantastic acquisition for Celtic, however, with Gary Lineker calling him a “born goalscorer” and once tipping him to replace Harry Kane at Tottenham.
Now, it looks as though the Scottish champions could be edging towards another attacking signing.
O'Rourke: Celtic set to finalise deal for Balikwisha
Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke claimed Celtic have a good chance of signing Royal Antwerp forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha this summer.
“There’s real potential that Celtic could finally get a deal done for Balikwisha. He’s been a long-term target for them, they tried to sign him in the summer transfer window last year but an injury and failing to agree a price stopped their hopes. Their interest has never gone away, they’ve continued to keep tabs on him. He has got back to full fitness after a bad injury and finished the season strongly.
“Celtic will be in the market for a new winger and Balikwisha has remained on the radar. They’ve been given a boost in their pursuit as well, reports are suggesting in Belgium that Royal Antwerp are experiencing some financial problems. They may have to cash in on some of their players, and with the 24-year-old in the final year of his contract Celtic could land him for a bargain fee of £5million.”
Michel-Ange Balikwisha against Porto in the Champions League.
Balikwisha has been linked with Celtic for some time, with talks mooted recently, and he could be a brilliant signing this summer, with the 24-year-old possessing so much quality.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s international stats
Caps
Goals
Belgium Under-21s
10
1
Belgium Under-19s
3
0
Belgium Under-18s
1
0
Belgium Under-17s
5
1
Belgium Under-16s
4
1
The attacker already has 46 goal involvements in 141 appearances for Antwerp, and at international level he has been capped for Belgium across five different youth age groups, also being called “amazing” by analyst Ben Mattinson.
While primarily a left winger, Balikwisha can also shine on the opposite flank and as a striker, so Rodgers would be signing a player who can add so much depth to his attack.
Glasgow Rangers have failed to win the Scottish Premiership title in each of the last four seasons, having last lifted the trophy under Steven Gerrard in 2021.
The English head coach led the Ibrox giants to the title in the 2020/21 campaign, going unbeaten in the process, and none of his successors have been able to match that feat.
Steven Gerrard
Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, Philippe Clement, and Barry Ferguson have all tried and failed to win the division in the subsequent four seasons.
During that season, Gerrard had an excellent squad that were able to deliver consistently brilliant performances on the pitch, and Ryan Kent was one star who stepped up time and time again.
The English winger racked up ten goals and nine assists in 37 appearances in the Premiership, as he provided a regular threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Gers.
However, Rangers have failed to find another left-winger as influential as Kent since he left Ibrox on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, which is one of the problems that the 49ers should sort out this summer.
Why Rangers need their next Ryan Kent
During the 2024/25 campaign, Clement and Ferguson did not have a regular starter in the left wing position, as several players played out wide on the left.
Hamza Igamane, a centre-forward, and Ianis Hagi, an attacking midfielder, are two players who were utilised in that role, whilst Nedim Bajrami and Oscar Cortes failed to deliver enough quality at the top end of the pitch.
Rangers have already confirmed that Hagi will be released by the club at the end of his contract this summer, and Igamane is a centre-forward by trade, so he should not be a long-term option on the left wing.
That leaves Bajrami and Cortes as the left-wing options for the new head coach to assess in pre-season, and their respective performances in the Premiership do not suggest that they are good enough to be the first-choice in that role.
Rangers’ left wingers
24/25 Premiership
Ianis Hagi
Nedim Bajrami
Oscar Cortes
Appearances
24
28
10
Goals
4
2
0
Big chances created
6
4
0
Key passes per game
1.7
1.0
0.4
Assists
5
1
0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, neither player managed more than three goal contributions in the top-flight, whilst Cortes did not provide a single goal or assist in his ten appearances in the division.
This does not suggest that they are likely to reach the incredible tally of 19 goals and assists that Kent managed when Rangers last won the Premiership title under Gerrard.
