All posts by h716a5.icu

Glasgow Rangers head into the final Old Firm clash of the season with nothing but pride at stake.

The same was said about the two previous matches against Celtic in the Premiership since the start of January, and the Light Blues won both. Indeed, the 3-0 and 3–2 victories are arguably the highlights of an otherwise dismal season that will see the club finish trophyless for the second time in three seasons.

Could there be light at the end of the tunnel for the Ibrox side, however? As it appears as though the potential takeover of the club by the 49ers Enterprises is nearing completion.

Key members of the US consortium were given a tour of Ibrox during the week, with Andrew Cavenagh, Leeds United chairman, Paraag Marathe and 49ers director Raminder Dhadwal all being shown around the stadium.

This could be the jolt the club needs to emerge from their recent malaise and start challenging Celtic for domestic supremacy once again.

A new permanent manager is top of the priority list heading into the summer. That’s for certain. Once this decision has been made, building a squad capable of winning trophies will be vital this summer.

The club have been linked with a few players already, even though there are still a few weeks left until the transfer window opens. One of those targets could prove to be the next Alan Hutton.

Alan Hutton’s Rangers statistics

Since Hutton departed Ibrox in 2008, only Nathan Patterson has come close to becoming the next academy right-back to turn into a first-team star.

The Scot made his debut for the club during the 2002/03 season, but it wasn’t until Alex McLeish began unleashing him on a regular basis two years later that his development properly began.

Indeed, the defender made 12 appearances that term, and it would have been more had he not suffered a broken leg against Kilmarnock in February. This ruled him out of the successful league title conclusion, but he was back to his best the following season.

Three appearances in the Champions League gave him experience of playing against the top players in Europe, and during the 2007/08 season, he looked the part as Rangers drew 0-0 with Barcelona at Ibrox.

By then, his performances were beginning to turn heads, and it was clear that Hutton would be moving onto bigger and better things sooner rather than later.

In January 2008, Tottenham Hotspur made a bid of around £9m for the Scot and this was too good to turn down.

It stood as the club’s record sale until Patterson joined Everton 14 years later. Hutton’s attacking abilities were often on show at Ibrox, but he could defend well, too, that’s for sure.

Bringing in a player of that ilk would certainly boost the Glasgow side next season…

Rangers search for new signings

Much will depend on just how much money the new manager will have to spend this summer, as this could dictate his transfer strategy. Splashing millions on big-name imports hasn’t worked out well for the Gers in recent years. Could this point to a new direction this year?

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to a report from the Rangers Review earlier this month, the club are showing interest in signing Dundee starlet Josh Mulligan.

Taking to X, journalist Joshua Barrie said: “Rangers are interested in Dundee’s Josh Mulligan. 22-yo is out of contract at Dens this summer and on the club’s radar.”

The Gers have already secured the services of Lyall Cameron on a pre-contract agreement. Could Mulligan be the next bright Scottish talent to make the move to Glasgow?

With European football and the chance of winning trophies, it is a move that should see the versatile player continue his excellent development.

James Tavernier doesn’t have long left at the club, and by signing Mulligan, the Ibrox outfit may unearth their next Hutton.

Why Rangers should sign Josh Mulligan

Mulligan has impressed for a Dundee side who have struggled throughout the majority of the 2024/25 campaign. At the time of writing, they currently occupy tenth place in the Premiership table.

Five assists in 36 matches is a decent tally, especially for someone still learning after every single match.

Kai Watson, a Scottish analyst and scout, lavished plenty of praise on Mulligan amid the reported interest from the Glasgow side, saying: “Been a fan of Josh Mulligan for a while now and think signing him on a free would be smart business for Rangers.

“An aggressive, high-energy wingback/CM that’s consistently improving technically and in the final third. Future Scotland international for me.”

High praise indeed, and there would be no better place than Ibrox for the young player to further showcase his potential.

2024/25 (so far)

36

0

5

2023/24

23

1

0

2022/23

42

2

5

2021/22

37

6

2

Like Hutton, the Dundee man offers plenty going forward. Across his 30 top-flight matches this season, the 22-year-old has created nine big chances, averages one key pass and one successful dribble per match.

He might not score or assist as often as Tavernier, but Mulligan gets into the final third regularly, providing plenty of support for those higher up the pitch.

Defensively, the Scot wins 5.2 total duels per game along with making 1.9 tackles, 1.5 clearances and recovering 4.7 balls per match in the Scottish top flight this term.

As a long-term heir to Tavernier, signing Mulligan on a free transfer makes perfect sense; that much is certain. By doing so, they will be bringing in a highly motivated, intelligent and versatile player who can perform in a plethora of positions on the pitch.

