Tag Futebol

While Liverpool’s deal for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak is going to dominate much of the transfer deadline day chatter, Tottenham Hotspur are knuckling down and preparing to pull off a few statement deals of their own.

Having won the race for attacking midfielder Xavi Simons earlier this week, Thomas Frank’s Tottenham are shaping up nicely, though a home defeat against Bournemouth after back-to-back wins to kick off the Premier League campaign have issued a reminder that there is much work to be done over the months and years ahead.

A lack of bite in that north London clash proved the crux of the club’s issues, and maybe it wouldn’t hurt for Daniel Levy to oversee an Isak-esque deal down N17 today.

Well, Spurs might just have such a move in the pipeline.

Spurs in talks to sign new striker

Let’s be frank, Tottenham’s new manager has his work cut out, though the early readings are promising to say the least.

But Dominic Solanke and Richarlison are the leading options at the front of the ship, and another star could work wonders in completing a frontline bearing such potential.

Well, according to Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham have opened talks with Paris Saint-Germain as they consider a bid for Randal Kolo Muani, who had looked set to join Juventus after a successful loan stint last year, but for the package to unravel at the negotiating table.

Anticipated to cost in excess of £50m, Kolo Muani has also attracted interest from Manchester United this month, but Spurs need a striker and offer the allure of Champions League football.

Keep a close eye on this one.

What Kolo Muani would bring to Spurs

Kolo Muani left Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany two years ago, signing for PSG in a £76m deal. So ended his prolific time in the Bundesliga, and kicked off a frustrating spell back in his homeland, having bagged only 11 goals across 54 matches.

Still, described as a “superstar” by German legend Lothar Matthaus, Kolo Muani has a deadly sense for goals and the athletic and mobile presence in and around the box to make a real difference to Tottenham’s attacking line, perhaps even proving the Londoners’ own version of Isak.

At Juventus, Kolo Muani proved that class is permanent, scoring ten goals and providing three assists across only 22 matches for the Turin-based outfit.

He also averaged 1.1 key passes per game, according to Sofascore, underscoring his dynamism and will to link up with teammates and deepen the lines of communication on the pitch.

This is something that Isak does (or, rather, did) with such aplomb across his years at St. James’ Park, keeping it crisp when on the ball but knowing exactly when to pick out a teammate or shuffle forward himself and strike on goal.

Kolo Muani might not have any Premier League experience under his belt, but he’s a seasoned forward both domestically and on the international stage, and has proven his worth when entrusted with a starring role.

Kolo Muani vs Isak (past 365 days)

Stats (per 90)

Kolo Muani

Isak

Goals scored

0.48

0.78

Assists

0.11

0.17

Shots taken

2.45

3.21

Touches (att pen)

6.28

6.31

Shot-creating actions

2.34

3.04

Pass completion

70.2%

75.3%

Progressive passes

1.49

2.94

Progressive carries

1.54

2.80

Successful take-ons

1.54

1.42

Ball recoveries

2.24

1.79

Tackles + interceptions

1.28

0.44

Data via FBref

Whether Tottenham manage to get this one over the line remains to be seen, but there’s no question that it would be a fantastic move for a side in transition, already showing that they have what it takes to hit some lofty heights with Frank at the helm.

Related More exciting than Simons: Spurs chasing "one of the best LWs in the world"

Spurs could seal a more exciting signing than Simons on transfer deadline day.

Posts 5 ByMatt Dawson Aug 31, 2025

Celtic simply require more signings before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

Earlier this week, the club confirmed the arrival of teenage centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, joining on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

He becomes Brendan Rodgers’ seventh summer recruit, but his squad is still lacking attacking quality, following the sale of Nicolas Kühn to Como.

Benjamin Nygren has arrived from Nordsjælland, making his debut from the start last Sunday against St Mirren, while new striker Shin Yamada, who’s come in from Kawasaki Frontale, was an unused substitute on flag day, hoping to see some action against Aberdeen at Pittodrie this forthcoming weekend.

Nevertheless, in need of top-end talent, could Celtic return to a familiar source?

Celtic's English Football League signings

Celtic’s scouting department scour far and wide for new signings, but one of their favourite pools of talent remains the English Football League, as the table below documents.

Selected Celtic’s EFL signings (2010-present)
Players	Signed for fee	Appearances	Sold for fee
Adam Idah	£8.5m	73	Current player
Auston Trusty	£6m	38	Current player
Matt O’Riley	£1.5m	124	£25m
Scott Sinclair	£3.5m	167	Free
Moussa Dembélé	£500,000	94	£19.7m
Leigh Griffiths	£1m	262	Free
Joe Ledley	Free	157	£800,000
Gary Hooper	£2.4m	138	£5m
Kris Commons	£300,000	227	Retired
All statistics and information courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table documents, Celtic have unearthed plenty of gems from within the EFL during the last decade and a half, but none have proved to be more profitable than Matt O’Riley.

The Danish international was signed by Ange Postecoglou from Milton Keynes in January 2022 for just £1.5m, and would go on to make 124 appearances in hoops, scoring 27 goals and registering 35 assists.

His tally of 19 goals during his final season in Glasgow saw O’Riley named Celtic’s Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, earning a £25m move to Brighton soon after, equaling the Celts’ club-record sale.

So now, could Celtic complete a similar move, one which possibly has as much upside?

Celtic's search for new forwards

According to journalist Ron Walker, Wycombe Wanderers have lowered their asking price for forward Richard Kone to £3m plus add-ons, with the 22-year-old into the final year of his contract; he did not feature in the Chairboys’ EFL League One opener against Bradford City on Saturday.