Therefore, it should come as good news to Rangers supporters that the club are reportedly interested in a deal to bring a new left winger to the club ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Rangers eyeing deal for Leeds star
According to TEAMtalk, Rangers are eyeing up a deal to sign winger Largie Ramazani from Premier League side Leeds United in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Light Blues have emerged as a potential suitor for the Belgian forward, who only started seven matches in the Championship on his side’s way to the league title.
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It states that Ramazani has shown ‘flashes of brilliance’ since his £10m transfer from Almeria last summer, but the Gers are now hoping to capatilise on his lack of minutes by swooping for him this summer.
TEAMtalk adds that the Scottish giants are monitoring his situation at Elland Road for now, and that a decision could be made on his future by Daniel Farke during pre-season, which means that any move is unlikely to happen until next month.
Sporting director Kevin Thelwell should, now, push for a deal to be done whenever Leeds make a final decision over his future because he could finally replace Ryan Kent at Ibrox.
Why Largie Ramazani could finally replace Ryan Kent at Rangers
First and foremost, Ramazani is a natural left winger who likes to play on that side of the pitch to cut inside onto his stronger foot, just as Kent did during his time in Glasgow.
Whereas, Bajrami is more of an attacking midfielder who wants to be in central positions. Cortes is a natural left-winger, like Ramazani and Kent, but his return of zero goals and zero assists in ten league games simply was not good enough this season.
Despite his lack of game time at Elland Road, the £10m-rated winger showed plenty of signs of the kind of quality that he could deliver as a regular starter on the left flank.
The Whites star, who was described as an “explosive” forward by journalist Joe Donnohue, scored six goals and provided two assists in 28 matches in the Championship, despite starting just seven times.
Ramazani also produced three goals and five assists in 16 starts in LaLiga for Almeria during the 2023/24 campaign, which shows that he can perform well in Europe’s major leagues.
24/25 Championship
Largie Ramazani
Appearances
29
Starts
7
xG
4.67
Goals
6
Touches per game
16.0
Big chances created
1
Assists
2
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old star was clinical in front of goal, outperforming his xG, and landed eight goal contributions despite only averaging 16 touches per game.
For context, Kent averaged 58.8 touches per game in the Premiership during the 2020/21 title-winning campaign, and Bajrami averaged 34.6 touches per match in the league this term.
Now, imagine the kind of impact Ramazani could have at the top end of the pitch, bearing in mind what he did with minimal touches at Leeds, if he had between 34 and 58 touches a game on the left wing week-in-week-out in the Premiership.
The exciting attacker could thrive as a regular starter at a lower level in Scotland, reviving his career after a season of riding the bench for the most part, and that is why he could finally be the replacement for Ryan Kent that the Gers desperately need.
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It now remains to be seen whether Russell Martin, who is reportedly set to be the new head coach at Ibrox, would be interested in working with the Leeds dynamo.
Manchester United’s Europa League final woes have not only exposed the task at hand for manager Ruben Amorim moving forward, but have also put the decisions of the previous regime even further under the microscope.
Indeed, on Wednesday night, goalkeeper Andre Onana couldn’t keep out Brennan Johnson’s scruffy effort, with the Cameroonian hardly inspiring much confidence in a season in which he has made five errors leading to a goal in Europe and in the Premier League combined.
In attack, meanwhile, the decision to start Mason Mount failed to work out, with the Englishman producing an ineffective performance in which he was restricted to even fewer touches than Onana, with just 25 in total.
Mason Mount
Ahead of the ex-Chelsea man, Rasmus Hojlund was even more peripheral as he recorded just 15 touches of his own, with the Dane again firing a blank in a season in which he has scored just ten times in total.
The common thread between that trio? Well, they were all signed in what now looks like a sliding doors summer for the Red Devils in 2023. Fresh off the back of a promising first campaign under Erik ten Hag that yielded a third-placed finish and Carabao Cup success, the club needed to kick on again with marquee moves.
The likes of Harry Kane were touted, although Hojlund and co arrived instead – the Old Trafford side are still paying the price for that decision…
Analysing Hojlund's two seasons at Man Utd
For all the talk of Kane, for a fleeting moment it looked like the correct call had been made by plumping for the youthful Hojlund, with the £64m signing – rising to £72m – enjoying an impressive cameo on debut against Arsenal.
