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Glasgow Rangers return to competitive action again on Wednesday night when they travel to Greece to take on Panathinaikos in the second leg of their second round Champions League qualifier.

The Light Blues head to Greece with a 2-0 lead on aggregate after they beat them at Ibrox last week in Russell Martin’s first official match in charge of the club.

Goals from Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama in the second half wrapped up the win for the Gers, as both wingers cut inside from the left to fire the ball into the back of the net from distance.

It was a first chance for Ibrox supporters to watch Gassama in action after his move from English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, and he showed what he is about with his strike.

The French winger produced eight goals and one assist in all competitions for the Owls last season, which suggests that Rangers fans can expect him to provide more quality as a goalscorer this term.

However, the Light Blues may be in the market for further additions in the wide areas because they still lack creativity in those positions, as they look to find their new Ryan Kent.

Why Rangers need to find their next Ryan Kent

In the 2024/25 campaign, no Rangers attacking midfielder or winger provided more than five assists in the Scottish Premiership, and no player in any position racked up more than James Tavernier’s tally of seven assists.

This suggests that the Light Blues are in need of a winger who can consistently open up the opposition’s defence with passes and crosses to create high-quality chances for their teammates to find the back of the net.

The Gers did have a winger who had the quality to consistently provide assists from the flanks when they had Kent on their books between 2018 and 2023, particularly in his final few seasons at Ibrox.

22/23

44

3

10

21/22

46

3

19

20/21

52

13

14

19/20

33

8

4

18/19

43

6

9

As you can see in the table above, the English forward hit double figures for assists in his last three seasons with the club, and produced at least nine assists in four of his five years in Glasgow.

These statistics show that he was a consistent creative threat down the left wing for the Gers, although they also show that he was inconsistent as a goalscorer.

Rangers are now looking to add more creativity to their squad to improve the team, and a fresh report suggests that they are on the verge of landing their next version of Ryan Kent.

Rangers set to sign new winger

According to the Daily Record, the Premiership giants have agreed a deal with Go Ahead Eagles to sign winger Oliver Antman to bolster their squad.

The report claims that the Finland international is poised to become the latest addition to Martin’s team within the next 24 to 48 hours, with a possible debut to come against Motherwell in the Premiership on Saturday.

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It adds that a fee of around £5m has been mentioned for the 23-year-old right-sided attacker, who is now set to agree personal terms before completing a medical and officially signing for the club.

The Daily Record explains that the two teams have made progress on a deal for the forward in recent days, and a fee has now been agreed to bring the Finnish whiz to Ibrox this summer.

It now appears to be only the finer details, including a medical and media duties, that need to be finalised before the Gers can officially announce Antman as their new hero.

Why Oliver Antman could be the new Ryan Kent for Rangers

Rangers could finally have their new Ryan Kent in the building once they get this deal over the line in the coming hours or days, as he is an incredibly creative forward.

Antman is not a like-for-like in comparison to the English forward, because he predominantly plays on the right rather than the left, but they share the same creative qualities.

The Finland international, who assisted a goal for his country against Scotland last year, enjoyed a stunning season with Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie in the 2024/25 campaign, as he showcased his ability to create goals on a regular basis.

Like Kent, Antman struggled at times as a goalscorer. He only scored six goals from 6.99 xG in the Dutch top-flight, which shows that the winger was too wasteful in front of goal, but the £5m-rated star made up for that with his assists.

Starts

28

Goals

6

Key passes per game

1.6

Big chances created

16

xA

6.54

Assists

15

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old talent created a whopping 16 ‘big chances’ in 28 starts in the Eredivisie, which landed him 15 assists.

His tally of 15 assists in the league meant that he created more than double as many league goals for his side in comparison to Tavernier, who was the top creator for Rangers in the Premiership last term with seven.

This suggests that Antman, who was aptly described as a “creative” winger by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has the potential to be a Kent-esque figure on the flank for Rangers due to his ability to consistently create ‘big chances’ for his teammates to find the back of the net.

Of course, the young attacker is unproven in the Premiership and needs to show that he can do it in Scottish football, but his form for Go Ahead Eagles shows that the potential is there for him to be an incredibly creative presence out wide for Martin.

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Hopefully, Rangers will wrap this deal up sooner rather than later and supporters will get the opportunity to see him in action for the first time on Saturday against Motherwell.

A huge few weeks are ahead for Rangers.

After the Gers endured a miserable campaign last time round, new manager Russell Martin has a lot of work to do if he is going to dethrone Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Martin’s first competitive game in charge is little over four weeks away, welcoming Panathinaikos to Ibrox in the Champions League second qualifying round, while the Light Blues will commence their Premiership campaign against Motherwell at Fir Park on 2 August.