Earlier in the window, it was reported that Celtic were interested in signing the striker, but were put off by the £7m asking price; has that situation now changed?

Back in January, Wycombe rejected a £6m bid from Luton Town for their star forward, but are now desperate to cash in to avoid him departing on a Bosman in a year’s time.

Transfer Focus

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

Fair to say, Kone has taken an unusual route into professional football.

He arrived in the UK in 2019 to represent Côte d’Ivoire at the Homeless World Cup, staying in the country and joining Athletic Newham in the Essex Senior League, part of England’s ninth-tier, playing for them for five years.

His big breakthrough came in January 2024, offered a trial at Wycombe, impressing so much that he then signed a full-time contract, which has certainly proved to be a worthwhile decision.

Speaking on CBS’ Morning Footy, Wycombe legend Adebayo Akinfenwa asserted that “if Hollywood was going to have a script for a story, this would be it”.

That’s because, last season, Kone scored 25 goals in all competitions for the Blues, his first full campaign as a professional, thereby awarded both EFL League One player of the season and young player of the season.

Writer Kai Watson labels him a “mentality monster”, praising his ‘exemplary’ dribbling and link-up play, as well as his positioning in the penalty area and out of possession ‘work rate’.

So, let’s outline his statistics from last season.

Richard Kone 2024/25 EFL League One statistics
Statistics	Kone	League One rank
Goals	18	3rd
Shots	100	5th
Shots on target	40	5th
Shots per 90	3.28	3rd
Successful dribbles	44	16th
Big chances missed	16	6th
Statistics courtesy of FBref.com and SofaScore

As the table documents, Kone ranked highly for all attacking metrics included, very much a high-volume shooter, performing in, according to Global Football Rankings, the 53rd strongest league in the world, which is just ten spots below the Scottish Premiership.

Scouted Magazine asserted that, ‘in a couple of years’ time, Kone will be worth £25m, forecasting a similar astronomical rise in valuation that O’Riley enjoyed, so the Ivorian could prove to be the latest in a long line of transfer market bargains Celtic snap up.

Celtic could repeat Hooper masterclass by signing "extraordinary" £7m star

Celtic could find their next Gary Hooper with a swoop to sign this target from the lower league in England.

1

By
Dan Emery

Aug 6, 2025

Chelsea were dealt a nightmare earlier this week after the news of Levi Colwill’s serious ACL injury, with Enzo Maresca heading into the new season minus one of his star defenders.

The Englishman, in a serious incident of bad luck, suffered his fresh injury blow at the end of his first training session back at Cobham.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Colwill will now be out for the majority of next season after undergoing scans and surgery on the problem, making the potential addition of a new centre-back suddenly all the more important.

Chelsea recently put pen to paper on a deal for Jorrel Hato, who joined in a near-£38 million move from Ajax, but the club view him as more of a left-back and an alternative to Marc Cucurella.

The Blues were apparently still looking at new centre-backs even before Colwill’s injury, so it is safe to say they’ll be at least considering moving for one now as we approach the final weeks of the window.

“Chelsea are still going to be in the market for a new centre back and a new goalkeeper, even after Jorrel Hato coming in, who as we reported is seen as Marc Cucurella competition anyway,” wrote journalist Simon Phillips via his Substack late last month.

There is no guarantee that both positions are signed at this stage or even just one, and it will be dependent on outgoings for centre backs, which I have another article on later today, and opportunities. But Chelsea are still very much exploring both markets for this summer.”

However, those within the club believe Chelsea already have a solid Colwill replacement.

Chelsea coaching staff want Renato Veiga to replace Levi Colwill

According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, that man is 22-year-old centre-back Renato Veiga.

The Portugal international has been widely expected to leave this summer after spending the second half of 2024/2025 on loan at Juventus, with Chelsea even offering Veiga out to various clubs.

However, it is now believed that members of Chelsea’s coaching staff believe that Veiga should be given the chance to replace Colwill and show his worth.

“Chelsea are gutted about Colwill, he is such a popular player and is a key performer for them, and they are fully supporting him,” said Bailey.

“However, they are assessing their options, and I am told there are some voices at Cobham who believe that with Veiga, Anselmino and Hato, they could very well cope without him in the short-term.”

Maresca sent a public message to the 22-year-old last season, amid credible reports at the time that Veiga wanted to be used as a centre-back, not at full-back where the Chelsea boss was often deploying him.

“We brought Renato from Basel and he’s played well in different positions,” said Maresca, via Ben Jacobs.

“This has allowed him to join the [Portugal] national team for the first time in his life. Even if he’s not playing in his [preferred position], he’s playing for his national team in his early 20s since joining Chelsea. We are very proud about that.”

With Colwill out injured, it appears Veiga could well be granted his wish to be used more centrally if push comes to shove.

Despite admitting Liverpool are favourites, Kylian Mbappe believes Arsenal will go one step further this season and claim the Premier League title.

• Mbappe selects Arsenal as league winners
• Admits Liverpool are favourites
• Striker adds that Arsenal have maintained strong core

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners have recorded three second-placed finishes in a row, losing out to Manchester City twice and Liverpool, and will be determined to get over the line this season. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will take heart from Mbappe's endorsement, but, having spent just north of £250 million ($338m) on incomings this summer, knows he must produce a stronger fight for the title than last campaign. Arsenal's title push was dented by a wonder strike by Dominik Szoboszlai against Liverpool last weekend, yet Mbappe still feels they are best equipped to become champions for the first time in 22 years.

