PSG are keen to sign Bournemouth centre-back Illia Zabarnyi, but may face a political headache in their attempts to sign the Ukraine international.
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Glasgow Rangers do not have the best track record when it comes to bringing in talented young players to develop and then sell on for a profit.
Calvin Bassey is the only player the Light Blues have sold for more than £15m in their history, with a fee of up to £22.7m agreed for him to leave Ibrox in the summer of 2022.
The Gers have struggled to find and develop talent to be sold for huge sums of money on a regular basis and the sale of Todd Cantwell is perhaps the latest evidence of this.
Rangers signed the midfielder for £1.5m at the start of 2023, 18 months after he was valued at £40m by Norwich, but they failed to increase his value at Ibrox.
The former England U21 international left to sign for Blackburn Rovers at the end of the summer transfer window for a fee of £500k, taking a £1m loss on him.
Another player the club failed to extract a profit from was talented wide man Ryan Kent, who enjoyed plenty of success at Ibrox before leaving for nothing last summer.
Rangers fumbled Ryan Kent profit
After a season on loan from Liverpool in Glasgow in the 2018/19 campaign, the Scottish giants swooped to sign the English forward for a reported fee of £7.5m in 2019.
The former Reds flanker produced seven goals and zero assists in 21 appearances in the Scottish Premiership in his first season with the club as a permanent addition in the 2019/20 term.
Kent stepped up his game in the following campaign, though, and caught the eye with his fantastic contributions to the club's title success under Steven Gerrard.
Appearances
37
Sofascore rating
7.23
Goals
10
Big chances created
9
Assists
9
Key passes per game
1.8
As you can see in the table above, the left winger provided a regular threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Ibrox giants, with 19 direct goal contributions in 37 league outings.
It was then reported that he was a £15m target for Leeds United in the summer of 2021 but a move to Elland Road never materialised for Kent.
The forward then managed just five goals in the next two Premiership campaigns combined before moving on from Ibrox on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, signing for Turkish side Fenerbahce.
This shows that the Light Blues did not make the most of Kent's talent as they ended up with nothing in return for his exit after previously valuing him at £15m, following an exceptional season in the 2020/21 campaign.
Rangers have a player in their current squad who may have once been deemed to have been a bigger talent than Kent was at the same age after that title-winning season, in Romanian whiz Ianis Hagi.
Ianis Hagi was a bigger talent than Ryan Kent
Like the Englishman, the attacking midfielder initially joined the club on loan from Genk for the second half of the 2019/20 season, in which the youngster produced three goals and two assists in 13 appearances in all competitions.
After his six months on loan with the Gers, Hagi was snapped up on a permanent deal from the Belgian side for a reported fee of £3m in the summer of 2020.
The Romania international's form in his first full season with the Scottish giants suggested that he was an even bigger talent than Kent, as he outperformed the Englishman's exploits at the same age.
Appearances
46
43
Minutes played
2,801
3,438
Goals
8
6
Assists
15
9
As you can see in the table above, Hagi produced two more goals and six more assists in all competitions during the season he turned 22, which was the title-winning campaign, than Kent did in 2018/19.
The exciting midfielder, who was once named as one of the 50 best young players in the world by The Guardian in 2015, racked up seven goals and 12 assists in 33 games in the Premiership that term.
This shows that Rangers may have thought that they had a bigger talent than Kent by the summer of 2021, as the 22-year-old had outperformed the winger at a similar age in the same division.
Where Ianis Hagi is now
Unfortunately, a mixture of bad fortune and a decline in form meant that Hagi failed to fulfill his potential at Ibrox, at least to date, and he is now an outcast in the current squad.
He has not played a single game for Rangers this season and it has been claimed that one more appearance would trigger a wage increase of £6k-per-week, that would take him from £25k-per-week to £31k-per-week.
That is reportedly the reason why Philippe Clement has exiled him from the first-team squad and the midfielder rejected the chance to return to Romania before the summer transfer window slammed shut.