Before then, the club are expected to make countless new signings, so are they about to bolster their back-line?

Rangers targeting a new centre-back

According to a report by Hrvoje Tironi in Croatian outlet 24 Sata, Rangers are ‘seriously interested’ in signing Osijek defender Luka Jelenić, facing competition from Portuguese outfit Vitória de Guimarães.

They add that Jelenić only joined Osijek from Varaždin for €800,000 (around £685k) a year ago, but the ‘reliable centre-back’ is likely to be sold for ‘serious money’, following many ‘quality’ performances, despite the fact his team finished down in seventh in last year’s Prva HNL.

Rangers require central defensive reinforcements, especially after it was confirmed on Friday that Leon Balogun had left the club on a free agent for Aris Limassol, where he could partner a familiar face, namely Connor Goldson, in Cyprus next season.

So, could Jelenić prove to be a shrewd addition?

How Jelenić would improve Rangers

As was widely reported, Rangers were strongly interested in signing Harry Darling on a free transfer this summer, given that the Englishman had worked with Martin at both MK Dons and Swansea, but he opted to join Norwich City and Liam Manning instead in the Championship,

This has seemingly seen them step-up their interest in Jelenić, thereby returning to a familiar source of talent, after they failed to convince the now-Canaries star to move to Ibrox.

Back in July 2018, Steven Gerrard’s side dumped NK Osijek out of Europa League qualifying, with Alfredo Morelos the only scorer at Stadion Gradski Vrt, before a 1-1 draw in Glasgow a week later saw them progress.

Gerrard was so impressed with the White and Blues that he swiftly signed two of their players.

The less said about Eros Grezda the better, but the reported £2.2m paid to secure the signature of Borna Barišić proved to be an absolute bargain, considering he would go onto make 236 appearances in a light blue jersey, winning all three domestic trophies, as well as being a key figure in the side that reached the Europa League Final of 2022.

So, could Jelenić have a similar impact?

Well, let’s assess his statistics from this season’s Prva HNL.

Minutes

2,532

32nd

Interceptions

50

1st

Tackles

58

12th

Clearances

144

7th

Passing accuracy %

86.74%

9th

Passes completed

1,204

10th

As the table outlines, despite somewhat limited minutes, Jelenić ranked highly for every defensive metric, as well as passing accuracy too, underlining that he is a well-rounded defender, who is particularly great at reading the game to make interceptions.

For comparison, Darling ranked 233rd in the EFL Championship for tackles (31) and 130th for interceptions (25), while registering a passing accuracy of 87.8%, only marginally higher than Jelenić’s figure, which suggests that the Croatian star could offer considerably more to the team from a defensive perspective.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him a “crazy talent”, while writer Kai Watson outlines how, at 6 ft 2 in tall, Jelenić is physically imposing and boasts ‘strong’ defensive abilities, while also being good in possession.

Meanwhile, Juan Carlos Molero highlights how he is ‘tough to beat’ in defensive duels, and rarely puts a foot wrong.

So, while top target Darling, who has gone elsewhere, is more of a known quantity, Jelenić is certainly a young defender on the up with enormous potential, so it would be an excellent piece of business if Rangers are able to add him to their squad.

He'd be better than Darling: Rangers open talks to sign "immaculate" star

Having missed out on signing Harry Darling, Rangers have made an approach to land a new defender.

Jun 19, 2025

Leeds United have now entered talks over a summer deal for a “fantastic” player, who has “proven” himself in the Champions League, according to a report.

Leeds eyeing Meslier replacement despite promotion

Illan Meslier’s catalogue of errors ultimately didn’t cost Leeds in their quest for promotion, who sealed a return to the Premier League after reaching the 100-point mark with a 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle on the final day, but it looks as though they may still consider replacing the Frenchman.

Karl Darlow was brought in for the final seven matches of the Championship campaign, with the 34-year-old keeping four clean sheets, but given his age, Daniel Farke may be keen to bring in a younger goalkeeper as a replacement for Meslier.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Sam Johnstone is one of the targets, and the Preston-born shot-stopper could be an attractive option, given his experience in the Premier League, but there has now been a suggestion the Championship title-winners could take a risk on more of an unknown quantity.

According to a report from Germany (via Leeds United News), Leeds are one of a number of clubs now in talks to sign Bayern Munich goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, who could now be in line to leave the German club, after arriving for around £4m less than two years ago.

The 6 foot 3 colossus has only played a sporadic role since arriving at the Allianz Arena, meaning he could move on this summer, although given that he still retains hope of becoming Bayern’s first-choice goalkeeper, a loan deal may be on the cards.

The Whites are set to face competition for the Israeli’s signature, however, with Burnley and Genoa also keen, alongside PSV Eindhoven, and the Eredivisie side are said to be in pole position.

