Apart from one tour to Pakistan, Bangladesh have barely played against any established teams recently

Mohammad Isam16-Feb-2020OverviewWinning the Under-19 World Cup title earlier this month has made big expectations a norm for cricket teams from Bangladesh. But closer to reality, the women’s team cannot be expected to be world-beaters, not just yet. They have had a barren couple of years in terms of international experience, despite the high of beating India in the 2018 Asia Cup final.All Bangladesh teams have had this particular complaint – that once they are off the boil at the highest level, it takes them months to get back in the groove. It will be the same uphill battle for the women’s team who have mostly played against Thailand, Ireland, Netherlands, USA and PNG, apart from one tour to Pakistan last year.Domestic cricket isn’t also up to the mark, so even for senior players like Salma Khatun, Rumana Ahmed, Jahanara Alam and Panna Ghosh, the World T20 in Australia could to be a difficult task. The only saving grace may be a longish camp in Brisbane although some of it has been affected by rain.Squad
Salma Khatun (capt), Rumana Ahmed, Jahanara Alam, Shamima Sultana, Murshida Khatun, Ayasha Rahman, Nigar Sultana, Sanjida Islam, Khadija Tul Kubra, Panna Ghosh, Fargana Hoque, Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary (Coach: Anju Jain)Group fixtures
February 24: v India, Perth
February 27: v Australia, Canberra
February 29: v New Zealand, Melbourne
March 2: v Sri Lanka, Melbourne
T20 World Cup historyBangladesh haven’t won any group stage matches since the 2014 Women’s World T20, when they beat Sri Lanka by three runs. After that, they won the ninth-place play-off against Ireland. They lost all games in the 2016 and 2018 tournaments.Form guideBangladesh haven’t played a T20I this year, but won a women’s quadrangular tournament in India last month. There is very little form to talk about, as they have only played against Pakistan among major teams since the last World T20 event. On that tour, they lost all five games, including two ODIs.Key playersAll the responsibilities ultimately will fall on captain Salma Khatun and seamer Jahanara Alam. The return https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28596598/rumana-ahmed-panna-ghosh-back-t20-world-cup of Rumana Ahmed will help the side, while Nigar Sultana has been the side’s most consistent batsman in the past two years, having made 309 runs at 44.14, with one century.What would be a success at the tournament?If they can be competitive against the likes of Australia, India and New Zealand, and at least beat Sri Lanka, the campaign should be a success. Given the team’s lack of recent experience against big teams, these appear to be the most realistic goals.

Everton could be on the end of a third points deduction after more financial breaches were reportedly discovered.

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Premier League potentially found financial breachesEverton could be on the end of a point deductionToffees already punished on two occasions last yearWHAT HAPPENED?

The Premier League could hand Everton a worrying start to the season after uncovering more financial issues surrounding Sean Dyche's team. According to , there was additional overspending linked to the points deduction they were hit with in April that could get Everton in hot water.

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Everton were docked two points by an independent commission for overspending in the 2022-23 season. They had already been hit with a 10-point deduction for breaches in the 2021-22 campaign, but it was reduced it to six on appeal, which helped them avoid relegation to the Championship. The independent regulator has found more issues with the Toffees' finances after another £6.5 million ($8m) payment had been discovered and left them in a sticky situation.

DID YOU KNOW

Everton are the only team to have been deducted points on two occasions and were the third team in history to get one with Portsmouth and Middlesborough being the other two. Since then Nottingham Forest have also received a points deduction.

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR EVERTON?

The Merseyside team haven't had a third points deduction announced, but will be anxiously waiting on the result. There could be positive news to come still, as there are rumours of a new owner coming through, although no concrete offer has been made.

Manchester United could make a move for an "extraordinary" £148,000-a-week player this summer, snapping him up on a free transfer.

Man Utd transfer news

Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks set to a busy man since becoming part owner of the Red Devils earlier in the year, with so much business to attend to both on and off the pitch.

For starters, he has to decide if Erik ten Hag is the right manager to continue with beyond the summer, and if not, find a perfect successor to him, with Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou reportedly an option. Meanwhile, United are pushing hard to make Dan Ashworth their new sporting director, with the Englishman currently on gardening leave at Newcastle United.