Advertisement

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT MBAPPE SAID

  Asked by who would win the Premier League, Mbappe said: "Of course, Liverpool has to be mentioned first and foremost, as they're determined to win one title after another. But I also have high hopes for Arsenal, because the core of the team has known each other for a long time, and that's a crucial factor in football. And Manchester City is always at the forefront anyway, with Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland.

  "Maybe Arsenal, maybe it will be their year. It would certainly be easier to say City or Liverpool."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbappe was on the losing end of both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal in April and saw the threat of the Gunners up close. The Frenchman was shackled by William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior across the 180 minutes, unable to produce his usual magic. Arteta's side blitzed Los Blancos 3-0 at the Emirates before leaving the Bernabeu with a relatively straight-forward 2-1 victory – winning 5-1 on aggregate. The Gunners would go on to lose to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final, but Arteta has maintained, and strengthened, the same core of players that oversaw their victory over Mbappe's side and the French striker sees them ending their major trophy hoodoo this season.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  The Gunners return to Premier League action next weekend and will be desperate to bounce back from their disappointment at Anfield with a statement victory over Nottingham Forest. Arsenal then travel to Athletic Club to kick off their Champions League campaign the next Tuesday.

ECB eager to end club-versus-country dilemmas with new FTP in the pipeline

Valkerie Baynes03-Sep-2024

Many of England’s leading players will be involved in the WBBL in October and November•Getty Images

England players will miss the latter stages of the WBBL, due to a clash with their tour of South Africa.To avoid a repetition of the situation which occurred earlier this year, when the end of the WPL overlapped with England Women’s arrival in New Zealand for a bilateral series, causing players to have to choose between club and country, the ECB has told players that they are expected in South Africa, if selected, on certain dates regardless of any overlap with WBBL games.The ECB informed players and their agents of the requirements before they entered the WBBL draft, which was held last weekend.”If a player is selected in the T20 squad, we’re expecting them into South Africa on November 17 and if they’re named in the ODI squad we’re expecting them into South Africa on the 27th,” Jonathan Finch, Director of England Women’s Cricket, told ESPNcricinfo. “That’s been reflected in everyone’s availability when they’ve gone into the draft.”This year’s WBBL starts on October 27 and there will be 11 regular-season matches remaining out of a total of 40 from November 17 before the knockout stages. England are due to play the first of three T20Is in South Africa on November 24, followed by three ODIs from December 4 and a Test starting on December 15.England had seven players signed in the WBBL draft, with Danni Wyatt-Hodge joining Hobart Hurricanes, Sophie Ecclestone retained by Sydney Sixers, and Heather Knight retained by Sydney Thunder, all at platinum level, worth up to $A110,000 (£56,000) depending on availability.Alice Capsey will join Melbourne Renegades from cross-town rivals Stars and Amy Jones returns to Perth Scorchers, both on gold $A90,000 (£46,000) deals. Hollie Armitage and Georgia Adams, who will both tour Ireland from this week while England’s senior squad prepares for next month’s T20 World Cup, joined the Sixers and Thunder respectively in the bronze price bracket for $A40,000 (£20,000).Sophie Ecclestone has been retained by Sydney Sixers for this year’s WBBL•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

The ECB took similar stance during last year’s WBBL with Bess Heath and Danielle Gibson both missing the final to join England’s squad in Mumbai for a T20I series against India starting four days later.The WPL announced their 2024 fixtures in January with the March 17 final falling two days before England’s first of five T20Is in New Zealand on March 19. New Zealand Cricket had confirmed the tour schedule, which also included three ODIs, the previous July and turned down an ECB request to move the dates.Knight, England’s captain, and seam bowler Lauren Bell opted out of their WPL deals to join the New Zealand tour from the outset, while Nat Sciver-Brunt, Wyatt-Hodge, Capsey and Ecclestone linked up with the squad for the fourth and fifth T20Is. Armitage, meanwhile, earned her only England cap to date in the third T20I before she and Linsey Smith made way for the WPL contingent.With the current Women’s Future Tours Program ending in 2025 and the next edition being worked on now, Finch is confident major clashes can be avoided in future.”What we have to get better at is having indicative dates when the tournaments are taking place,” he said. “That’s difficult because you’ve got broadcast complexities and all that kind of thing, but I think if we can get that pretty much nailed on, we shouldn’t have that problem.”I’ve got a responsibility to England and we think that’s fair – five or seven days out from a start of a tour – to come in, really focus in on what we’re trying to do from that tour and go from there.”Now where we’re looking at our FTP for after the next 50-over World Cup and I think everyone is sensitive to not wanting to have any clashes. Even if we don’t have the exact dates of the WBBL for instance, or the WPL, we have some indication of when they are so we can work out what that looks like.”Related

Bates signs with Hobart Hurricanes as overseas replacement

Kate Cross vows to lead England her way

Heather Knight: Dani Gibson's 'bravery' elevates her T20 World Cup credentials

Knight wants England to be ready for empty grounds at Women's T20 World Cup

Draft takeaways: Adelaide Strikers' Mandhana bargain; and who is Jafer Chohan?