This comes after he spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Alaves to continue his recovery from a long-term knee injury that kept him out of action from January 2022 to January 2023 – forcing him to miss 69 competitive games for Rangers.
Appearances
15
Goals
2
Assists
0
Dribbles completed per game
0.8
Key passes per game
1.5
As you can see in the table above, Hagi's form after his superb exploits in the 2020/21 campaign took a hit, as he produced just two goal contributions in 15 appearances before his knee injury.
The versatile midfielder then managed two goals and two assists in 26 appearances for Alaves in all competitions during his loan spell, following his long-term absence.
Hagi, who won a penalty for Romania against Lithuania on Monday, has not been offered the chance to revive his Rangers career by Clement, due to the issue with his contract.
The £300k Rangers signing who was sold for more than Bajrami is worth
The Light Blues played a blinder by developing and selling this midfield wizard.
1 ByDan Emery Sep 11, 2024
The 25-year-old dynamo put a statement out last month revealing that he wants to play for the club and is willing to iron out the problem with his contract, but there has not been any update on his situation since then and he remains an outcast to the first-team squad.
Everton are reportedly interested in completing the loan signing of an "incredible" player who has been voted his country's Footballer of the Year four times.
Everton transfer news
The Toffees continue to be linked with new signings as an up-and-down summer transfer window at Goodison Park slowly reaches its conclusion.
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler is one of the most recent players to have been backed to join Everton before the window slams shut next week, with a possible hijack of West Ham's move for him taking place. The Merseysiders have made contact with him over a switch to Goodison Park, but it remains to be seen what the Spaniard's decision will be.
Kieran Trippier has also emerged as a reported target for Everton in the coming days, with the England international wanting more regular football than he is being given at Newcastle United. Eintracht Frankfurt ace Junior Dina Ebimbe is being looked at as another target.
Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has been linked with Everton at times, too, with the Scot in a similar situation to Trippier, while Roma's Edoardo Bove could also come in and provide Sean Dyche with more depth in the middle of the park. Now, an intriguing new transfer update has emerged as the Premier League side look to complete a high-profile piece of business.
Everton eyeing "incredible" player on loan
According to a new update from Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], Everton are in the mix to sign Milan Skriniar on loan from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
The centre-back finds himself out of favour at the Ligue 1 giants, with a number of clubs eyeing him up on a temporary basis. Brighton and Juventus are also mentioned as possible suitors, with the Slovakian's wages a potential stumbling block for the Toffees.
Skriniar could be a signing of real intent by Everton, even if only on loan, considering the 72-cap Slovakia international has been considered one of Europe's leading central defenders for a number of years.
Granted, his time at PSG doesn't appear to be going smoothly with Luis Enrique casting him aside, but he has been voted his country's Footballer of the Year four times, taking home the award in successive years between 2019 and 2022.
Slovakia may not be a hotbed of footballing talent, but that highlights Skriniar's consistency as a footballer and what a star he is in his homeland, while journalist Jerry Mancini once said of him: "Best defender in Serie A. Milan Skriniar has been incredible the past two seasons. Credit to Antonio Conte who helped him take his game to another level."
Sky Sports: Everton in contact to sign £20m player and hijack West Ham move
The Toffees are looking to beat the Hammers to a signing.
ByBrett Worthington Aug 23, 2024
It would be a surprise if Everton managed to pip a club like Juve to Skriniar's signing, especially considering the likely finances involved – he currently earns £266,000 per week at PSG – but the idea of him alongside Jarrad Branthwaite is a mouthwatering prospect, with all due respect to the reliable James Tarkowski.
كشفت تقارير صحفية، أن نادي ريال مدريد الإسباني بدأ المفاوضات مع أحد لاعبي فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي بايرن ميونخ الألماني، لضمه خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية المقبلة.