All of this without even spending a penny. Getting this deal done sooner rather than later might be crucial, as there could be more clubs interested as the weeks go by.

It will be a step in the right direction, securing the services of another homegrown player, as this will be vital for European squad quotas next season.

Their new Morelos: Rangers could sign a "special" Scotland international

With the 49ers set to takeover Rangers this summer, could their 1st signing be a “special” young striker who could be the Gers’ next Alfredo Morelos?

ByBen Gray May 1, 2025

Manchester City’s mass-squad overhaul looks set to continue.

Kyle Walker has already departed, while Kevin De Bruyne will follow him out the exit door, with a few more sky blue stalwarts potentially set to leave this summer too.

Meantime, the Citizens spent £180m in January, that’s more than the other 19 Premier League clubs combined, recruiting Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico González, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah.

However, they are far from done there, so does Pep Guardiola have his eyes on a future £100m sensation to upgrade on Jérémy Doku?

Jérémy Doku's up-and-down Manchester City career

When Doku arrived at Manchester City from Stade Rennais for a reported fee of £55.5m two summers ago, he did so with sky-high expectations.

Director of Football Txiki Begiristain described the Belgian winger as “a very exciting young player”, adding that he possesses “outstanding pace”, believing that he will “develop into a world-class attacking talent”.

Well, so far, the 22-year-old is yet to fulfil the potential promised, as the statistics below suggest.

Appearances

43

33

Minutes

2,171

1,686

Goals

6

6

Assists

11

8

As the table shows, while Doku’s statistics are far from horrific, they aren’t outstanding either, while the fact the Belgian has not started any of Man City’s last five matches underlines that Guardiola still does not fully trust him.

Also, without wanting to be unkind to any of these teams, Doku’s six goals this season have come against Watford, Salford, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich, the most recent of which was scored on 19 January, which isn’t the most eclectic list.

Thus, the Citizens could certainly upgrade out-wide, so has Guardiola identified his dream target?

Manchester City's dream new winger

According to a report by French outlet L’Équipe this week, Manchester City have “made enquiries” in an attempt to sign Monaco winger Eliesse Ben Seghir, with Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen also reportedly interested.

Get French Football News adds that the 20-year-old is likely to push for a move this summer after a falling out with les Monégasques’ manager Adi Hütter, which has seen him start just two of the last eight Ligue 1 games, refusing to celebrate the recent Derby de la Côte d’Azur victory over Nice, having been an unused substitute.

Despite this, Ben Seghir’s potential is undeniable, with analyst Ben Mattinson​​​​​​​ labeling him an “impressive talent”, while Euan Booth Robertson of Transfermarkt praises his outstanding ‘dribbling ability’.

Meantime, Liam Scahill​​​​​​​ of Breaking the Lines believes the youngster is ‘destined for big things’, while Alex Barker of the Athletic labels him a “future £100m” gem.

So, let’s assess how the young Moroccan compares to Doku.

Appearances

33

43

Minutes

1,686

2,404

Goals

6

9

Assists

8

4

Take-ons attempted

200

115

Take-on success %

53.5%

38.3%

Progressive carries

202

102

Shots on target %

31%

34.2%

Progressive passes

68

138

Shot-creating actions

75

93

Goal-creating actions

13

8

Touches per 90

46

56

As outlined in the table, both wingers are high-quantity dribblers; the pair racked up 25 take-ons each in this season’s Champions League, despite the fact Monaco and Man City were both eliminated quite early in the first knockout round.

While Doku may be the superior dribbler, Ben Seghir’s statistics prove that he is more of a goal-threat, scoring more goals, finding the target with a higher percentage of his shots and registering more shot-creating actions, while his substantially higher touches per 90 figure proves he is more involved in build-up play.

Thus, this all underlines that the Moroccan would be a great signing for the sky blues, as he would be a clear Doku upgrade.

​​​​​​​

The new Bernardo: Man City in contact to sign "ridiculously talented" star

With Bernardo Silva potentially set to leave Manchester City this summer, could Pep Guardiola have his eye on a “ridiculously talented” replacement?

ByBen Gray Apr 30, 2025

It’s safe to say that Liverpool and their closest title rivals this season, Arsenal, enjoyed very different weeks.

While the Gunners were in Paris, crashing out of the Champions League, those back at Merseyside were metaphorically and quite literally on the beach.

Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was pictured enjoying a sandy sun-kissed setting just a few days before their clash with Mikel Arteta’s men on Sunday.