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It is no wonder Leeds are looking at bringing in a new goalkeeper this summer, as even though they may have gotten away with Meslier’s mistakes at Championship level, their Premier League status could be in doubt if the goalkeeper makes similar errors next season.

TEAMtalk’s James Marshment criticised the 25-year-old for another “high-profile clanger” against Hull City back in January, following on from a major late error which cost Farke’s side two points against Sunderland in October.

Peretz, on the other hand, has been praised by Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl, who said: “Daniel Peretz is a fantastic backup. He’s proven himself in the cup, Bundesliga, and now the Champions League. He also delivered great performances for the Israeli national team against Belgium and France.

That said, the 24-year-old has found game time hard to come by at Bayern, making just five senior appearances across the 2024-25 season, so he may need to leave for the good of his career this summer, at which point it is clear Leeds will need to replace Meslier.

Tottenham Hotspur and a player have now agreed to part ways this summer after behind-scenes talks, with the man himself making an admission about his future in N17.

Ange Postecoglou likely to leave Tottenham as Spurs plan for summer

Ange Postecoglou suffered his nineteenth top-flight defeat of the season against Liverpool on Sunday, which equalled the Lilywhites’ record for most league losses in a single Premier League campaign.

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Dominic Solanke surprisingly opened the scoring for Spurs at Anfield, but their joy was short-lived, as goals from Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Mohammed Salah and Destiny Udogie (OG) cemented Liverpool’s status as champions of England on another afternoon to forget for the north Londoners.

Tottenham’s final Premier League fixtures	Date
West Ham (away)	May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)	May 10th
Aston Villa (away)	May 18th
Brighton (home)	May 25th

Reports in the build up to that match indicated that Postecoglou could leave Tottenham regardless of their Europa League campaign, with Spurs facing Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their semi-final on Thursday.

A plethora of top coaches have been tipped as candidates to succeed Postecoglou, including Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Scott Parker (Burnley).

GiveMeSport have also reported that Tottenham have discussed hiring Jürgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso, with some key decision-makers determined to showcase ambition in their pursuit of a new manager.

Alongside Postecoglou, a few players may be joining the former Celtic boss in departing the club this summer. Cristian Romero is a top target for Atlético Madrid, and a report from The Telegraph’s Matt Law this week claims Tottenham are in for a ‘sell to buy’ window, so the Argentine’s exit is entirely possible.

Richarlison has also been linked with a summer exit from Spurs recently, amid rumoured interest from David Moyes’ Everton, while those within Tottenham are growing more open to selling Pedro Porro to fund their transfer plans (Graeme Bailey). There is also the matter of players currently out on loan elsewhere, like Manor Solomon and Bryan Gil.

Bryan Gil confirms decision to leave Tottenham this summer

The latter was on a temporary deal at Girona, where he managed four goals and three assists in 32 total appearances for the club.

However, the 24-year-old’s season is now over due to a ligament tear which required surgery, and that has also given him time to discuss his long-term future with the press.

Speaking to Estadio Deportivo, Gil confirmed his decision to leave Tottenham, and it is a totally mutual call, as both parties seek to part ways with no hard feelings.

“That’s something my agent will tell me where things are going, but they [Spurs] told me, and I told them, that the best thing is for us not to continue being linked to Tottenham,” said Gil.

“They bet on me when I was young, and they’ve treated me fairly well, but if I have to go back there, I’ll focus on giving my best as always. I’m calm because no one can have a bad word to say about me not being professional. Without playing, I’ve always trained well, I’ve done what I had to do, so whatever has to happen, will happen. We’ll see where we are next year.”

The Spaniard was signed by Fabio Paratici in a £21.6 million swap deal involving Erik Lamela, but after four years at Spurs dominated by loan moves elsewhere, it appears the “very exciting” Gil is destined to leave for good – if Daniel Levy can find a buyer.

Despite positive updates arriving regarding Virgil van Dijk’s Liverpool’s future, the Reds are now reportedly willing to offer as much as £87m to sign one of the world’s best defenders.

Fabrizio Romano provides Van Dijk update

Whilst there’s no doubting the fact that Liverpool have endured a fantastic first season under Arne Slot, recent weeks have handed the Dutchman his most difficult spell in charge yet. First exiting the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, Liverpool then lost against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at the same time that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s likely departure stole the headlines.

Making matters worse, Slot’s side failed to make it back-to-back victories on their Premier League return, following their win against Everton with a disappointing 3-2 defeat against Fulham. So, although the title is just four wins away, those at Anfield needed the good news that Fabrizio Romano has just provided.