Then there are transfers, of which there have been plenty of United-related rumours of late, as they look to narrow the gap between themselves and those at the top of the Premier League bottom table, such as Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Juventus defender Gleison Bremer is a wanted man among English clubs and the Red Devils are believed to be one of those right in the mix to snap him up, while Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has also emerged as a possible target.

Another Juve player, Weston McKennie has also been linked with a summer switch to United, even though he failed to shine in the Premier League on loan at Leeds United last season.

Man Utd chasing "extraordinary" ace

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United could look to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot on a free transfer this summer, at which point his current deal will have expired.

The report states that the £148,000-a-week Frenchman is "being considered as a low-cost option as he nears the end of his contract", and an alternative to highly-rated Benfica youngster Joao Neves.

Rabiot has been a long-time target for United, being backed to move to Old Trafford numerous times in the past, so it is easy to envisage him joining the Ratcliffe revolution this summer.

Admittedly, he does turn 29 years of age next month, meaning he isn't necessarily a long-term solution in the middle of the park, but he would still represent a younger and more vibrant option than the likes of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. Former France international David Trezeguet has heaped praise on him in the past, too, saying of him:

"We are talking about a problem for Juventus because in Italy he may have been targeted for criticism, but in France it’s completely different. He is world class, an extraordinary player. Now he will evaluate his options and will go back to being the important player he always was."

Man Utd increase efforts to sign "complete package" this summer

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not messing around.

By
Henry Jackson

Mar 24, 2024

This season, Rabiot has scored four goals and registered three assists in Serie A, chipping in with end product from the midfield, but he has also averaged 1.8 tackles per game, showing that he is effective in his off-the-ball duties. He is now seemingly a player at his peak, and considering he would be available on a free, United should see him as a good option.

A 3-4-3 coach "would love to be Sunderland manager", having admitted that he has previously spoken to Tony Mowbray about the current situation at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland manager latest

The Black Cats have had Mike Dodds in as caretaker manager since the dismissal of Michael Beale earlier in the year, with their season petering out disappointingly. Having looked like genuine Championship playoff contenders at one point, Sunderland have slipped to 13th place in the table, with Dodds averaging just 0.82 points per game in his 11 matches in charge since coming in, winning only twice in that time.

The hunt is now on to find a proper successor to Beale, however, and plenty of names have been thrown into the mix in recent months, as the club look to nail a hugely important decision.

Reims manager Will Still has been linked with the Sunderland job numerous times, with the 31-year-old an exciting young boss who has shone in France, but it remains to be seen if he will be the man who comes in. Former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has also emerged as an option for the Black Cats, in what would represent an audacious appointment, considering he has only recently been managing in the Premier League.

Now, it appears as though another individual has thrown his name into the hat to take over from Dodds.

3-4-3 manager keen on Sunderland job

Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast [via The Sunderland Echo], John O'Shea admitted that he is keen on being Sunderland's next manager at some point, having enjoyed a lengthy stint at the Stadium of Light as a player:

"When you think I was there for six, seven years. I had an amazing time there and it's an amazing club, it really is. We had an amazing time there and yeah, ultimately I would love to be Sunderland manager. It's a tricky one, I spoke to Tony Mowbray when he came into Birmingham about the model they have there with young players."

In truth, O'Shea remains a very inexperienced figure in management, even though he is the Republic of Ireland's current caretaker boss. For that reason, Sunderland hiring him this summer could be a risk, at a time when they need to hire more of a surefire bet.

The Irishman prefers a 3-4-3 formation, suggesting he has a modern way of thinking, in terms of utilising the wing-backs effectively, but his only two games in his current role saw a 1-0 loss to Switzerland and 0-0 draw against Belgium come his way. Neither are particularly bad results, in fairness, but there simply isn't enough evidence to suggest that Sunderland should take a punt on him.

Sunderland now eyeing move to sign former Arsenal gem

He has no weak foot.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 18, 2024

O'Shea has enjoyed plenty of assistant manager roles, including at Birmingham City and Stoke City, but until he is a manager for a sustained period of time, the Black Cats shouldn't consider him a front-runner to come in.