ريال مدريد يسعى لتعزيز وسط الملعب، حيث أن الفريق يعاني هذا الموسم منذ اعتزال توني كروس، وبدأ في مفاوضاته مع مواطنه جوشوا كيميتش، الذي ينتهي عقده مع بايرن ميونخ في يونيو المقبل.
طالع أيضًا | “300 مليون إسترليني”.. تقارير: نادٍ سعودي يجهز عرضًا خرافيًا لضم فينيسيوس
صحيفة “بيلد” الألمانية، أكدت أن جوشوا كيميتش صاحب الـ29 عامًا، حريص على الانتقال إلى ريال مدريد، ولا ينوي تجديد عقده مع بايرن ميونخ، حيث يرى أن وقته قد انتهى في ملعب أليانز.
وينتهي عقد اللاعب في يونيو المقبل، وكان يتفاوض في الأشهر الأخيرة على تمديد اقامته في بايرن ميونخ، لكنه لم يتوصل لاتفاق، وهو ما جعله يفتح الباب أمام الانتقال إلى ريال مدريد.
كان قائد بايرن ميونخ هدف قوي لفريق برشلونة، ولكن تألق مارك كاسادو هذا الموسم وقبله مارك بيرنال الذي أصيب بقطع في الرباط الصليبي، أدى إلى صرف النظر من جانب هانز فليك.
ويسعى ريال مدريد إلى التعاقد مع اللاعب بنفس الطريقة التي ضم بها زميله السابق ديفيد ألابا في 2021، ومواطنه أنطونيو روديجير في 2022، بعد نهاية عقديهما، وعرض مكافأة انتقال.
After hobbling through last season with just one fit senior striker for much of the campaign, there is seemingly a world in which Manchester United begin the new term with three centre-forwards in their ranks – even after Anthony Martial's recent departure.
Having splashed out an initial £64m on Atalanta starlet Rasmus Hojlund last summer, the Red Devils have now raided Serie A once again for the signing of Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee, forking out just over the Dutchman's £33.7m release clause.
The Athletic, among other sources, have suggested that signing another number nine is still not out of the question, however, with rumours rife that Brentford's Ivan Toney is keen to make the move to Old Trafford this summer – while a further target has also cropped up of late…
Latest on Man Utd's striker search
As per a report from TEAMtalk, United are among the clubs to have been credited with a 'firm interest' in Lille sensation, Jonathan David, with the 24-year-old in line for a long-awaited exit with just a year remaining on his current deal.
The piece adds that the Canadian hotshot – who is also of interest to the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United – could be available for as little as £25m, making him a worthy, bargain alternative to the likes of Toney.
How Jonathan David compares to Zirkzee
Now, it would be harsh to so instantly right off Zirkzee amid his arrival in Manchester, with the former Bayern Munich man certainly not short on quality having even been likened to a certain Ronaldinho by his ex-Bologna boss, Thiago Motta.
A return of 12 goals in all competitions last term saw the 6 foot 4 marksman claim Serie A's Young Player of the Year award, although that haul is hardly the hallmark of a prolific striker – the forward's best-ever return seeing him net 18 times in 2021/22 while on loan at Anderlecht.
Impressive, but unspectacular, the jury is out on whether Zirkzee is the clinical rival that is needed for the aforementioned Hojlund, particularly with the Dane making encouraging strides last term with 16 goals of his own across all fronts.
With that man Toney also failing to set the world alight with just four Premier League goals following his return to action after suspension, looking to "one of the best strikers in the world" in David – as hailed by podcaster Tony Marinaro – could well be the wiser approach.
The New York-born star has repeatedly delivered the goods in France in recent times, reaching double figures for league goals in each of his four Ligue 1 campaigns, having previously netted 18 top-flight goals during his final season for Belgian side, Genk.
Since 2021/22, in particular, David has hit new heights after scoring 43 league goals in that time, with his return of 19 last season only bettered by the relentless presence of Kylian Mbappe in the division.