A problem national boards have faced is that the WPL in particular offers leading players a chance to make life-changing amounts of money for the first time in their careers. Sciver-Brunt was the joint-highest-earning overseas player in the inaugural WPL player auction when she went to Mumbai Indians for £320,000.Finch conceded that denying a player the chance to earn that sort of salary, especially later in their careers, was difficult. As a result, there would be some scope for discussion with players on an individual basis, and he said bringing England Women’s international match fees into line with those of their male counterparts also went some way towards easing the tension.”You know when you sign a central contract that you’re signing a contract that says, ‘my main focus is England,’ so that’s the starting point,” he said. “It’s not an exact science, things change – workloads over a period of time – as to whether we would want to have players exposed to that depending on what the lead-up looks like, but when you sign a central contract, that’s what you’re buying into.”I think we’re still in a space where we can manipulate or cultivate times of the year where it’s not going to have a massive impact.”The ECB is also in talks with the England Women’s Player Partnership, which has a number of current players on its committee, about introducing multi-year central contracts, which Finch said would give some players a greater level of security while protecting the ECB’s resources.”You’ve got a welfare perspective for players so the thing that was sticking out for the New Zealand one was I wasn’t willing for a player to get on a plane at the end of their competition, fly in and play within 24 hours,” he said.”People might say, ‘that’s not your choice to make.’ Well, I think it is. We’ve got a responsibility to ensure that we’re not asking too much of them and that’s why we put that period of time leading into a series. Not only does it give you time to get the players up and running for that series, it also allows you to build in a bit of decompression time if you need to. That’s something that I’m quite strong on.”The panacea will be that our players are available without worrying about whether they’re available for the whole tournament or not. I’m never going to take that [case-by-case discussion] away but we’re hopeful that we won’t get to that point.”

Sri Lanka lost seven wickets for 22 runs and could score just two in the Super Over

Hemant Brar30-Jul-20244:05

Takeaways – Suryakumar the captain as funky as the batter

India won the Super OverIn one of the most bizarre finishes to a T20I, India beat Sri Lanka in the Super Over to complete a 3-0 whitewash in Pallekele.For the majority of the match, Sri Lanka outplayed India in all three departments but they had a great fall towards the end. They needed just nine from the last two overs with six wickets in hand. Rinku Singh, who had never bowled previously in T20Is, sent down the 19th over, conceded just three runs, and picked up two wickets.That left Sri Lanka needing six from six balls. Mohammed Siraj had an over left but Suryakumar Yadav decided to bring himself on as the ball was turning a mile. He, too, was bowling for the first time in T20Is. Moreover, India were behind the over-rate and could have only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle. But Suryakumar gave away just five runs, apart from picking up two wickets, to tie the game.Related

Washington: I had no idea I had to bowl the Super Over

Sri Lanka's latest collapse a chef's kiss on their incompetence

Washington Sundar started the Super Over with a wide. But a single later, he had Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka caught at the boundary off successive deliveries. With India needing only three from their Super Over, Suryakumar swept Maheesh Theekshana’s first ball towards short fine leg, where Asitha Fernando let the ball through his hands for four.Earlier, the match started an hour late because of rain. Sri Lanka sent India in after winning the toss and restricted them to 137 for 9 on a fresh pitch that assisted both seamers and spinners. Making their effort even more impressive was the fact that Matheesha Pathirana did not bowl a single over in the innings. The fast bowler hurt his right shoulder while stopping a ball in the seventh over and walked off the field. He returned towards the end of the innings but did not bowl.Nissanka and Kusal Mendis then gave Sri Lanka a start of 58 in 8.5 overs. Kusal Perera’s 46 off just 34 balls took them closer but just like the first two T20Is, their middle order collapsed – no one scored even 5 – to hand India the match.Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav were two unlikely heroes with the ball•AFP/Getty Images

Theekshana, seamers derail IndiaIndia made four changes to their XI, making sure everyone in the squad got at least one match. Shubman Gill, who missed the previous game with neck spasms, started cautiously against debutant Chamindu Wickramasinghe. From the other end, Yashasvi Jaiswal tried to take on Theekshana and hit the spinners for two fours in three balls. But Theekshana trapped him lbw on the very next ball as the batter missed a sweep.In the next over, Sanju Samson miscued Wickramasinghe to sweeper cover for his second duck in as many games. Rinku, promoted to No. 4, lasted just two balls and became Theekshana’s second victim. He tried to go inside out over covers but the turn and slowness of the wicket did him in; Pathirana took a good catch running to his right from mid-on. Asitha Fernando dealt India another blow in the last over of the powerplay when Suryakumar played a sweep from well outside off straight down the throat of fine leg.Gill, Parag stage recoveryWith India 30 for 4 inside six overs, Gill and Shivam Dube tried to stabilise the innings. But the duo could add only a run-a-ball 18 as Ramesh Mendis had Dube caught behind, with Kusal Mendis pouching the catch on the second attempt.Gill and Riyan Parag took India past 50 in the ninth over. Two overs later, Parag ended a 33-ball boundary drought with a four off Ramesh Mendis. Soon after, he launched Wanindu Hasaranga over deep midwicket for two sixes in three balls as the spinner erred on the fuller side.Parag and Gill added 54 off 40 balls before Hasaranga dismissed both in the same over. Gill was the first to go. He came down the ground only to be beaten by the turn and be stumped. Three balls later, Parag mishit a half-tracker into the hands of deep midwicket. At 105 for 7 in the 16th over, India were in danger of getting bowled out.Washington’s late cameoPlaying his first match of the series, Washington showed his worth with bat at No. 8. He hit two fours and a six in his 18-ball 25 and added 32 off 24 balls for the eighth wicket along with Ravi Bishnoi. Thanks to their partnership, India scored 35 in the last five overs and reached a respectable 137 for 9. In the absence of Pathirana, the Sri Lanka spinners bowled 14 overs for combined figures of 6 for 107.Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis started well for Sri Lanka in their chase•AFP/Getty Images