Celtic may be hoping that they will be able to keep hold of some of their top performers at the end of the season, rather than having to cash in on their best players.

Jota and Carl Starfelt were both sold, to Al Ittihad and Celta Vigo respectively, ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, whilst manager Ange Postecoglou was snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur.

Speculation is already circulating on the future of current Hoops star Matt O'Riley, as Leeds United – who are competing for promotion to the Premier League – are reportedly weighing up a summer swoop for the Denmark international.

Celtic have struck gold with many players in the past, signing them for modest fees before going on to rake in a massive profit, including current Liverpool and Netherlands colossus Virgil van Dijk.

If just adjust for the inflation of transfer fees in football, the Hoops once sold a defensive midfielder who was worth, relative to the time, more than current star Reo Hatate is worth in the form of Victor Wanyama.

Reo Hatate's market value

According to former Scotland international Barry Ferguson, back in September 2023, the Japan international would easily play in the Premier League and that potential suitors would need to splash out £15m to secure his services.

The ex-Rangers academy graduate based that valuation on Hatate's ability as both an athlete and a technician, as he went on to say that the Celtic dynamo is a 'modern-day' midfielder who has been a "brilliant" find for the Hoops.

Meanwhile, Transfermarkt currently his value at an estimated €10m (£8.5m). It was at €11m (£9.4m) in December 2023 but his recent absence through injury has caused a decline.

Hatate has missed a staggering 37 matches through injury for club and country this season, with calf and hamstring issues, but his form when he has been on the pitch for the Scottish giants over the last 18 months has been superb.

Appearances

32

Sofascore rating

7.32

Goals

6

Assists

8

Big chances created

10

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old magician offered quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from the middle of the park in the Scottish Premiership last season.

Hatate, who held his own in physical duels with a 57% success rate in battles, scored more goals than any other central midfielder within the squad, whilst only Aaron Mooy (ten) and O'Riley (12) provided more assists from those positions.

This season, the Japan international has plundered two goals and two assists in just four league starts, with eight appearances in the division in total, as injuries have disrupted his campaign.

Celtic and Brendan Rodgers should now be hoping that Hatate returns to full fitness sooner rather than later, as his statistics prove that he can be a huge threat at the top end of the pitch for the Hoops when fit and available to start.

The Scottish giants did, however, once sell a more valuable asset in his position when they cashed in on Wanyama, who they hit the jackpot with.

How much Celtic paid for Victor Wanyama

Celtic swooped to sign the Kenya international from Belgian outfit Beerschot AC for a reported fee of £900k ahead of the 2011/12 campaign.

He hit the ground running at the base of Neil Lennon's midfield with 42 appearances in all competitions during his debut season in Scottish football, which shows that the 20-year-old starlet did not need much time to adapt to life in Glasgow.

Wanyama, who also played seven matches as a centre-back that term, chipped in with four goals and five assists for the Hoops, as they won the Premiership title.

The young enforcer followed that up with a return of nine goals and four assists in 49 appearances in all competitions during the 2012/13 campaign.

He racked up six goals and three assists in 32 matches in the Premiership, despite playing as either a defensive midfielder or a centre-back, to help the team to another league title success.

Wanyama won two Premiership titles and a Scottish Cup trophy in two years at Celtic, before Premier League side Southampton came calling in the summer of 2013.

How much Southampton paid for Victor Wanyama in 2024 money

Per Totally Money, the Saints splashed out a fee of £13m to sign the Kenyan colossus from the Scottish giants ahead of the 2013/14 campaign.

If you adjust for the inflation of transfer fees in football over the subsequent years, per Totally Money's index, that deal would be worth a staggering £23.9m in the current day, which is significantly more than the £15m that Ferguson believes Hatate is currently worth.

This shows that Celtic hit the jackpot when they signed Wanyama for £900k in 2011, as they went on to make a huge profit on the midfielder, who would be worth even more than one of their current midfield stars.

The defensive midfielder, who now plays for CF Montreal in the MLS, went on to play 97 times for Southampton across three seasons on the south coast in England, and averaged between 2.8 and 3.1 tackles per game in his three Premier League campaigns with the club.