Truth be told, the opening to the game very much played out like one where both teams wanted the campaign to end.

Arsenal spurned early chances after lacklustre Liverpool defending and then the visitors did not cover themselves in glory across a two-minute spell from the 20th minute, where Arne Slot’s side raced into a 2-0 lead.

While the Londoners came back into things courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino, the result meant nothing for the Reds. They have, of course, already won the league.

Still, it wasn’t without its drama. Trent Alexander-Arnold was booed after being brought on as a sub. He’s not the only one who is likely playing his final minutes for the Anfield outfit though.

Who could leave Liverpool this summer

The most important news for Liverpool heading into the transfer window is that, despite Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid, they are keeping their other two most important assets.

Indeed, only a few weeks ago, both Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah signed new terms, ensuring that Slot’s side should still be pretty strong next season.

That said, there could be sweeping changes elsewhere, notably in the forward line. Indeed, the future looks remarkably uncertain for winger Luis Diaz.

The Colombian has had a sensational term for Liverpool, scoring 17 goals and registering eight assists in all competitions. His form has attracted the interest of Barcelona, according to reports, and he could well be exiting in the summer.

Diogo Jota’s future also remains unclear. The Portuguese has been a very underrated player since moving from Wolves but has arguably endured his toughest year at the club.

Jota has missed 18 games for club and country this term due to muscle problems and he’s not been too consistent on the field either, finding the net on just nine occasions in 36 outings.

As a result, amid reported interest from the Saudi Pro League, it would not be a surprise if FSG agreed to sanction his departure without much hesitation.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

You may notice we’re missing one key name here, though.

What the future holds for Darwin Nunez at Liverpool

Has there been a more perplexing attacker in Liverpool history than Darwin Nunez? On his day, he’s a world-beater, boasting pace and power to burst past the most resolute of defences. However, his finishing leaves a lot to be desired, particularly when he cost a club-record £85m.

Well, since that move, he’s not exactly set the world alight in English football. Consequently, a move away could well be on the cards.

According to reports from Spain over the weekend, Nunez has already attracted two bids worth around £50m from Italian side Napoli and German team RB Leipzig.

It’s revealed that the Reds are ‘in no rush’ to sell the player, but with Slot wanting to improve the options at his disposal this summer, that could be important cash gained.

First and foremost, that’s a primary reason FSG must be open to bids this summer. While a move for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, now valued at £150m, is likely off the cards, Liverpool have been linked with Benjamin Sesko of the aforementioned Leipzig.

While the Slovenian is certainly raw, like Nunez was when he moved to Anfield, there is a belief that he could reach elite levels in the not-too-distant future, having netted 21 times in 2024/25.

The biggest reason for wanting to move the Uruguayan on, however, is that he’s far too wasteful to play back up, let alone be the focal point of the team alongside Salah.

This season, Nunez has a measly goal tally of just seven in 45 appearances. The 25-year-old has only started eight league games as well. For someone who cost as much as he did, that simply isn’t acceptable.

His record of missing big chances is also particularly poor.

2022/23

29

9

20

2023/24

36

11

27

2024/25

28

5

7

To his credit, the £140k-per-week earner has improved in that regard this season, but the damage as far as his reputation in the Premier League was already done by the time the 2024/25 campaign had come around.

In the South American’s first year, only Erling Haaland (28) and Marcus Rashford (22) missed more big chances, while last term, only Haaland (34), was worse. Now, the key difference here is that while the Norwegian powerhouse misses a lot of chances, he also puts them away at an incredible rate.

Salah has had an extraordinarily good season in front of goal this time around, bagging 33, and while he is unlikely to slow down too much next season, Liverpool need someone else to take on the goalscoring burden.

It’s safe to say Nunez just isn’t going to be that person. He should be sold with an upgrade sought.

Fewer touches than Alisson: Slot must axe 5/10 Liverpool dud after Arsenal

Arne Slot must drop this Liverpool dud who was worse than Conor Bradley against Arsenal.

3 ByDan Emery May 11, 2025

It is make or break for Sunderland this afternoon as their 2024/25 campaign will be defined by the outcome of today’s Championship play-off final clash with Sheffield United.

The Black Cats beat Coventry City 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the play-offs, thanks to a dramatic late winner in extra-time from central defender Dan Ballard, sending the Stadium of Light into raptures.

Regis Le Bris now faces the unenviable task of selecting the right starting XI to take to the field against Sheffield United this afternoon at Wembley, and Chris Rigg is one player who should be brought back in.

Why Chris Rigg should start

Sunderland know that this is a high-stakes game and that any small errors could be the difference between another season in the Championship or playing Premier League football in the 2025/26 campaign.