By sealing new deals for both Salah and Van Dijk, Liverpool would instantly avoid what would be a disastrous start to their summer transfer window. Losing Alexander-Arnold will be a major blow, especially for free, but losing all of the big free at the same time without making any profit would be the ultimate nightmare for those at Anfield.

For now, at least, Van Dijk has remained particularly relaxed over his situation – telling reporters after the Fulham game: “There is progress, yeah. Listen, these are internal discussions and we’ll see.

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“I love the club, I love the fans and they were there for us again [at Fulham]. We wanted to reward them, but I ask them to be there again on Sunday and make the stadium an amazing venue like always for us.”

What that recent news will do is allow the Reds to focus on incomings which could yet reportedly include one of the best defenders that European football has to offer.

Liverpool plotting £87m Araujo deal

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now willing to offer a ‘blockbuster’ deal to sign Ronald Araujo worth as much as €100m (£87m) this summer. The Reds reportedly have concrete interest in the Barcelona defender even with Van Dijk set to stay put and could yet form the ultimate partnership between the impressive duo.

Starts

21

31

Progressive Passes

101

152

Tackles Won

22

16

Ball Recoveries

102

97

Although Araujo has missed the majority of the current campaign through a hamstring injury, last season’s numbers suggest that he’d form quite the partnership with Van Dijk at the heart of Liverpool’s defence.

Having been dubbed “excellent” by Hansi Flick on his return from injury earlier this season, Araujo is certainly a key man for Barcelona. Whether they still decide to ease their financial problems by cashing in on their defender will certainly be interesting, however.

The last few weeks in the Caribbean have been rough for Sam Konstas, and might be viewed as growing pains some day. But, for now, it’s back to the drawing board for the selectors

Andrew McGlashan14-Jul-20250:27

Sam Konstas gone for duck as tough Caribbean tour ends

It was meant, or at least hoped, to be the beginning of something. The new era of Australia’s top order. But as Sam Konstas walked slowly off Sabina Park in the glare of the floodlights having fallen for a duck, there was instead a familiar question being asked: who is going to open the batting for Australia going forward?In six innings against West Indies, he has made 50 runs at 8.33. That’s the lowest series average for an Australia opener in the 21st century, pushing David Warner’s 2019 Ashes into second place. Across all time, only Alec Bannerman, Rick Darling, Wayne Phillips and Keith Stackpole have scored fewer runs in six innings as an opener in a series. Those are harsh numbers to sit with a 19-year-old who has basically been asked to develop his game on the international stage: five of Konstas’ 20 first-class matches have been Tests.In his final innings of the series, Konstas could not have asked for a tougher set of conditions than West Indies’ very good pace attack with a new pink Dukes ball under lights. He left his first ball from Shamar Joseph, defended the second and third, and shouldered arms to the fourth. The fifth ball of the over was short of a length outside off and Konstas pushed at it off the back foot, the thick edge flying to Roston Chase at gully.Related

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“It’s pretty hard, but you wouldn’t know how he’s been going, if he’s gone well or not. He seems pretty level,” Scott Boland said. “He’s always training hard. I see him hit hundreds of balls. I’m sure he’s got a big future. It’s not going to be the last he plays for Australia.”West Indies have bowled very well to Konstas and his opener partner Usman Khawaja throughout the series. Khawaja fell for the sixth time in six innings from around the wicket, dragging Shamar Joseph into his stumps, although has soaked up more than 300 deliveries in the three matches. Meanwhile, they have exposed Konstas on both sides of his bat, raising questions over whether he has technical issues that should be addressed at the level below.In Barbados, he was twice removed by in-duckers, targeting a weakness that had been evident in his early career, and it was a similar manner of dismissal in the first innings in Jamaica. In Grenada, he edged behind and then in the second innings dragged on looking to force through the off side. On the opening day of the second Test, Konstas got himself set on 25 – an innings termed a “small step forward” by coach Andrew McDonald – and in Jamaica, worked hard to 17 although he was given a life in the slips. It’s slim pickings.

And while the last few weeks have rough, in years to come it may be viewed as growing pains. Sam Konstas can still forge a long Test career. But, for now, it’s back to the drawing board for the selectors