His form for the Saints over those three years convinced Tottenham Hotspur to swoop in for him in the summer of 2016. Per Totally Money, Spurs paid £12.9m to secure his services, which would be worth £17.7m in the present day.

This suggests that Celtic extracted maximum value out of their sale of Wanyama, as Southampton ultimately sold him for less than they paid to sign the towering ace.

2016/17

36

2.5

1.1

2017/18

18

1.7

0.6

2018/19

13

1.0

0.5

2019/20

2

0.0

0.0

As you can see in the table above, the former Celtic star's initially impressive defensive work declined, alongside his appearances, over the course of his career in London.

The Kenya international scored seven goals across 97 appearances for Tottenham in those four years, before his free transfer to Montreal, where he still plays, in the summer of 2020.

Overall, Celtic should look back on Wanyama as a big success as they hit the jackpot with the colossal midfielder, who they made a huge profit on.

The ECB are preparing themselves for the possibility that portions of the English domestic season could be played behind closed doors, postponed or cancelled outright, as the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to sweep the game.In the wake of this morning’s postponement of the Test tour of Sri Lanka, and in light of the UK government’s estimate that the peak of the virus is still 10-14 weeks away, the ECB is now making contingency plans with its financial, logistical and scheduling implications to the fore.England are scheduled to play three Tests against West Indies, with the series starting at The Oval on June 4. That date is currently 12 weeks away, in the middle of the expected peak period. The T20 Blast is scheduled to start on May 28, with the group stage running until July 12.The greatest concern for the ECB, however, would be any disruption to their new flagship tournament, the Hundred, which is set to run from July 22 to August 14, and marks the much-anticipated return of English cricket to domestic television, with the BBC having secured rights to a portion of the tournament.”We are undertaking a number of steps to prepare for potential outcomes that an ongoing situation with COVID-19 might bring for the cricket community here in England and Wales,” said Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive.”In conjunction with our partners across the network, we are building contingency plans across a number of possible eventualities. Our main priorities are to ensure we scope out the landscape for financial, logistical and scheduling implications.”A raft of UK sporting events have fallen victim to the virus in the past 24 hours, including the suspension of all domestic football leagues in England and Scotland, as well as Scotland v Wales in the latest round of Six Nations rugby fixtures.And while Prime Minister Boris Johnson stopped short of issuing an outright ban on sporting events at a press conference on Thursday, he admitted that such a move is under consideration, which could wreak havoc with the English cricketing summer.ALSO READ: Counties’ pre-season plans in the spotlightThe cancellation of the West Indies Test series would be a significant financial blow for the ECB, who are also scheduled to play three Tests against Pakistan and limited-overs series against Australia and Ireland.The T20 Blast, meanwhile, generates a major proportion of most counties’ income. And while it is possible that the tournament could be pushed back further in the summer – possibly at the expense of the final rounds of County Championship fixtures – there is precious little room in the schedule for change.More immediately, the County Championship is scheduled to start on April 12. While crowds are typically relatively low, they regularly exceed 2000 at certain grounds, and the main demographic of match-going fans is elderly, increasing their vulnerability to the virus.It is possible that games – almost all of which are streamed for free online – could be played behind closed doors, and the ECB is in close contact with government to discuss its options.”It is difficult for us to be sure of what outcomes the game might be expected to deal with,” Harrison added. “Therefore, we will continue to plan for the expectation that the season proceeds as normal, but in parallel prepare for a range of scenarios. These could include the possibility of playing matches behind closed doors, or potentially postponing or cancelling elements of the season.”We continue to enjoy constructive dialogue with DCMS [Department of Culture, Media and Sport], and also our commercial and broadcast partners – who match our ambitions to see the game of cricket thrive in 2020 and beyond. We are certain that jointly, we will all come to solutions that best protect those who love cricket, and the game itself.”

Lamine Yamal scored his first goal of the season with a great strike from outside the box against Athletic Club.

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Yamal scored opening goalTook aim from range and found the netBarcelona's next great hope impressiveWHAT HAPPENED?