Nissanka, Mendis set the platformNissanka and Kusal Mendis started slowly, scoring just four runs in the first two overs. Nissanka then broke the shackles with three fours off Khaleel Ahmed in the third over. Two overs later, he reverse-pulled Washington through cover-point for yet another boundary.India knew they needed wickets, so Suryakumar gave Mohammed Siraj a third over in the powerplay. He did produce a chance, inducing the outside edge of Kusal Mendis’ bat, but Samson was wrong-footed behind the stumps and dropped it. To make it sting even more, Kusal Mendis swept Bishnoi for back-to-back fours in the next over.Still, India did not let Sri Lanka run away with the game. They finally got a breakthrough in the ninth over, when Nissanka chipped Bishnoi to wide long-on.Perera’s effort in vainSri Lanka were 61 for 1 after ten overs, the target still 77 runs away. But Kusal Perera took the aggressive route and hit five fours in the next five overs. That brought down the equation to 30 needed from 30 balls. India had won from the exactly same situation in the T20 World Cup final, but on Tuesday night, they were without Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, their heroes from that game.While Bishnoi had Kusal Mendis lbw, and Washington dismissed Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka off successive balls, Sri Lanka were still the favourites; they required only 21 from 18 balls. Khaleel then bowled an 11-ball over, which included five wides, to tilt the scale further in Sri Lanka’s favour. But the hosts were in for a rude shock.

June is nearly upon us, yet Glasgow Rangers still don’t have a permanent manager. Philippe Clement was sacked 96 days ago, and ahead of the most important in the club’s recent history, the onus is on the board to bring the right man to Ibrox.

Whenever there is a managerial vacancy, plenty of names have been linked with a move to Glasgow.

At the start of the month, Marco Rose and Danny Rohl were named potential Rangers managers, yet the links died down after a few days.

Steven Gerrard’s name has been mentioned over the past few months regarding a potential return to Scotland.

Between 2018 and 2021, the former Liverpool captain took over a shambles of a club and returned them to the summit of Scottish football within three years.

Recent news suggests that he wont be the next manager of the club, however, leaving Russell Martin and Davide Ancelotti as the leading candidates.

Whatever happens, getting someone in swiftly should be the main priority for the board. With pre-season set to start in a few weeks, plus the prospect of Champions League qualifiers in mid-July, the longer the wait goes on, the worse it could turn out for the Light Blues.

Latest on Davide Ancelotti's move to Rangers

With Gerrard now out of the frame, it appears as though Ancelotti is the frontrunner for the vacant role.

The Italian has held talks with the board and is currently a free agent, having not joined his dad, Carlo, on his adventure with the Brazil national side.

“Davide is thinking [about] what to do for the future,” said the elder Ancelotti. He’s in talks with other clubs as he tries to be first coach, and he knows if he doesn’t find the opportunity, he will be here with me.”

Having assisted his dad at clubs such as Real Madrid, Napoli, Bayern Munich and Everton, Davide has a plethora of experience in a coaching capacity.

Tavernier would love him: Rangers in talks to hire "sought-after" manager

95 days after Philippe Clement’s sacked as Rangers manager, they could finally be closing in on a successor, one who could be a dream for Tavernier.

By
Ben Gray

May 29, 2025

The younger Ancelotti was the brains behind Madrid’s tactical approach, which saw them win two La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies between 2021 and 2024.

A fluid approach to the game, which means his team can play across multiple formations at will, is certainly a positive.

The caveat being that he hasn’t managed a side on his own. While the pressures of Ibrox may be slightly different to those at the Bernabeu, the desire to win every game remains the same.

Should he win the race and get the job, it would be an almighty gamble for the board, no doubt about that. Is there a better option currently available, however?

Rangers search for a new manager

Now, a new name has entered the fray. According to the Herald journalist, Stephen McGowan, Rangers have now reportedly held talks with former Ajax boss Francesco Farioli.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

The Italian left the Dutch side following their Eredivisie collapse, which saw them lose the league title to PSV Eindhoven, despite being nine points clear with five matches left.

He dragged Ajax from fifth the previous season to the brink of the title, while securing a return to Champions League football for 2025/26.

Farioli reportedly blamed a difference in ‘visions and timeframes’ from the Ajax board as to why he quit the role after just a single season in the Netherlands.

When Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked in November 2022, the former Nice manager was sounded out to be his replacement. In the end, it was Michael Beale who eventually took over the role. Might things be different three years later?

Why Rangers must hire Francesco Farioli

Of course, fingers will be pointed following Ajax’s major collapse over the final five matches of the season. Considering that the Dutch giants endured their worst season in living memory just a year ago, however, getting that far was certainly a step forward.

Journalist Lars Jesse praised the 36-year-old after he left the club, saying: “Francesco Farioli has achieved something unique at Ajax. After years of incompetence, uncertainty, and misery, he brought back calm and structure.”

Francesco Fariloi’s managerial statistics
Club	Date appointed	Games in charge	Points per game
Ajax	July 1, 2024	54	2.09
Nice	July 1, 2023	38	1.68
Alanyaspor	December 31, 2021	48	1.54
Karagümrük	March 22, 2021	27	1.52
Via Transfermarkt

During the 2023/24 season, Ajax lost eight league games, scored 74 goals and conceded a staggering 61 times.