There need to be some caveats. Conditions in the Caribbean have been torrid for openers. The highest score by any of them is 47. The overall collective batting average for the series from both sides currently sits below 20. When Steven Smith is all at sea as he was against Alzarri Joseph, you know it’s tough. Konstas is not alone. It was asking a lot, maybe too much.But the spotlight has been on him because Australia are desperate to find a settled opening pair, well aware that they may need new opener before too long. Prior to this series, McDonald said he wanted some stability before facing England in the Ashes. Now it feels a lot will have to go right for Konstas to be walking out in Perth.The Australian selectors had waited to bring Konstas back after his whirlwind debut against India. He sat out the Sri Lanka tour when the long-standing plan to open with Travis Head was retained and then Marnus Labuschagne was given one last chance to save his place in the World Test Championship final.”It’s not going to be the last he plays for Australia,” Scott Boland said of Sam Konstas•AFP/Getty ImagesBetween Konstas’ two Test series, there had been the extraordinary display in the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria, where he fell sweeping Boland in the third over. He managed to recalibrate himself somewhat for the latter stages of the season, but since the heady moments of his Test debut, it has felt like he is trying to work out the batter he wants or needs to be.At around the time Konstas was dismissed in Jamaica, the state fixtures from the Australian domestic season were released and it laid out the run of matches Konstas has before the start of the Ashes with Sheffield Shield matches at the WACA, Junction Oval, the Gabba and SCG. He is also a good chance of featuring for Australia A in the two four-day games on the tour of India in late September. Three or four hundreds, particularly at home Test venues and, perhaps, the Ashes isn’t out of reach.When it was put to McDonald last week that Test selection was heading for another “bat-off”, he smiled and said that was the media’s term not his. But he acknowledged there would be great opportunities. The Test-match dream for the likes of Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw could well live on. There will be uncapped players such as Jake Weatherald thrown into the mix. Labuschagne may yet find a way back at the top of the order.And while the last few weeks have been rough, in years to come it may be viewed as growing pains. Konstas can still forge a long Test career. But, for now, it’s back to the drawing board for the selectors.

At the 2019 World Cup, Kuldeep was smashed by the same opposition, which started a downward spiral for him

Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Oct-2023If you’re a mystery spinner in 2023, there are countless close-ups of your grip, dozens of analysts breaking down your release from slo-mo footage, and opposition batters poring over every flick of your fingers.You think you’re the finished product? That deception will always be your friend? That you will forever leave batters gawking open-mouthed at clattered stumps? The world has news for you. Whatever trickery has brought you here may not last. Under the blinding spotlight of international cricket, so little of your game can remain in the shadows.So it was for Kuldeep Yadav in the 2019 World Cup, on a cloudy Birmingham afternoon. Kuldeep, partnered then with Yuzvendra Chahal (giving rise to #KulCha), had in 2018 magicked his way repeatedly through the England batting order, claiming nine wickets at 16.44, in a three-match ODI series.Related

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But a year later, there Kuldeep was, being bullied by the same opposition. Jason Roy smoked him repeatedly down the ground, Jonny Bairstow danced down the pitch and thumped him for sixes or stayed in his crease and reverse-swept him for fours. In his ten overs, Kuldeep was ransacked for 72.The next year was also unkind. After being dropped from the XI before the end of that World Cup campaign, Kuldeep went for a run-a-ball through his next nine ODIs. In that time he averaged 44.72 – a wristspinner both struggling for wickets and failing to build pressure through the middle overs. When he was let go from the squad entirely, you wondered if that had been the last of him at the top level.It wouldn’t be the first time, right? Mystery spinners – match-winners when they are hot, liabilities when unravelled. The genre of cricketers most likely to have a shelf life.That Kuldeep has successfully reinvented himself, and bowled his way back into the India XI, is credit to his own pursuit of evolution, of course. But it also speaks to an increasing resilience in Indian cricket, which provides players multiple paths back. If it is not the National Cricket Academy, it is a state body, and failing that, the IPL. Whatever ails you, there is knowledge, there is investment, there is support.Kuldeep Yadav was taken apart by Daryl Mitchell but came back strongly•ICC/Getty ImagesIn this World Cup, roughly four years after his game broke down, Kuldeep has been a vital part of India’s attack, never going wicketless, proving difficult to dominate, and mounting a strong resurgence even in the one match in which he was blasted.It is in that New Zealand game in Dharamsala that all of Kuldeep 2.0 was in evidence. He had bowled slower in the early overs, looking for big turn, but when Daryl Mitchell came down the pitch and repeatedly launched him straight, Kuldeep would find ways to reply. When Mitchell shaped to reverse-sweep, Kuldeep would usually slip in the quicker ball – sometimes bowled like a cross-seam delivery, not looking for sideways movement off the surface, but frequently bowled at more than 100kph, and occasionally gaining a little extra bounce when the ball hits the seam.In general, there is just more zip in Kuldeep’s deliveries now. The old revolutions on the ball, and the turn, is still there, but the most obvious of the technical changes is his straighter approach to the crease, which in turn means there is more body behind the action, which takes stress off the shoulder, and a stronger front arm. Essentially, when batters are crashing him for boundaries, as Mitchell – and to a lesser extent Rachin Ravindra – did in his first five overs, Kuldeep now has an entire defensive section of his bowling to fall back on. He can slide them quickly with the arm, get others to skid through into the pads out of the front of the hand, and slip in fast, wide googlies with the leg side open, tempting right-hand batters to drag him against the turn.As for many other successful mystery spinners, it is having strong defensive options for when pitches are flat, or batters are flying, that allows them to be more persistent with their attacking deliveries. If boundaries come, there is belief that control can be regained, both within the bowler, and from his captain. After going for 48 in his first five overs against New Zealand, Kuldeep was not rushed out of the attack. His last five overs cost only 25, despite his earlier tormentor Mitchell still being at the crease. He also claimed two wickets, both with quickish deliveries. He should have had another – the wicket of Mitchell – had Jasprit Bumrah held a straightforward chance at long-off.There is irony to Kuldeep showcasing his newfound mettle ahead of his next World Cup game against England. In their own way, England’s white-ball team has come full circle too, reprising that familiar England avatar, in which they drag their carcasses around the tournament.To the extent that they have been able to prepare for India, following their crushing defeat to Sri Lanka on Thursday, England will have pored over footage of Kuldeep 2.0. Perhaps they will have clocked too, that his game does not seem so easy to dismantle as it had once been in Birmingham.