Therefore, it could make sense to bring in another midfielder who can provide solidity just ahead of Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham, making it even harder for the Blades to break them down.

In the regular Championship season, Rigg won four duels per game on average, winning 47% of his battles overall, and averaged 1.6 tackles and interceptions per game, without a single error that led to a goal or a penalty for the opposition.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

This means that the teenage midfielder would add another layer of defensive insurance ahead of the back four by coming into the side, but it would also mean that Eliezer Mayenda would have to drop to the bench to make way for the English ace to play behind Wilson Isidor.

Why Eliezer Mayenda should be dropped

Le Bris should ruthlessly drop the 20-year-old starlet to the bench for today’s final in order to make room for Rigg to provide a reliable presence at the top of the midfield.

This would also provide Mayenda with the opportunity to come on as an impact substitute, which suits his style of play with his directness and pace on the counter-attack, as he could cause problems for a tired Sheffield United defence late on.

His disappointing performance against Coventry in the second leg of the semi-final, though, suggests that it may be too much of a gamble to play him from the start.

Minutes

120

Goals + assists

0

Successful dribbles

2/6

Pass accuracy

29% (2/7)

Duels won

6/18

Key passes

0

Possession lost

15x

As you can see in the table above, Mayenda played the full 120 minutes against the Sky Blues and only completed two passes, without creating any chances, and lost the vast majority of his duels.

This suggests that he could be a liability in the final from the start if he produced a similar kind of performance, as the Sheffield United players could find it too easy to beat him in duels and to intercept his passes.

Therefore, dropping him for Rigg, who has won 47% of his duels and completed 79% of his passes in the Championship, could increase Sunderland’s chances of being solid from the start.

Le Bris would then have the option to bring Mayenda’s pace off the bench to make an impact late on, by taking Rigg off to play the Frenchman in a front two with Isidor, which is why this could be a good tactical move for multiple reasons.

Le Fee 2.0: Sunderland set sights on signing "fantastic" star from France

Sunderland could be about to pick up their next Enzo Le Fee with this summer buy.

ByKelan Sarson May 21, 2025

Manchester United’s summer could be make or break for manager Ruben Amorim in his spell in charge of the club – needing to make some huge calls on his first-team squad.

The 40-year-old took the reins back in November, only having the January window to make the changes he requires to the squad that he inherited at Old Trafford.

He’s already landed Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha this summer, costing a fee in the region of £62.5m, but undoubtedly offering a new dimension considering he registered a total of 15 goals and six assists in the Premier League this season.

Such a move is highly unlikely to be their last in the transfer window, with more changes needed in various areas to avoid a repeat of 2024/25, which saw the club finish in 15th place.

With the summer window now open, Amorim has been targeting numerous players to right the wrongs of recent months, looking to help him in his quest to be a success at the Theatre of Dreams.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

United’s front line has been the area that has mainly been of concern to new additions, especially considering the Red Devils scored just 44 times in 38 appearances this season.

The likes of Victor Osimhen, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Moise Kean have all been mentioned as potential targets this summer, but no deals have yet been agreed for any of the targets.

However, attacker Jesus Rodriguez is the latest name that has emerged as a potential target for Amorim’s squad, that’s according to Estadio Deportivo’s latest report.

They claim that they are firmly in the race for the 19-year-old star, who’s registered three goals and one assist in 2024/25, with Aston Villa also interested in his signature.

It also confirms that the Spanish winger has a €35m (£29m) release clause in his deal with Real Betis, potentially offering a cheaper alternative to another summer target.

Why United’s £29m target would be a better signing than Mbeumo

Over the last couple of days, winger Bryan Mbeumo has emerged as a key target for United, offering the club an added dimension in the final third alongside Cunha.

The Cameroonian international notched 20 Premier League goals throughout 2024/25, managing to become just one of five players in the division who have achieved such a feat this season.

His subsequent form has led to the Red Devils’ interest, with the 25-year-old stating his desire to make the switch to Old Trafford ahead of the start of the 2025/26 season.

However, if the club are to make a move for Mbeumo this window, they will have to fork out a fee in the region of £70m, that’s after having their opening offer of £55m rejected this week.

Such a figure would be a huge investment, with Amorim able to land a deal for Rodriguez for over half the price should he decide to pursue a move for the teenager.

When comparing their respective stats from this season, the Betis star has managed to outperform Mbeumo in numerous key areas – showcasing why he would be a better addition this window.

Rodriguez, who’s been labelled “ridiculous” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has registered more progressive carries and carries into the final third per 90 – showcasing the threat he possesses with the ball at his feet.