A year later, they may have scored four fewer goals throughout the campaign, but the club lost just four times and conceded 32 goals, a major improvement.

Farioli tends to utilise an attacking 4-3-3 system, which could be a wonderful fit for some of the current Ibrox squad. He will also be keen on signing his own targets for the club during the transfer window.

Across his 54 matches in charge of the Dutch side, Farioli’s side scored 115 goals – 2.1 per game – while he accumulated 2.09 points per game.

This focus on dynamic attacking football would certainly win over the Ibrox faithful, who have had to endure Clement’s distinct lack of style. Despite his tender years, the Italian manager has managed an impressive 167 senior games throughout his managerial career to date.

Coming so close to success with Ajax will hurt, but it might give him the confidence that he can lead a fallen giant back to its previous glories.

In that regard, taking on the role of Rangers manager would suit him nicely. A total cultural reset is required at Ibrox this summer, and only by bringing in someone who is able to provide a fresh start will that happen.

Much will depend on whether Farioli wishes to jump straight back into a hot seat so soon after his Ajax departure. If so, then the board must be doing everything it can to convince him that Rangers are the right choice.

Like any managerial appointment, bringing Farioli will be a big gamble – although considering his recent experienced in a top job at an elite club, he would certainly be less of a gamble than Ancelotti.

A great Cerny replacement: Rangers looking to sign "incredible" new forward

Rangers could sign an impressive replacement for Vaclav Cerny.

By
Ben Gray

May 30, 2025

This summer is a huge one for Ruben Amorim as Manchester United manager, needing to complete a huge overhaul of the squad if they are to compete at the top end of the Premier League next season.

His side have failed to deliver in the league throughout 2024/25, currently sitting in 15th position with just three outings remaining in the current campaign.

However, the Red Devils still have an opportunity to end the year with a trophy, potentially winning the Europa League against fellow English top-flight side Tottenham Hotspur.

Their tally of just 42 goals in their 35 league matches is the fifth-lowest in the division, highlighting the real need for attacking reinforcements throughout the off-season.

The hierarchy have already wasted no time in planning for the summer, with numerous attacking stars already emerging on their radar to help bolster Amorim’s front line.

An update on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have been United’s main options in forward areas throughout 2024/25, but that could be about to change with a move for Matheus Cunha.

The Wolves talisman has notched 15 goals and six assists in the league this campaign, leading to the Red Devils entering talks to trigger the Brazilian’s £62.5m release clause.

However, he could be joined at Old Trafford by Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, with Foot Mercato claiming the hierarchy are also in talks with his representatives over a summer switch.

It also goes on to state that the forward is also keen on a deal to move to the North West this summer, with parent side Napoli demanding €75m (£64m) for his signature.

Further into the report, it claims the Red Devils are the only English side willing to match his £200k-per-week demands, opening the door to a switch should the talks progress in the right direction.

Why United’s £64m target would be perfect with Amad & Cunha

Amad Diallo has been a shining light for United in what has been a dismal season for the club, often producing the goods for Amorim’s side within the attacking areas.

The Ivorian has registered ten combined goals and assists since the 40-year-old back in November, missing a huge chunk of action due to his ankle issue, which sidelined him for just under three months.

The 22-year-old scored in stoppage time of the 4-3 defeat against Brentford last weekend, registering his first effort after returning from injury – hoping to play a huge role in the Europa League in the coming weeks.

Amad has often played in a central role behind the striker, potentially being partnered by Cunha in such a position and aiding Osimhen in the final third at Old Trafford.

When delving into his stats from this campaign, the 26-year-old has greatly impressed on loan at Galatasaray, highlighting the threat he will pose should he complete a switch to England.

Osimhen, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers in the world” by former Nigerian footballer Oghenekaro Etebo, has registered 24 goals in his 27 Süper Lig outings – sitting as the division’s top scorer.

His underlying stats have been just as impressive, averaging a staggering 7.3 shots taken per 90, along with 3.4 shots on target per 90 – having all the tools to impress in attacking areas for Amorim’s side.

Victor Osimhen’s stats for Galatasaray (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	27
Goals scored	24
Shots taken	7.3
Shots on target per 90	3.4
Shot-creating actions	3.8
Progressive carries	1.8
Aerials won	4.3
Aerial success	64%
Stats via FBref

He’s also won 4.3 aerial duels per 90, along with 1.8 progressive carries completed per 90, offering the side an all-round option at the top end of the pitch in their quest to qualify for the Champions League next year.

Whilst talks over a deal to take him to the Theatre of Dreams are still in their early stages, it would be an excellent transfer that would bolster the options at Amorim’s disposal.

£64m would be an expensive addition for the club given the current cost-cutting operation in place, but it’s one that would be worthwhile, potentially being the most important signing they could make in the coming months.

Shades of Pogba: Man Utd eager to sign £20m "freak of nature" this summer

Manchester United are interested in signing a £20m star who has shades of Paul Pogba.

By
Dan Emery

May 5, 2025

Manchester United extended their winless run in the Premier League to five matches after their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.

The Red Devils did move up to 14th in the table with their point, though their position in the league is rather irrelevant at this point in the campaign, after a late equaliser from Rasmus Hojlund.

Ruben Amorim’s side held 62% of the ball and created 2.52 xG worth of chances, to Bournemouth’s 0.53 xG, but failed to make the most of their opportunities at the top end of the pitch.

This shows that there were positives for the Portuguese coach to take away from the match, as his team were dominant and created enough chances to win, but he needs to find a way to improve the effectiveness of his players at both ends of the park.