Yamal took aim from the edge of the box for Barcelona against the Bilbao side and found the net, with the aid of a fortunate deflection. He lined it up from around 20 yards and his curling effort skimmed off Yeray's head and beyond goalkeeper Alex Padilla.

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Yamal laid on an assist in Barcelona's opening game of the season, a 2-1 win over Valencia, and is now back among the goals. Last season, he scored seven goals and laid on seven assists in 50 games, and will hope to improve on that record this term.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Barcelona's next fixture comes against Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday. Yamal is likely to be involved once again.

Tournament playing conditions won’t be changed leaving Australia and England hoping the weather clears on Thursday

Andrew McGlashan04-Mar-2020

The covers were on ahead of the T20 World Cup semi-finals•Getty Images

Cricket Australia sought clarification from ICC about whether it was possible to have a reserve day for the T20 World Cup semi-final with the weather threatening to ruin the day, which would send Australia and England out, but were told it was not possible to alter the tournament playing conditions.Kevin Roberts, the CA CEO, revealed the question had been asked but understood why any changes were not possible but added that is an area of the tournament that could be reconsidered in the future.A minimum of 10 overs per side is needed to make each semi-final a match – up from the usual five-over minimum for T20s – meaning that the weather will need to allow 40 overs for the two games to be completed. If either or both semis are abandoned, the teams that topped the group – India and South Africa – would progress to the final. Australia will play the second game of the day against South Africa and there is a suggestion that the weather may have improved a little by then, following the India-England semi in the afternoon.ALSO READ: Explainer: What happens if the semi-finals are washed out?”We’ve asked the question and it’s not part of the playing conditions,” Roberts told SEN Radio. “I respect that because we’ve said the same thing in tournaments that we run in Australia.”It gives you cause to reflect on how you might improve things in the future absolutely, but going into a tournament with a given set of playing conditions and rules I don’t think it’s time to tinker with that as much as with an Australian hat on I might love that.”Earlier this season it was thought there was virtually no chance of staging the Big Bash final at the SCG amid a horrendous forecast, but the weather cleared for long enough to play a 12-over match”We’re optimistic based on the drainage of the SCG, combined with a weather forecast that’s not perfect but not terrible either,” Roberts said. “We’re really hopeful and planning for different scenarios tomorrow night. It reminds me of the lead up to the BBL final a few weeks ago and by way of some miracle we got a 12-over match in. So I think with the drainage of the SCG there’s every chance Australia and South Africa will be playing that semi-final tomorrow night.”It’d be disappointing for any team for that matter, you want the game to be won and lost inside the ropes rather than won or lost based on the weather don’t you.”England captain Heather Knight believes that the ICC will be under pressure to add reserve days for future events – there isn’t one for the men’s T20 World Cup either, although there were for the 50-over semi-finals last year which was needed for the India-New Zealand match at Old Trafford – but conceded that the position they are in was largely of their own making after the loss to South Africa at the start of the competition.”It’s the same for the men’s T20, we did check that this morning, it is strange,” she said. “It will be a shame if it does happen and I’m sure they’ll be a lot of pressure to change that.”It’s frustrating…it would be nice if we could play in Melbourne. It is what it is, there’s nothing we can do about it. The reserve day would be useful in this situation and it’s a shame for the tournament in general because it’s been great and if both semi-finals are lost it will be a sad time for the tournament. We’d be gutted if that did happen but guess it’s our own fault for losing that game against South Africa. We didn’t top our group and only have ourselves to blame.”Australia captain Meg Lanning kept a matter-of-attitude to something which is out of their control despite the fact it could be the weather that prevents them from reaching a home World Cup final.”That’s not the way you want to finish a tournament if that was the way it was to go,” she said. “But they said it was going to rain all day today and it’s sunny out there. Forecasts change all the time. The fact they got a Big Bash game on the other day when it was supposed to rain all day gives us a lot of confidence.”There’s no doubt been a lot of talk about that but that’s not within our control, we need to focus on what we are doing and prepare to play a full game and prepare for a shorter game as well. We need to be ready for whatever is thrown at us, we are not putting a hell of a lot of thought into because we can’t have a lot of control over it.”The captains of the two sides who would progress with washouts – Harmanpreet Kaur and Dane van Niekerk – were firm in their views that there should be reserve days.”Yes, it works in our favour, 100%, but if I was on the other end I’d probably be really upset,” van Niekerk said. “Everybody works really hard to get here, so to lose out with weather is not ideal. It shouldn’t be like that, so I think for semi-finals and finals there should be reserve days.”Kaur said: “As a team I think there should be [a reserve day] because every team is here to play cricket and if we get a reserve day that will be a great idea.”An ICC spokesperson said: “The ICC T20 World Cups are short sharp events where reserve days are factored in for the final. Allowing for any other reserve days would have extended the length of the event, which isn’t feasible. There is a clear and fair alternative should there be no play In any of the semi-finals with the winner of the group progressing.”