Games played

21

38

Goals scored

2

20

Progressive carries

4.3

3.4

Carries into final third

2.9

1.8

Take-ons completed

2.4

1.3

Pass accuracy

73%

66%

Passes into final third

1.7

1.6

The Spaniard’s talent at driving the opposition doesn’t stop there, completing more of the take-ons he’s attempted, subsequently liking to take the ball into forward areas whenever possible.

He’s also completed more passes and more passes into the final third, allowing the likes of Cunha the opportunity to hit the ground running upon his own move to Old Trafford.

Whilst Mbeumo may be the first person on many supporters’ wish lists this summer, his £70m price tag may be slightly too expensive, especially considering the signings needed in other areas.

Such a figure could lead the hierarchy to a move for Rodriguez, offering a cheaper but just as effective option in the final third – having the potential to develop massively over the years ahead given his tender age.

Their own Wirtz: The "best finisher in the world" now wants to join Man Utd

Manchester United could be about to land their marquee signing just a week into the transfer window.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 6, 2025

Manchester United have a reported interest in Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, who worked with Ruben Amorim in Portugal, but they look unlikely to win the race for his signature.

A recent report claimed that the Sweden international has decided that he would rather sign for the club’s Premier League rivals Arsenal instead of making a move to Old Trafford to reunite with his former boss.

The former Coventry star, who scored a staggering 52 goals in all competitions for Sporting in the 2024/25 season, is available for a fee of just over £61m, but it is the Gunners who seem to be in pole position to bring him over to England.

His incredible goal return in Portugal suggests that this news is a blow for Amorim and for Manchester United. However, the club are reportedly eyeing up a star who could be the manager’s next version of Gyokeres.

Man Utd battling to sign Spanish striker

The Premier League giants appear to be in the process of identifying alternative options in the number nine position, as the Swedish star looks to be headed elsewhere.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of a number of teams eyeing up a move to sign FC Porto’s Spanish striker Samu Aghehowa in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Aston Villa, Arsenal, and Chelsea are all also keen on doing a deal for the former Atletico Madrid centre-forward in the coming weeks.

It states that the Portuguese giants are looking for a fee of up to £63m for the 21-year-old marksman, with United and their Premier League rivals now set to battle it out for his signature.

Whilst they appear to be on the back foot with Gyokeres, the Red Devils should push to win this race to unearth Amorim’s next version of the Sporting superstar.

Why Samu could be Gyokeres 2.0 for Amorim

The Porto marksman is similar to the Swedish ace from a physical perspective, as he stands at 6 foot 4 and has the physicality to occupy and cause problems for defenders.

In fact, talent scout Jacek Kulig once described him as a “monster” in the making due to his physicality and speed, which suggests that the forward could offer similar attributes to Gyokeres.

The Spain international’s performances in the Portuguese top-flight also suggest that he has the potential to be a prolific striker for United, albeit not as prolific as Gyokeres could be in the short-term.

Starts

23

31

xG

14.07

30.95

Goals

19

39

xG differential

+4.93

+8.05

Minutes per goal

119

72

Conversion rate

23%

28%

As you can see in the table above, Samu enjoyed a brilliant season with Porto, scoring 19 goals in 23 starts and outperforming his xG, yet still ended with 20 fewer goals than the Sporting number nine.

It is worth remembering, though, that the Spanish marksman is six years younger than Gyokeres and has plenty of time left ahead of him to hone his skills and improve his output as a scorer.

Samu, dubbed “outstanding” by journalist Josh Bunting, did also score six goals in nine matches in the Europa League, which shows that he can perform on the European stage.

Whilst he may not be the final, polished, product in comparison to the seasoned Gyokeres, the Porto star appears to have the physical and finishing attributes to develop into Amorim’s next version of the Swedish marksman, which is why he could be a shrewd signing for the club.

Twist: "Extraordinary" £60m+ star now plans to snub Man Utd to join Arsenal

The Gunners have received a boost in their pursuit of a forward, who Andrea Berta has already held talks to sign.

1 ByDominic Lund Jun 8, 2025

A busy summer awaits for Rangers.

Now that Russell Martin has officially been unveiled as the new Rangers manager, he has plenty of work to do if his team are going to be ready for the start of Champions League qualifying on 22/23 July, with Panathinaikos, Servette or Brann their potential opponents; the draw takes place next Tuesday.

With pivotal European ties just around the corner, Martin is eager to get his transfer business done early, so could it be all change in the striker department?