That could be by coaching them on the training pitch ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, or it could be by improving the squad in the summer transfer window.

One player who may not have furthered his chances of earning a move to Old Trafford, however, is Dean Huijsen after a lacklustre performance on Sunday.

Dean Huijsen's performance against Man Utd

The 20-year-old central defender is a reported transfer target for the Red Devils ahead of the summer transfer window, with a release clause of £55m, but did not show his best self against Amorim’s team.

As aforementioned, Manchester United created 2.52 xG worth of chances against Huijsen and his defensive teammates, which suggests that they found it relatively easy to break down the Bournemouth backline to create high-quality opportunities.

Vs Man Utd

Dean Huijsen

Minutes

90

Clearances

8

Blocks

2

Tackles + interceptions

0

Ground duels won

0/2

Aerial duels won

2/2

Pass accuracy

71%

Long passes completed

1/11

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Spanish defender was dominant aerially and positioned himself well to make clearances, but left a bit to be desired with the timing and strength of his challenges on the ground.

Huijsen was also wasteful with the ball at his feet, completing 9% of his attempted long passes, and United may not have been impressed by his lack of quality in possession.

It would be a bit of a gamble for the Red Devils to sign the Bournemouth star because he is still very young, at the age of 20, and had only played 14 top-flight matches prior to the start of this season.

United may opt to go for a centre-back with a bit more experience, who can make an instant impact, and they are reportedly looking at a 24-year-old defender who could be an even better signing than Huijsen.

Man Utd plot bid to sign Serie A defender

According to InterLive, Manchester United are interested in a potential swoop to sign Inter central defender Yann Bisseck in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Premier League giants are keen on both Bisseck and Netherlands international Denzel Dumfries from the Italian side, as Amorim looks to improve the strength of his defensive options ahead of next season.

It states that Inter, whilst they are not actively looking to cash in on either player, are open to offers for their stars and would consider any big-money bids that come in for them.

InterLive reports that Manchester United are preparing a bid to sign Bisseck for a fee of £51m, as they plot a swoop to sign the German central defender in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

However, the outlet does not reveal whether or not that amount of money would be enough to tempt the reigning Serie A champions to part ways with the 24-year-old colossus.

Hopefully, United can push ahead to wrap up a deal for the Inter titan in the summer transfer window because he could be an even better signing than Huijsen to bolster Amorim’s defence.

Why Bisseck could be an even better signing than Huijsen

The Red Devils should attempt to sign Bisseck ahead of the Bournemouth star because he has the potential to offer even more to the team at the heart of the defence.

He would come in with more experience than the Cherries defender because this is his fourth season of regular first-team football, compared to Huijsen’s second.

The 24-year-old titan, who was dubbed a “monster” by a performance consultant on X, has played 61 times for Inter in all competitions since the start of last season, which means that he already has plenty of experience playing for a huge European club, even winning a major league title last term.

As you can see in the chart above, Bisseck has offered more to Inter than Huijsen has to Bournemouth with his use of the ball, with more progressive carries and passes, along with a great pass success rate, per 90 at league level this term.

The German colossus, who can progress play consistently to build attacks for his side from a centre-back position, also has some strong defensive attributes that could make him even better than the Spaniard at Old Trafford.

24/25 season

Huijsen (Premier League)

Bisseck (Serie A)

Appearances

28

23

Goals

2

2

Dribbled past per game

0.4x

0.1x

Duel success rate

56%

63%

Aerial duel success rate

60%

74%

Fouls committed per game

1.0

0.5

Pass accuracy

84%

92%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Bisseck is far more dominant in his duels, particularly in the air, and this means that he could deal with the likes of Erling Haaland and Kai Havertz more effectively in the big games.

These statistics show that the Inter star has the qualities, in and out of possession, to be an excellent addition to Amorim’s squad because he can combine progressive actions on the ball with defensive strength and reliability, rarely being dribbled past or beaten in duels by opposition players.

Related Amorim must surely drop 4/10 Man Utd dud who lost the ball every 4 touches

Manchester United managed to salvage a point away at AFC Bournemouth courtesy of Rasmus Hojlund.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Apr 27, 2025

Therefore, the Red Devils must push to get a deal done for the £51m-rated star ahead of a move for Huijsen, as he could offer more to the team in the here and now.

They do the basics just as well as they do the spectacular, and there’s no telling who comes to the fore on any particular day

Danyal Rasool19-Feb-20254:20

Watch: NZ’s secret to playing spin: It’s about scoring not just surviving

Pictures are notorious for leaving out as much as they keep in, but this was a snapshot complete in every sense of the thousand words it could speak.Mohammad Rizwan’s elegant late cut flew over, above and past backward point. Almost. It wasn’t safe from the non-dominant hand of Glenn Phillips, who launched himself into the air and to his left at full stretch. It is sometimes uncharitably said that all you can do is hope they stick, but if that’s the case, the adhesive quality of Phillips’ hands must be worthy of patenting.It was perfect timing, too. This was the last ball of the first powerplay, one in which Pakistan were kept to 22 runs, their lowest powerplay score in almost six years. Fakhar Zaman, prevented from opening the batting because he had been off the field after picking up a niggle on the day’s second ball, was in next. This meant he would not face a single delivery with the fielding restrictions in play, when he can get the sort of start to propel Pakistan towards a chase of this magnitude.Related

• After lengthy injury layoff, Jamieson climbs back from the 'bottom of the cliff'