The pandemic is partly to blame, but what they really need to raise their level is many more fixtures

Tim Wigmore18-Nov-2021T20 is cricket’s globalisation tool, as the ICC endlessly reminds us. The 2021 World Cup has not given reason to reassess that view, but for advocates of cricket’s expansionism, the Associates’ performances in the tournament have been a little disconcerting.Ultimately the best day for the emerging world was the tournament’s very first, when Scotland recovered from 53 for 6 to defeat Bangladesh by six runs in Muscat. The only other Associate scalp against a Full Member came when Namibia defeated Ireland to progress to the Super 12s. The closest that Scotland or Namibia got to a victory in their eight games against Full Members in that stage of the tournament was Scotland’s 16-run defeat to New Zealand.These performances amount to a regression from the Associates’ displays in the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups. In the first round of the 2014 tournament, Hong Kong defeated Bangladesh and Ireland beat Zimbabwe. Then, in the second round, Netherlands thrashed England by 45 runs and lost by only six runs to South Africa. Two years later, Afghanistan easily beat Zimbabwe to reach the Super 10s. There, they beat eventual winners West Indies, and had England at 57 for 6, before losing by 15 runs.Related

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'If we create a brand people love, cricket will be a Namibian sport'

T20 World Cup exit prompts 'serious questions' of Ireland's operations

Associate nations have been more greatly impacted by Covid-19 than anyone else in elite cricket. Most Associates essentially played no international matches for 18 months until September this year. Scotland, often considered the leading Associate, put their players on furlough to save money; Chris Greaves, the Player of the Match against Bangladesh in the 2021 World Cup, spent the start of the year delivering parcels for Amazon. Nearly two months of playing in the UAE was particularly challenging for many of these players, who had never experienced intensive bubble life like this before.While these short-term encumbrances explain emerging nations’ challenges this year, there are other forces at work. The greatest is simply the evolution of T20. Since the last World Cup, there have been six editions of the IPL, but Associate players rarely feature in the league, and have scant experience in other major franchise tournaments.Even allowing for the profound difficulties caused by the pandemic, Associates are better T20 sides than five years ago. The problem is, so are the teams ranked above them. From 2010-15, the nine leading Full Members – those part of the World Test Championship – played 2.6 ODIs for every T20I. Since 2016, they have played only 1.2 ODIs for every T20I.In T20 World Cups, Associate teams used to have a curious advantage. They had greater knowledge about their opponents, because while video footage and data from games between Test teams was readily accessible, information about the Associate world was comparatively hard to find. In this World Cup, the sight of two fielders routinely placed to protect the boundary from George Munsey’s reverse sweeps attests to how Test teams have become shrewder in their planning against Associates.But the biggest issue for Associate teams is simply their paucity of fixtures compared to Test sides.Hong Kong beat Bangladesh by two wickets in their 2014 T20 World Cup match in Chattogram•Associated PressThe same was long true in ODIs before the Cricket World Cup League 2 guaranteed leading Associates 36 ODIs between the 2019 and 2023 World Cups. The upshot is that the gulf in playing experience between emerging nations and Full Members is now greater in T20 than 50-over cricket.Leading T20 players play around 50 matches a year, spread across international cricket and leagues. Between the World Cup qualifiers in 2019 and the 2021 World Cup, Namibia’s captain, Gerhard Erasmus, only played 11 T20s, and Kyle Coetzer, Scotland’s captain, five.Ostensibly T20 is the format best suited to emerging sides, but the assumption that this is automatically true is a lazy one. Ireland have defeated both England and South Africa in the ODI Super League, but the World Cup has highlighted that their T20I side is altogether less advanced.Scotland’s run in ODI cricket in 2017-18, when they defeated England, Afghanistan and came within six runs of defeating West Indies and nearly qualifying for the 2019 World Cup, exceeds any streak they have put together against top ten nations in T20I cricket.And so the T20 World Cup results should prompt serious thought about how to close the gap between emerging nations and leading Full Members in the format. More bilateral matches between Test teams and Associates would obviously help; how to fit them into the calendar is another matter.Creative thinking could help accelerate Associates’ T20 development. In women’s cricket, the ICC has previously funded contracts for Associate players in the Women’s Big Bash. A partnership that allowed, say, 20 leading Associate players to train with teams in the IPL and Big Bash would help them tap into the networks, knowledge-sharing and cutting-edge thinking happening in the format. Including Associates in domestic T20 competitions, like the T20 Blast and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and giving them more cricket against A teams from leading nations would be a boon. All of this will require goodwill from Full Members – and extra funding during the 2024-31 ICC cycle.From 2024, the men’s T20 World Cup will expand to 20 teams, with the unwieldy first round abolished. For the first time in history, cricket will get a World Cup that, in its scope, will feel like a global affair to rival those in football or basketball.It is an unprecedented opportunity to turbocharge cricket’s growth. But the events of the last month in the UAE should serve as a reminder. More teams in the World Cup may be necessary to globalise the sport, yet what happens between World Cups is just as important.