Rangers seeking a new striker

According to a report by Scott McDermott and Anthony Evans of the Daily Record, Rangers remain in talks with Maccabi Tel Aviv over the signing of striker Dor Turgeman, who they claim is valued at £4m.

Liav Nachmani of Israel Hayom previously documented that Turgeman has ‘expressed a willingness’ to join the Scottish giants, who have ‘been monitoring him for several months’, although the Israeli champions do not want to let him leave easily.

Born in Ashdod, Turgeman joined the Yellows as a 15 year old, making 109 senior appearances since his senior debut five years ago, scoring 32 goals.

This season, he was the third-highest scorer in Ligat HaAl with 16 goals, also on target four times in the Europa League, netting against Panevėžys and then TSC Bačka Topola twice as Maccabi Tel Aviv made it through qualifying, before also getting on the scoresheet against Real Sociedad in October.

Turgeman has international experience too, a key figure in the Israel side that reached the U21 Euros semi-finals two summers ago, earning eight senior caps to date, scoring against Norway in a World Cup qualifier in Debrecen back in March.

So now, could the 21 year old swap the Israeli Mediterranean coastline for Glasgow’s west end?

How Turgeman compares to Dessers

According to a report by Andrew Newport of the Daily Record, Greek side AEK Athens ‘are willing to spend big’ to sign Cyriel Dessers this summer, adding that the Nigerian striker is valued at £5m.

On top of this, Greek journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos of SporTime claims that the Yellow-Blacks are “in talks” with Rangers, so is now the right time to cash in?

Let’s assess Dessers’ statistics for the club since he arrived from Cremonese for a reported £4.5m two summers ago.

Appearances

109

Minutes

6,845

Goals

51

Assists

16

Big chances missed

58

As the table outlines, Dessers’ scoring record at Rangers has been impressive, on target every 134 minutes on average, but the fact he has missed 58 big chances across the Scottish Premiership and Europa League goes a long way to explaining why Alan Pattullo of the Scotsman describes him as a complex ‘enigma’.

So, would Turgeman be an upgrade? Let’s try and find out.

Appearances

55

44

Minutes

3,423

2,887

Goals

29

20

Minutes per goal

118

144

Assists

7

6

Big chances missed

31

4

Big chances created

4

12

Shots on target (per 90)

1

0.7

Shots on target %

50%

37.5%

Touches per 90

29.1

31.6

Touches in opposition box per 90

5.5

3.1

Average Sofascore Rating

6.81

7.10

As the table outlines, while Dessers did score more goals this season, Turgeman’s underlying statistics are broadly more impressive, missing 27 fewer big chances, creating eight more big chances and registering a greater number of touches per 90.

Writer Kai Watson describes the Israeli international as a strong ball carrier and “lethal inside the box”, while Nene Afadzinu of Football Talent Scout praises his ‘excellent first touch’, hold-up play and close-control, adding that he is capable of being deployed as a team’s ‘focal point’ considering he ‘relishes a duel’ and ‘presses intensely’.

Meantime, Rui Martins of Total Football Analysis outlines how Turgeman’s physical attributes give him a ‘significant competitive advantage’, believing he ‘is ready to be tested at a higher level’.

Thus, if Rangers are able to sell 30 year old Dessers and sign 21-year-old Turgeman for a lower fee, this would appear a no-brainer of an upgrade.

The new Lundstram: Martin wants to make £18m star his first Rangers signing

As Russell Martin starts his overhaul of Rangers’ squad, could he sign a “class” midfielder in a deal reminiscent of John Lundstram’s move to Ibrox?

ByBen Gray Jun 8, 2025

Arsenal are in hot pursuit of fresh squad upgrades ahead of a crucial campaign for Mikel Arteta, with the pressure on for him to deliver major silverware.

Benjamin Sesko has now made "unusual" demand in Arsenal transfer talks

The Slovenia international wants something out of the ordinary.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 20, 2025

It’s been five years since Arteta lifted his first major honour, which came at the end of his first season in charge of the Gunners. Since then, barring Community Shield wins, their trophy cabinet has remained barren, despite coming close on a number of occasions.

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

Man City edged Arsenal in each of the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 title races, with Arteta’s side battling Pep Guardiola until the very final day last year. However, it was close but no cigar, and Arsenal meekly surrendered the latest Premier League crown to Liverpool by a seismic 10 points.

After many seasons steadily building the project, Arteta has undoubtedly transformed the Gunners into an elite-level side, and this was evident in the Champions League last season when they put 15-time European champions Real Madrid to the sword.

The progress made has been clear, but Arteta has still come under fire for Arsenal’s lack of trophies over the last few years.