Stat
David
Zirkzee
Toney
Games
34
34
17
Goals
19
11
4
Assists
4
4
2
Big chances missed
15
4
11
Big chances created
8
11
3
Key passes per game
0.9
1.3
0.7
Successful dribbles per game
0.4
1.5
0.6
Total duels won
40%
40%
48%
Just a year older than Zirkzee, the in-demand ace already has 121 senior career goals to his name – plus a further 27 at international level – while his Dutch counterpart, meanwhile, has scored just 36 senior goals to date, across his time in Germany, Italy and Belgium.
With almost four times as many goals as United's new man, it is clear the potential upgrade David could represent, having repeatedly and consistently proven himself as a reliable goalscoring presence in Lille.
Of course, Toney's brief yet telling impacts for England this summer – including his assist for Harry Kane against Slovakia – have only increased the clamour for his signature, yet overlooking the "phenom" that is Jonathan David – as described by Marinero – could represent a costly mistake.
Man Utd moving to sign £60m "superstar" who'd make Zirkzee unplayable
INEOS are cooking up a storm at the Theatre of Dreams this summer…
ByAngus Sinclair Jul 13, 2024
Glasgow Rangers continue to ramp up their pre-season preparations by playing a glamour friendly at Murrayfield Stadium this weekend against Manchester United.
With the opening Premiership fixture taking place in just two weeks, Philippe Clement will be hoping to bring at least another two or three players to Ibrox, thus bolstering his squad.
If he doesn’t, then the starting XI against Hearts could look fairly similar to the one that ended the 2023/24 campaign, featuring the likes of Cyriel Dessers and Scott Wright in some capacity at Tynecastle.
Hopefully this isn’t the case, but with every passing day of no new announcements, it could turn into a reality when the league season begins.
Despite numerous links in recent weeks, transfer activity has been laboured. Could this change in the coming days? As a fresh update has been provided.
Rangers showing interest in former Championship starlet
At the start of the year, Football Insider claimed that the Light Blues were interested in signing then Stoke City centre-forward Tyrese Campbell this summer.
He had just six months left on his deal with the Championship side and Clement was keen on a deal to bring the Englishman north of the border once the season concluded.
Campbell’s deal with Stoke expired, and he is now a free agent, which could give the Belgian coach a boost, especially as the Daily Mail state Rangers are just one of the clubs showing interest in the player.
A raft of second-tier sides, including QPR, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United are all keen on signing Campbell, but the chance to win trophies and play in European football should be plenty of incentive for the striker as he seeks his next move.
It won't be the first time the club have signed a player who shone in the Championship, as Todd Cantwell had made his breakthrough at Norwich City in the second tier.
Could the Englishman emerge as Cantwell 2.0 for the Light Blues should he join the club this summer?
Todd Cantwell’s Rangers career in numbers
The Englishman was one of Norwich’s prized assets just a few years ago after shining in the Premier League during the 2019/20 season, scoring six goals in the top flight.
In the summer of 2021, the Canaries valued him at £40m amid interest from Aston Villa as they sought a replacement for Jack Grealish.
In January 2023, however, his career appeared to be at a crossroads, falling out of favour at his boyhood club. Michael Beale rescued the midfielder from his purgatory and the move to Ibrox looked like a smart piece of business.
Indeed, his first six months in Glasgow saw Cantwell score six goals while grabbing five assists, not bad for someone who cost just £1.5m.
Todd Cantwell's Premiership stats since joining Rangers
Metric
2022/23
2023/24
Goals
6
7
Assists
4
5
Key passes per game
1.3
1.7
Big chances created
5
7
Successful dribbles per game
1.5
1.2
Via Sofascore
Last season saw the former Norwich starlet register 15 goal contributions – eight goals and seven assists – despite missing several games due to injury issues.
He ranked fourth in the squad for goals and assists (12) in the Premiership throughout 2023/24, along with ranking third for big chances created (seven), fourth for key passes per game (1.7) and fifth for successful dribbles per game (1.2), showing how impressive he was in the final third.