• Glenn Phillips finds secret to his success

• Stats – Latham and Young hit hundreds on Champions Trophy debut

• Latham and Young centuries hand New Zealand thumping victory

• Fakhar Zaman struggles while batting after fielding injury

It distilled the difference between the two sides, Pakistan’s fielding ineptitude squared against New Zealand’s ruthless standard-setting, New Zealand’s greed to exploit every advantage, Pakistan’s tendency to squander them.And yet, it still may not have been the best bit of fielding New Zealand have displayed in Pakistan in the last few weeks. Eleven days ago, at the start of the triangular series in Pakistan, Michael Bracewell dived to his left to snare a reflex catch, left arm popping up in the air like a jack out of the box, as another bullet of a shot fizzed out in another New Zealand fielder’s hand.Tom Latham said on the eve of the game what pleased the side was the number of different matchwinners across the triangular series and how just about every player had contributed, and it made you reflexively think of Latham as well as Will Young, perhaps the only two batters in this side that didn’t quite apply to. Young took the challenge on, and perhaps brought about the earliest harbinger of the kind of day Pakistan would have when he drove Shaheen Afridi’s second ball through the covers. Afridi would end up wicketless for 68 while Fakhar pulled up injured in pursuit.It’s not difficult to imagine a world where Young didn’t play this game. Rachin Ravindra has been wrapped in cotton wool since a sickening blow to the head, but he trained yesterday, and New Zealand seriously considered playing him. Some 15 months ago, when New Zealand played a warm-up game against Pakistan ahead of the 2023 World Cup, Young was rested to give Ravindra a trial at the top of the order. It was perhaps just an abundance of caution which prevented the same happening in a game that mattered much more.Will Young came into the game on a lean patch, but did exactly what was needed of him when it mattered•ICC/Getty ImagesYoung was New Zealand’s least effective batter in the three matches prior, managing 38 runs across the triangular tournament. But in the game all of those were building towards, he possessed the clarity of thought of a man in a much richer vein of form.”Perhaps,” Young said when asked if there was extra pressure because of his recent form. “You try not to think about what’s happened. The next game’s the most important one. Your form tends to go up and down, but I was pretty keen to stick to what I know I can do well. [I knew I had to] win that straight battle, wait for them to miss the lines or the lengths and go from there. Nice to get some runs after a lean tri-series.”New Zealand, it would appear, simply do not tend to think in a way that places pressure on an individual, instead looking to communicate what needs doing at any moment. Young had begun enterprisingly with 44 off 43, but parked the aggression for a while, scoring just 32 of the next 43 as he negotiated the middle overs with Latham.Rizwan tried to go for the kill by bringing Afridi and Naseem Shah back, but New Zealand’s pair recognised that time was on their side. They played just six attacking shots across 30 deliveries in that spell, and still helped themselves to 26.2:31

Mumtaz: ‘Very disappointing to watch Babar’s lack of intent’

Desperate for wickets, Pakistan offered scoring opportunities, and Young was catching up with the rate once more. He brought his hundred up with a sweep off Abrar Ahmed – Pakistan’s most economical bowler – for his first international hundred overseas, and Latham, freed up by another Phillips onslaught, brought his up in a Haris Rauf over that brought New Zealand 18.”Tommy and I knew we were in a little bit of trouble three down,” Young said. “We didn’t want to look too far ahead thinking about par scores. We wanted to get to 30 and then 35 overs, but when I got out, I thought 280 was a good total.”It can, perhaps, be boring to talk about New Zealand in this way, but they have never thirsted after more sensationalist coverage. When their captain, Mitchell Santner, was asked last week what made him so prolific of late, he merely said the conditions had helped him. Today, Phillips was adamant that Bracewell’s catch in the tri-series was “a lot better than mine”.This is perhaps the point of this New Zealand side, though. They do the basics just as well as the spectacular, and there’s no telling who comes to the fore on any particular day.Kane Williamson shone in the first two games of that triangular series. When Ravindra was ruled out, Devon Conway chipped in. Will O’Rourke and Santner were lethal with the ball one day, Phillips destructive on a couple of other occasions. Players slotted in for injury absences with the stifling ruthlessness of a machine, in service of the team result they have produced so consistently of late.Mitchell Santner’s New Zealand have put the defending champions uncomfortably close to a group-stage exit•ICC/Getty ImagesThis was perhaps best illustrated in an otherwise unremarkable passage of play through the first half of Pakistan’s doomed chase. In Pakistan, where Rizwan specifically lamented the dependence on individual performances to obtain ODI wins, there was invariably criticism of Babar Azam’s innings, a timid 90-ball effort that produced 64 inconsequential runs. That may just be indicative of his current form, but New Zealand installed Bracewell and Phillips against him as soon as the first powerplay ended.While it would appear to fly in the face of current wisdom, where the ball turning away from a right-hand batter is almost an automatic choice, since 2022, Babar’s strike rate against the ball turning into him is just over 67, nearly 18 points lower than his overall strike rate. Santner, New Zealand’s best spinner, was content with being the fifth bowler introduced, as the team he led exploited this obscure advantage they had picked up on.At the last ICC event in 2023, New Zealand opened the tournament with a crushing win that began the process of knocking out the defending champions unceremoniously. A breakout star in Ravindra was the clear standout at the time. In Karachi, they have, once more, put the defending champions uncomfortably close to a group-stage exit. This time around, they provided an exhibition of the kind of team environment that nurtures those breakout stars, without being too fussed about who gets the individual credit.