The four week long period between this international break and the next, containing seven fixtures, could be season-defining for Celtic.

Having yielded just a solitary point from their first two Europa League outings, Brendan Rodgers’ team really need to get some points on the board against Sturm Graz at home and then Midtjylland in Herning, because the fixtures only get tougher after that.

Meantime, on the domestic front, the Hoops will visit current Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts the Sunday after next, an eagerly anticipated clash at Tynecastle, before the small matter of an Old Firm League Cup semi-final at Hampden a week later.

Given their underwhelming form so far, supporters are hoping to see players come to the fore and put their best foot forward, but which summer signing is showing early signs of a certain Tom Rogic?

Tom Rogic's Celtic career in numbers

Few players in modern Celtic history remain as beloved as Rogic.

After arriving from Central Coast Mariners in January 2013, the Australian made 272 appearances in hoops, scoring 46 goals and providing 51 assists.

He netted six times against Rangers, while also scoring, arguably, the most famous goal of the club’s recent history, firing home a stoppage-time winner in the 2017 Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen to secure the invincible treble that bookended Rodgers’ first season in charge.

Affectionately known as the Wizard of Oz, this nickname encapsulates Rogic’s style of play, possessing the clichéd ‘wand of a left foot’, while Rodgers similarly labelled him a “magician”.

Meantime, then teammate Josip Juranović asserted that the Australian “is little Messi”, adding “he’s one of the best players I have played with”.

When he departed at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, Rogic received an emotional standing ovation from the Celtic faithful as genuine and heartfelt recognition for all the magical moments he had provided.

He cited wanting the move closer to home as the reason for his departure and, technically, he did that by about 280 of the 10,550 miles, joining West Bromwich Albion as a free agent, albeit he made only 23 appearances for the Baggies before retiring at the age of 30.

When Rogic arrived as a 20-year-old from an A-League club very few in Glasgow would ever have heard of, surely no one could’ve foreseen just how impactful he would be at the club, so is a current squad member set for a similar trajectory?

Celtic's next Tom Rogic

Supporters remain generally furious with the board’s inactivity this summer, believing that transfer deals were completed too late, costing Celtic a place in the Champions League.

Well, considering Marcelo Saracchi, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho all arrived after the play-off defeat to Kairat, they may have a point.

One new recruit who did join all the way back in June, instantaneously establishing himself as a first-choice starter, is Benjamin Nygren, and what an absolute bargain he could prove to be.

Into the final few months of his contract with Nordsjælland, the Hoops managed to sign the Sweden international for a reported fee of £1.7m, while Football Transfers believe his current value to be around £6m, having already increased just 13 appearances into his Celtic career.

The table below emphasises his importance to the team so far this season.

Nygren Celtic statistics
Stats	Nygren	Celtic rank
Goals	4	1st
Assists	4	1st
Shots	23	1st
Shots on target	11	1st
Key passes	6	1st
Big chances created	6	1st
Shot-creating actions	6	1st
Successful dribbles per 90	0.7	2nd
Average rating	7.67	1st
Stats via FBref and SofaScore

As the table documents, Nygren ranks first for a wide variety of attacking metrics this season, thereby very much part of Rodgers’ first-choice midfield trio, despite the fact many forecast he was joining to replace Nicolas Kühn on the right-wing.