Campbell may play in a more advanced position than Cantwell, but there is no doubt Clement can get him firing should he make the move to Ibrox this summer.
Tyrese Campbell’s season in numbers
Campbell missed six matches due to a hip injury last season, while falling out of favour upon his return to full fitness, making just 24 appearances for Stoke.
This meant he managed to score just four goals and grab two assists, hardly numbers which demonstrate his potential.
Cantwell failed to score or assist in the six months prior to his move to Rangers. Perhaps Campbell – who has been described as "always a handful" by former boss Michael O'Neill – could come to life next term in new surroundings.
The 6 foot striker still managed to average 2.1 shots per game while succeeding with 0.5 dribbles per game – a success rate of 55% – despite averaging only 52 minutes each game.
Again, not earth-shattering, but with more opportunities in the starting XI, these could have improved further, indicating there is plenty of potential there.
What Tyrese Campbell could offer Rangers
Despite a poor 2023/24 campaign, Campbell demonstrated his vast talents the season prior. Indeed, among his Stoke teammates, the striker ranked first for goals and assists (14), along with ranking first for shots per game (2), third for big chances created (six) and second for successful dribbles per game (0.8), showing how impressive he can be in the opposition third when at full fitness.
Football writer Ollie Walton dubbed the player as a “great talent” earlier this year, but it is time for him to add some consistency to his game, which could come with a move north of the border.
His statistics when compared to his positional peers over the previous 365 days are certainly impressive and prove that he is more than just an out-and-out striker.
Not only does he rank in the top 5% for progressive carries per 90 (2.79), but Campbell even ranks in the top 9% for total shots per 90 (3.69) and in the top 13% for both progressive passes (2.64) and touches in the attacking penalty area (6.03) per 90.
These figures are certainly encouraging and if interest in the centre-forward is concrete, then it could be a solid enough signing which adds some depth to Clement’s attacking department.
The reality is, Rangers will have to sell a few players in order to raise funds for future arrivals. While free transfers might not be all that glamorous, they are key to beefing out the squad, which is exactly what Campbell will do.
Hopefully, he can remain fit and healthy should he join the Gers in the coming weeks, as his skillset could be perfectly suited to Scottish football, making him a decent option to call upon.
Rangers could land "impressive" signing who's a dream Cantwell replacement
The Light Blues are reportedly keen on a deal to sign the talented teenage maestro.
ByDan Emery Jul 16, 2024
A member of Mikel Arteta's squad at Arsenal is said to have already agreed to join West Ham, and they're pushing to completely seal a deal by the end of this week.
Players who could be sold or loaned out by Arsenal
A quartet of senior first team squad players in Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares have already departed the Emirates Stadium, but many more could well follow them.
Arteta sees £51k-per-week ace as a potential bargain signing for Arsenal
The Spaniard thinks he represents good market value.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 16, 2024
Soares and Elneny waved goodbye to London Colney after their contracts expired on June 30, with both men yet to find a new club. Meanwhile, Arsenal agreed a deal with Sevilla to loan them Lokonga for a season, which includes a £10 million option to buy him outright next summer.
Tavares joined Lazio on an initial loan deal as well, but the Portuguese has already put pen to paper on a five-year deal due to the fact his purchase will become mandatory next year for around £7.5 million.
Player
Average match rating
Bukayo Saka
7.67
Declan Rice
7.38
Martin Odegaard
7.37
Kai Havertz
7.16
Gabriel Magalhaes
6.99
WhoScored
These transfers have freed up more space in Arteta's squad and provided some relief for the wage bill, though it remains the case that Arsenal could offload a few more interesting names before summer deadline day on August 30.
Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Thomas Partey, Aaron Ramsdale and Kieran Tierney are all being regularly tipped to leave the club as well, with Arsenal reportedly open to selling for the right offers.