New sporting director Andrea Berta has been tasked with backing the Spaniard this summer, and Arsenal are set to sign both midfielder Martin Zubimendi and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (The Times) in what is a real boost.

However, their lack of a prolific striker is seen as a major elephant in the room. It is by far the position which supporters are most keen to see strengthened, with Berta working on deals for both Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Viktor Gyokeres convinced he's going to join Arsenal

The former has been central to a tense transfer saga, with Sporting publicly denying claims that Gyokeres can leave for £60 million and their president, Frederico Varandas, taking aim at the player’s agent.

The “underrated” striker’s 54-goal haul in all competitions last season helped the Primeira Liga giants lift their first domestic double in two decades, and Gyokeres won’t be leaving for Sporting until one of his suitors meets his asking price.

Arsenal do possess a trump card, namely reliable reports that Gyokeres is prioritising a switch to the Emirates Stadium (Fabrizio Romano).

Now, as per talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Gyokeres is apparently convinced that he’ll join Arsenal, and has even made this clear to his close circle.

“I had a message 24 hours or so ago suggesting that Viktor Gyokeres has told friends and family he expects to join Arsenal,” said Crook on talkSPORT Breakfast earlier this week.

“We know that Manchester United are interested in signing him as well, obviously there is that pre-existing relationship with Ruben Amorim.

“But Arsenal can offer Champions League football, maybe can offer a tilt at the title next season. Sporting are going to play hardball, there’s been a fallout between Gyokeres and the club because his agent has suggested that they had a gentleman’s agreement he could leave for £60million, I think they’re looking for nearer £80m.

“Arsenal are juggling both him and Benjamin Sesko, they’ve opened talks with Leipzig as well but at the moment, I would say Gyokeres looks the more likely.”

The player’s willingness is crystal clear at this point, but Sporting’s demands remain a major roadblock, so it will be very interesting to see how this consistently evolving story unfolds over the coming weeks.

“We are getting used to home conditions… even though they are home conditions, we don’t have much experience here,” says Harmanpreet of playing at Chepauk

Sruthi Ravindranath27-Jun-2024India captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes playing in Chennai is a “great opportunity” for the side to get used to the conditions, given it could be one of the venues for the Women’s ODI World Cup next year.India’s women’s team last played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk in a Quadrangular series in 2007. They last played a women’s Test here in 1976, and the ground hasn’t hosted any women’s T20Is yet. Since the end of 2022, all women’s internationals in India have either been in Navi Mumbai or Mumbai, till the ODI-leg of the South Africa series was hosted in Bengaluru last week. Following the one-off Test against South Africa starting on Friday in Chennai, India will also be playing three T20Is against them at the same venue.”As a team, it’s a great opportunity for us,” Harmanpreet said on the eve of the Test. “We are getting used to home conditions… even though they are home conditions, we don’t have much experience here. But I think this series will definitely give us a lot of confidence to see how the wicket is going to behave and what combinations we can look for [for the World Cup]. Before the World Cup, with [about] one year left, I think as a team we are taking this opportunity with both hands whenever we are playing home series. It’s a great opportunity to see how the wickets are and how we can improve our skills.”Related

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This will be India’s third Test in seven months. They played back-to-back Tests against England and Australia in December 2023, posting massive wins in both matches. Harmanpreet says playing those two matches has helped the side get rid of “overthinking” while playing in a format.Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur take part in close-catching drills•PTI “In the long format you have to be there [in the middle] for four days. But if you think like that as a player you can overthink. The last time [we played a Test] we only thought about winning the sessions and that really helped us. This time also we will focus on each session. The best thing about Test cricket is you have time to come back. If you lose one session, you always have time to [make up for] things.”That’s the key point which our support staff told us: ‘just focus on each and every session and if you can [break it] down to two to two-and-a-half hours, think about how you’re going to perform as a player’. I think that really helps, [rather] than thinking that it’s a 100 overs [roughly per day] game which makes you overthink. Those little points really helped us win the last two Tests and we just want to continue [to apply] those.”India will be relying on head coach Amol Muzumdar’s red-ball experience heading into the Test, Harmanpreet said. Muzumdar, who played 171 first-class matches in a 20-year-long career, has also played two red-ball matches at Chepauk.”I didn’t have much experience in Test cricket when I got to captain those two Tests,” Harmanpreet said. “Amol sir help me. He has played lot of Test [red-ball] cricket and he has a lot of experience. With his experience, he has helped me with things like how to take decisions on the field. I do have a bit of an idea now.”We don’t have much idea about how Chennai wicket is going to play. We have only seen when the men were playing but women’s cricket is totally different… the pace, the way we bowl and bat, I think we’ll know that only once we take the field tomorrow, see how the pitch behaves and take decisions. The experienced support staff are definitely going to help us.”