Glasgow Rangers maintained their pursuit of their rivals in the Scottish Premiership title race with a hard-fought 2-1 win over St Mirren on Sunday.

The Light Blues are three points adrift of first place with four matches left to play before the end of the 2023/24 league campaign, including a trip to Parkhead.

Philippe Clement's side still have a chance to secure the domestic treble, having already won the League Cup, as they battle it out for the Premiership and have an SFA Cup final meeting with Celtic on the 25th of May.

This means that the bulk of the focus should be on matters on the pitch as there is plenty left to play for over the next three to four weeks of action.

However, planning is already underway for the summer transfer window as Head of Recruitment Nils Koppen looks to improve the Gers squad over the coming months, with one new target emerging this week.

Rangers interest in exciting young forward

According to Football Insider, Rangers are one of the teams interested in a summer deal to sign Macarthur FC attacker Raphael Rodrigues ahead of next season.

The report claims that the Light Blues and English Championship side Coventry City are both preparing moves to land the 20-year-old starlet, as Koppen attempts to bolster the team's wide options.

It states that Mark Robins' side have been watching the Dutch whiz for 'some time', whilst the Scottish giants have been keeping close tabs on his progress and are now lining up a swoop for his services.

Interestingly, English League Two outfit Swindon Town are said to be readying an 'ambitious' approach for the young gem, as their owner Clem Morfuni is hoping to use his Australian connections to facilitate a deal for Rodrigues.

Football Insider journalist Pete O'Rourke described the 5 foot 8 dynamo as a "sensation", whilst the report hails the Gers target as an 'eye-catching' forward with quick feet and skills in his arsenal.

The outlet does not, however, reveal how much Macarthur FC are set to demand for their young wizard in the upcoming summer transfer window, which means that it remains to be seen how much Rangers would have to splash out to win the race for his signature in the coming weeks.

If Koppen and his team can secure a deal for Rodrigues, though, then they could land Clement a dream upgrade on Ross McCausland on the right flank.

Ross McCausland's emergence at Rangers

The Northern Ireland international has established himself as a regular in the first-team squad, albeit not as a regular starter, under the Belgian boss this season.

Rangers hosted their annual end-of-season awards on Sunday night and the 20-year-old winger was crowned the club's Young Player of the Year for his efforts this term.

On top of that, he is one of four nominees – alongside Motherwell's Lennon Miller, Kilmarnock's David Watson, and Dundee's Lyall Cameron – to land the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award.

He has racked up 33 appearances in all competitions for the first-team during the 2023/24 campaign, including 24 in the Premiership and five in the Europa League.

13 of his 25 outings in the Scottish top-flight have come as a starter on the flank, but he has struggled to provide consistent quality in the final third.

Appearances

25

Starts

13

Goals

1

Assists

2

Dribble success rate

42%

Duel success rate

42%

As you can see in the table above, the Northern Irish whiz has averaged a goal or an assist every 8.3 matches, whilst coming out second-best in the majority of his duels.

The right-footed attacker, who turns 21 in May, has produced two goals and four assists in 35 first-team games in all competitions for the Gers throughout his career to date, having made two appearances before this season, and that is an average of one contribution every 5.8 clashes.

These statistics show that, whilst he has had a promising first full year with the senior squad, McCausland has a long way to go before he can be considered a star for Rangers.

The youngster may not even get a chance to improve on his numbers if Koppen signs Rodrigues, as the winger plays in the same position and has posted more impressive numbers at first-team level in Australia.