The Swede, who was an unused substitute for both of the Blågult’s World Cup qualifying defeats this week, scored his fourth goal for Celtic against Motherwell last time out, having opened his account for the club against Aberdeen in August.

Following that victory at Pittodrie, Rodgers praised Nygren’s “excellent” performance, noting that “his intuition is to get in the box and score goals”, as Rogic often did, connecting with Kieran Tierney’s low cross to fire past Dimitar Mitov.

Meantime, following a 5-1 dismantling of Northern Ireland in March, international teammate Alexander Isak described Nygren as “fearless”, concluding that “playing with a winger like that who is able to provide good crosses can only be beneficial for someone like me”.

That is high praise from the most-expensive player in British football history, so the £1.7m Celtic paid to secure the 24-year-old’s signature looks like a genuine bargain.

Thus, supporters will hope he remains in Glasgow’s East End for nigh on a decade too, as Rogic did, the last player at the club who could boast possessing an equally majestic left foot.

Cost £0, now worth more than Tounekti: Celtic hit gold on "phenomenal" star

Sebastian Tounekti has made an impressive start to life at Celtic, but a “prolific” attacker who arrived for free has a higher estimated market value.

By
Ben Gray

Oct 10, 2025

Tottenham have been tipped to strike a ‘similar deal to Jack Grealish’ in January as Thomas Frank edges closer to his first winter window at Spurs.

Tottenham make January plans with a forward the priority

The Lilywhites are preparing to make attacking reinforcements their primary objective during the January window, with media sources confirming significant funds will be available for the right target as Frank seeks solutions to his struggling side’s creativity issues.

Co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange will be drawing up a list of potential options spanning both domestically and abroad, if they haven’t already.

Reports suggest Spurs are more likely to pursue a wide forward rather than a central striker when the window opens, with Dominic Solanke slowly coming back to full fitness and Randal Kolo Muani starting to find his feet.

Premier League home form table

Team

Wins

Draws

Losses

Points

GD

16. Burnley

2

1

4

7

-2

17. Nottingham Forest

2

1

4

7

-5

18. West Ham

2

0

5

6

-9

19. Tottenham

1

2

4

5

-1

20. Wolves

0

1

6

1

-11

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has emerged as a very strong candidate to join the north Londoners.

The Ghanaian winger has been sensational this season, bagging six goals and three assists in 13 Premier League appearances for the Cherries so far this term.

His ability to threaten from both flanks, combined with his blistering pace, makes him ideal. The possibility of Mohammed Kudus on one side and Semenyo is pretty tantalising in itself, as is the 25-year-old’s £65 million release clause, which will be active early next month.

If Spurs do opt to sign a centre-forward in January, all signs point towards FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa as their top target.

The 21-year-old Spanish international has seriously impressed in Portugal following his £15 million move from Atlético Madrid in 2024, scoring six goals across all competitions this season after his 27-goal haul last term.

Standing at a towering 6 foot 3, Aghehowa offers the physical presence and aerial threat Tottenham currently lack, though Porto president André Villas-Boas has publicly stated the forward is “not for sale at any price in winter,” with the club demanding at least £68 million for his services.

All that being said, the media remain adamant that a new attacker will arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next month, but a box-to-box midfielder also cannot be ruled out amid Yves Bissouma’s uncertain future.

The Mali international is yet to play a single competitive minute under Frank, largely due to injury, but it is worth noting that Spurs were open to offers for Bissouma in the summer.

Tottenham will entertain bids for the 29-year-old once again in January, but if they can’t find a suitor they’ll activate the one-year extension option in his contract to prevent a free transfer next year (The Mail).

If Bissouma does leave in the winter, Frank will need a replacement, and Atlético Madrid’s Conor Gallagher is available.

Tottenham tipped to strike Grealish-like deal for Conor Gallagher

Spurs did hold a serious interest in the England international before his switch to Atlético, with Diego Simeone’s side informing Gallagher that he can leave in January.

That is according to former Spurs scout Bryan King, who also believes that Tottenham could well sign Gallagher on loan in a ‘similar deal’ to Grealish at Everton.

King also thinks that the 25-year-old would ‘jump’ at the chance to move there, even despite his Chelsea connections.

Gallagher has made 70 appearances for Atlético since his 2024 move, scoring six goals and racking up another six assists.

He’s been in and out of Simeone’s eleven this season, and with the 2026 World Cup looming, he’ll be keen to battle his way back into Thomas Tuchel’s thinking.

The dynamic midfielder would offer a different option to the likes of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur in front of the back four, and he can play more offensively too.

Capable of pitching in going forward, signing Gallagher on loan would be a very astute bit of business.