Sadia Iqbal’s 4 for 16 goes in vain; Sri Lanka to face India in a repeat of last edition’s final

Srinidhi Ramanujam26-Jul-20242:31

Athapaththu shows versatility but also finds support

Chamari Athapaththu’s fighting 63 off 48 balls and Anushka Sanjeewani’s unbeaten 24 off 22 helped Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by three wickets in a last-over thriller in the second semi-final of Women’s Asia Cup 2024. The win saw Sri Lanka march into the final for the second successive edition.Two years ago in Sylhet, they held their nerve with the ball to overcome Pakistan by one run in the semi-final. Once again, Sri Lanka will meet India in the title clash.On Friday, momentum swung multiple times during the course of the match. After restricting Pakistan to 140 for 4, Sri Lanka had to dig deep in the chase as Sadia Iqbal spun a web around their batters with a four-wicket haul. But Athapaththu stayed firm and found able partners, first in Kavisha Dilhari and then in Sanjeewani. With the latter, Athapaththu shared a match-changing stand of 42 off 29 balls for the fifth wicket. However, Iqbal dismissed Athapaththu in the 17th over to turn the tide Pakistan’s way yet again.At that point, Sri Lanka needed 21 off 20 balls with five wickets in hand. They lost two more wickets but with three required from three balls, Sanjeewani and Achini Kulasuriya took the team home.Muneeba Ali was the top-scorer for Pakistan•Asian Cricket CouncilMuneeba, Feroza put up solid opening standMuneeba Ali and Gull Feroza continued from where they left off against UAE. The Pakistan openers set the tone early by adding 45 runs in the powerplay.Feroza, coming off two consecutive fifties, was off to a flying start, punishing seamer Achini Kulasuriya for three fours in the third over. After a quiet over from Sugandika Kumari, Muneeba swept Athapaththu for two fours and started the next over, by Udeshika Prabodhani, with an elegant straight drive.Prabodhani, Dilhari’s double-strikes; Sana’s cameoSri Lanka pulled things back in the middle overs, conceding only 56 runs between overs 7-16 and picking up four wickets. Playing her 100th T20I, Prabodhani removed Feroza when the opener miscued one to deep midwicket in the tenth over of the innings. Five balls later, she cleaned up Muneeba as the batter shuffled across too much to sweep and exposed her stumps.Nida Dar broke the shackles with a six and a four off Kulasuriya in the 14th over but Sidra Amin, who was struggling at the other end, holed out to short third when she mistimed a reverse sweep off Dilhari in the next over. Four balls later, Dilahri trapped Dar lbw.At 101 for 4 after 16 overs, Pakistan found quick runs from Fatima Sana. She smashed Dilhari for two fours in the 17th over and Inoshi Priyadharshani for another boundary on the first ball of the 19th. Her unbeaten 23 off 17, and an unbroken stand of 41 off 31 balls with Aliya Riaz, lifted Pakistan. Sri Lanka’s fielding was disappointing as they dropped catches, missed run-out chances and had several misfields.Sadia Iqbal’s 4 for 16 kept Pakistan in the game•Asian Cricket CouncilThe frantic chase: Athapaththu’s fifty, Iqbal’s four-forSri Lanka lost Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama early and ended their powerplay on 35 for 2. But Athapaththu and Dilhari steadied the innings by adding 59 off 46 balls for the third wicket. Athapaththu, after a sedate start, picked up the pace and found the boundary at a steady rate.With 63 needed from 52 balls, Pakistan stormed back into the game, thanks to Iqbal’s double-wicket over that left Sri Lanka at 78 for 4. But Sanjeewani and Athapaththu blunted Pakistan with a flurry of boundaries in the next few overs. En route, Athapaththu also notched up her 11th T20I half-century. That Pakistan were also sloppy in the field – Muneeba missed stumping Dilhari and later failed to appeal when she stumped Athapaththu – didn’t help them either.Just when it looked like Sri Lanka would have it easy, Pakistan fought back again through Iqbal. She dismissed Athapaththu in her final over to finish with figures of 4 for 16. In the following over, Hasini Perera was run out after a mix-up. Nashra Sandhu then conceded 13 of the penultimate over, where Kumari hit two fours to bring the equation down to three needed from six balls.Dar brought herself on for the final over and dismissed Kumari off the second ball but it wasn’t to be for Pakistan.