Raphael Rodrigues' form in Australia

The 20-year-old attacker, who turns 21 in September, is four months younger than McCausland but has already racked up 49 first-team appearances in his career to date.

Born in the Netherlands, Rodrigues moved to Australia and made his senior debut for Melbourne City, with whom he produced two goals and one assist in 15 matches as a teenager.

The exciting whiz, who can play as an attacking midfielder and out on the right flank, then joined Macarthur FC on a free transfer last summer, and has enjoyed an impressive campaign with the club so far.

He has fired in six goals and assisted two in 32 matches for the club in all competitions, which is a return of one goal or assist every four games on average.

Appearances

25

25

Goals

4

1

Assists

2

2

Big chances created

4

2

Dribbles completed per game

1.6

0.8

Ground duel success rate

50%

46%

As you can see in the table above, Rodrigues has had the better season with his ability to score and create goals, whilst also driving past opposition players with the ball.

In the same number of games, the Gers target has scored four times as many goals as McCausland and created twice as many 'big chances' for his teammates, along with twice as many completed dribbles per game – illustrating his superiority in the final third.

Rangers could repeat their Cantwell masterclass by sealing £0 transfer

Rangers have their eyes on a current Championship player who has shone this season

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 29, 2024

Given they are both right-footed, 20-year-old, right wingers, these statistics suggest that Koppen would be signing a dream upgrade on the current Light Blues youngster by winning the race for the Dutch gem's signature this summer.

It could, then, be an interesting battle between the two players to land a spot in the team on the right side of Clement's attack, as they compete to prove to the manager that they have the potential to develop into a first-team regular for many more years to come.

A major European newspaper claims that a "special" manager is being talked up as Manchester United's potential next boss after Erik ten Hag.

Erik ten Hag under pressure at Man Utd

United's current boss finds himself under enormous pressure to keep his job beyond the summer, with his side continuing to struggle this season. They are now languishing in sixth place and 12 points adrift of Aston Villa in fourth, with Champions League qualification looking close to impossible.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made it clear that he is going to be ruthless since becoming part owner of the Red Devils, and it looks as though he is already considering potential candidates to replace Ten Hag if things don't drastically improve.

Impressive Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been linked with coming in, guiding his current team to within touching distance of promotion from the Championship to the Premier League this season. The 37-year-old is not only a big talent, but he also has ties with United, managing the Under-18s and also being assistant manager for a period in the past.

Former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter is also seen as an option to take over at Old Trafford soon, with journalist Ben Jacobs saying: "One is Graham Potter, who couldn't handle the Chelsea dressing room for various reasons, perhaps some not in his control, but is still highly thought of after his time at Brighton. INEOS liked Potter with a view to Nice long before the investment was completed at Manchester United, and that's why he's been linked."

It remains to be seen what decision will be made with Ten Hag – Ratcliffe could yet decide that he is the right man for the job if the rest of the season goes well – but another name has now been thrown into the mix.

Man Utd links to "special" manager heating up

According to a front page report from Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Manchester United see Bologna manager Thiago Motta as an option to replace the Dutchman in the near future, and the links are gathering pace in Italy.

It does look as though there is more hype than anything surrounding the update however, with the report admitting that no concrete interest from the Red Devils has emerged and it could just be a case of using a huge club's name to drum up interest elsewhere.

Should Motta become a genuine managerial option for United this summer, or even before then, he would be an exciting candidate, considering what an excellent job he has done at Bologna to date.

Bologna

68

1.72

Spezia Calcio

40

0.98

Genoa

10

0.90

The 41-year-old has been hailed as a "special" manager by journalist James Horncastle, and his team sit fourth in Serie A, as they close in on a place in next season's Champions League. A recent report has claimed that internal talks have happened within United, no doubt involving Ratcliffe, and he is one of Europe's most exciting young bosses currently.

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Motta prefers to play a possession-based 4-2-3-1 formation, with a report on his tactics from the Coaches' Voice adding the system "delivers more fluidity, despite still working to an overall structure", and he would represent a vibrant choice to come in and be an upgrade on Ten Hag.