Unleashed off the bench, the promising speedster ran Gabriel and William Saliba ragged, playing his part in the eventually disallowed ‘winner’ from Alejandro Garnacho, while drawing a clumsy foul from the former that surprisingly didn’t result in a penalty.
That bright start culminated in a standout Champions League group stage run that yielded five goals, including a breakaway effort against Galatasaray that even sparked comparisons to a certain Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Frustratingly, however, it took until Boxing Day for Hojlund to notch a first top-flight goal for the club, albeit with that breakthrough sparking a run of seven goals in just six games at the turn of the year.
Despite ultimately ending 2023/24 as the top scorer for Ten Hag across all fronts, injuries and a lack of consistency saw him slip out of the starting lineup as the campaign progressed, with the Dutch coach opting for a strikerless system in the FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City.
Perhaps, on reflection, Amorim should well have attempted a similar tweak in recent weeks, with Hojlund coming to the end of a simply wretched campaign that has yielded only four league goals.
In truth, as last season showcased, the 22-year-old does appear more effective in Europe, although even then his impact has largely come in bursts, notably netting four times across successive outings against Bodo/Glimt and Viktoria Plzen.
Rasmus Hojlund
A streaky striker, and an expensive one at that, the former Atalanta man could be set for a swift return to Serie A this summer by all accounts, having failed to live up to expectations and the burden of being United’s leading number nine.
For all the frustration over what now looks like a costly mistake, it’s fair to say that Hojlund – who has 26 goals in 94 games – isn’t the biggest transfer misfire of the last decade or so…
Man Utd's bigger mistake than Hojlund
Dishing out £64m on a player who had scored just ten goals in Italy the year prior remains a simply headscratching decision, although so too does forking out £86m to sign Antony a year earlier.
Reportedly valued at around £25m at one stage, amid prior interest during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure, the Brazilian was earmarked as a key signing for Ten Hag in the summer of 2022, amid their prior relationship at Ajax.
With that window quickly heading to a close, and United losing their opening two games under the new boss, the desperate decision was made to plump for Casemiro and then Antony at the death, with the latter man arriving on deadline day.
Despite a lively start, which yielded three goals in his first three league appearances, the 24-year-old has been simply a disaster since then, with pundit Micah Richards notably highlighting his “lazy” approach in the dismal 7-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
An at-times headless and petulant presence on the pitch, Antony was also dubbed “embarrassing” by club legend Gary Neville for kicking out at Jeremy Doku in the final knockings of the 3-0 Manchester Derby defeat last term, a moment that could well have resulted in a red card.
Man Utd record for selected wingers (past and present)
Player
Games
Goals
Assists
Total G/A
Antony
96
12
5
17
Anthony Elanga
55
4
4
8
Amad
63
13
11
22
Jadon Sancho
83
12
6
18
Alejandro Garnacho
144
26
22
45
Dan James
74
9
9
18
Angel Di Maria
34
4
12
16
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
63
13
11
24
Memphis Depay
53
7
6
13
Stats via Transfermarkt
Of course, there has been the odd bright moment – such as his Europa League efforts against Barcelona and Real Betis – yet those have been few and far between, with the exiled winger racking up just 17 goals and assists in 95 games for the club to date. To put that into perspective, even Jadon Sancho boasts a better return, with 18 goal involvements in 83 games.
Like Sancho, Antony is now something of a forgotten man after being shipped out on loan, with not even his mini-revival at Betis enough to spark hope of a fresh start in Manchester next season, despite scoring eight times in just 24 games in Spain.
As revealed by the MEN, even while a review of the current campaign and Wednesday’s showpiece defeat is likely to take place, the priority at present is cashing in on Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony, with funds needed to spark yet another rebuild at Old Trafford.
Hopefully, lessons will have been learned from the bumper deals for the likes of Hojlund and Antony, with INEOS now needing to ensure that they can at least claw back some sort of substantial fee for Ten Hag’s dismal duo.
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