Partey has entered the final 11 months of his contract and played just 14 Premier League games last season, while Arteta has decided Tierney is not in his plans after the Scotsman spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad.
Another player attracting interest, and who finds himself on the fringes of Arteta's squad, is Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson. The 24-year-old started just one top flight match last season, making 14 out of his 15 league appearances off the bench.
Nelson agrees to join West Ham as they chase imminent Arsenal deal
The £100,000-per-week ace will find it difficult to secure regular game time ahead of the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and any potential new forward signings – so perhaps the time is right for him to find a new home.
According to TEAMtalk, that landing spot could well be across London at West Ham. Julen Lopetegui's side are believed to be pursuing the forward with real intent, and have made the best offer to him out of any other interested side.
They add that Nelson has agreed to join West Ham from Arsenal, and the Hammers are pushing to seal a deal for him by the end of this week. There is no mention of a price tag in the report, but other media sources have claimed Nelson could cost around £25-30 million.
Arteta has called Nelson a "special" player before, and he's seriously impressed in flashes. However, given the competition for minutes at Arsenal, a move to West Ham could be ideal given the player gets to remain in the English capital.
Former England star Paul Gascoigne has backed Sir Alex Ferguson to take charge of Manchester United again amid questions over Erik ten Hag's future.
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Manchester United have held Old Trafford talks over a deal to sign a new Premier League star, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Man Utd eyeing Casemiro replacement
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are preparing for their first summer transfer window in charge of the Red Devils and have recently decided that Erik ten Hag will remain as manager heading into the 2024/25 campaign.
The full focus will now be on the transfer market, with a new centre-back and striker appearing to be of interest to Ratcliffe and Ten Hag. Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial will officially depart at the end of the month, and there have been plenty of rumours about Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee.
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The Red Devils are now working on an agreement.
ByCharlie Smith Jun 19, 2024
Alongside a defender and forward, though, a midfielder could also be on the Old Trafford agenda, especially if Casemiro leaves. There have been plenty of rumours over an exit for the Brazilian, who has already said his Man Utd goodbyes following the FA Cup win over Manchester City.
Earlier this week, Romano said that Man Utd have been making enquiries over potentially signing a new midfielder: “I’m hearing that in the last 24-48 hours, [United] made some enquiries on the market over a new midfielder. They are exploring options in midfield especially in the case of Casemiro leaving, which remains a strong possibility.
“United are assessing options and have started to make moves to strengthen their midfield – we will see who it’s going to be and what United are going to do, but for sure they are going to be really busy in the next weeks, so keep an eye on potential new arrivals at centre-back, left-back, striker, and midfield.”
He didn’t mention any specific incoming names, until now.
Man Utd hold internal talks for West Ham’s Edson Alvarez
Taking to X on Wednesday evening, Romano once again stated that Man Utd are considering signing a replacement for Casemiro and have now held Old Trafford talks over a deal for West Ham United’s Edson Alvarez. Ten Hag is a fan of the Mexico captain, who is considered a “key player” at the London Stadium.
Alvarez made the move to England and West Ham in a £35m deal from Ajax last summer and went on to make 42 appearances in his first season for the Hammers, scoring two goals and providing two assists. The holding midfielder did pick up a whopping 17 yellow cards, which resulted in two separate Premier League suspensions and one in the Europa League.
FBref – Premier League 23/24
Edson Alvarez
Casemiro
Pass completion
85.6%
81.8%
Interceptions
42
18
Clearances
81
71
Errors leading to a shot
0
1
Tackles in defensive third
47
43
As can be seen, Alvarez outshone Casemiro in a number of areas last season, so the 26-year-old, who made more than 100 appearances under Ten Hag at Ajax, could prove to be a shrewd signing. Whether or not the Red Devils firm up their interest with a bid remains to be seen, but it looks as if a deal is one to keep an eye on.
Atletico Madrid have been hit with a partial stadium ban after a barrage of missiles were aimed at Real's Thibaut Courtois during the derby.
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