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Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for an heir to club legend Son Heung-min, who waved an emotional goodbye in Seoul over the weekend.

Perfect Maddison upgrade: Spurs make immediate enquiry for £40m "magician"

Tottenham’s chief playmaker has sustained a worrying knee injury in pre-season.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 5, 2025

It was a tearful Sunday night in South Korea, as Son played what was his final game for Spurs before his MLS record-breaking near £20 million move to Los Angeles FC.

A sunken-eyed send-off befitting a club legend unfolded at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, where 64,773 fans packed in to honour the winger in a friendly against Newcastle. Tottenham drew 1-1, but the attention belonged almost entirely to Son’s farewell, even if it was marred somewhat by an horrific-looking injury to star midfielder James Maddison.

After ten years at Spurs – where he scored 173 goals in 454 games and led them to a long-awaited trophy with their Europa League triumph – Son was given a guard of honour from both sides before exiting in the 65th minute.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

His teammates lifted him shoulder-high, and even Newcastle players joined in the tribute, highlighting just how deeply respected he is.

Thomas Frank described the tributes last weekend as “unbelievable, beautiful scenes,” while Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said the reaction spoke volumes about Son’s character and the mark he left on the Premier League.

The curtain has closed on his golden era at Spurs. But for Son, his legacy lives on – in north London’s history books and the hearts of countless fans across the globe.

Unfortunately for Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange, the Lilywhites are now presented with an almighty task to somehow replace both his contribution on the pitch and his presence in the dressing room.

Son was often credited as a natural leader behind-the-scenes and someone who’d play a key role in helping to ease new players into the squad, which will be very hard to replicate, but the north Londoners are set to give it their best shot.

According to recent reports, Tottenham could attempt to make a real statement by signing Real Madrid forward Rodrygo to step into Son’s shoes.

The Brazil international has been linked with a Bernabeu exit ever since the summer window opened, with Levy reportedly targeting Rodrygo in what would be a very bold, exciting move.

Tottenham await reply to Rodrygo offer after Real Madrid star's U-turn

Spanish news outlet Marca have a very intriguing update on this.

The 24-year-old was apparently determined to stay and fight for his place under Xabi Alonso, but in a U-turn over his future, he’s now leaning more towards the exit door.

In response, various intermediaries have contacted Real to gauge the conditions of a potential deal, and Frank’s side are among the clubs who are offering the ex-Santos sensation a route out of La Liga.

Marca reports that agents are convinced Tottenham have already made a bid for Rodrygo as the N17 club await a reply from Los Blancos, but there’s no disclosure about the details of this alleged bid right now.

Real value their South American star at a minimum £60 million, which could rise to around £70 million, so Levy faces the prospect of potentially having to pay a club-record fee for Rodrygo’s signature.

However, as Son’s farewell leaves a hefty gap, Rodrygo could be the one to fill it.

The Real star has bags of Champions League experience, blistering pace and a flair for the spectacular – cut from a similar cloth to Son.

He already has multiple European titles to his name and thrives drifting in from out wide, bagging 14 goals and 11 assists last season despite falling down the pecking order in recent months.

At Spurs, he’d undoubtedly be the main man, and his versatility is another very attractive trait for Frank in particular.

Brisbane Heat captain Jess Jonassen did her best to keep the chase alive after rain but there was too much to do

Alex Malcolm01-Dec-2024An all-round masterclass from Hayley Matthews helped Melbourne Renegades break their WBBL title-drought in a nail-biting rain-affected final against Brisbane Heat at the MCG.Matthews made 69 off 61, took 2 for 24 with the ball and claimed a critical catch to continue her extraordinary record in T20 finals and guide the struggling franchise claim their first championship just a season after finishing last. Heat’s finals heartbreak continued after losing last year’s decider by three runs at Adelaide Oval.A sloppy fielding effort saw Heat concede 141 for 9 when they could have reduced Renegades to 76 for 5 after 12 overs. A top-order collapse either side of a rain delay then saw them needing 61 from 30 with five wickets in hand. Jess Jonassen nearly pulled off the impossible, smashing 44 not out from 28 balls but Heat still fell short. Five of Renegades’ six bowlers chipped in with wickets while Wareham was the most economical, conceding just 12 runs from two overs.Renegades rocked by early rustAfter qualifying for the final, Renegades had to wait eight days between matches and the rust showed early. Courtney Webb slapped a pull shot straight to midwicket and Sophie Molineux sliced a cut shot to backward point. Deandra Dottin was run out in dozy circumstances, without facing a ball, to sum up Renegades’ sleepy start. Dottin was jogging through for a single to deep midwicket when she got her bat stuck in the turf on the popping crease as she slid it to make her ground and her foot did not touch down before Georgia Redmayne broke the stumps. It left Renegades 23 for 3 in the fifth over and in real danger of capitulating despite Heat’s bowling not looking overly threatening on a pretty good surface.Cool-headed Hayley holds firmMatthews remained unflustered. She was not striking the ball cleanly, struggling to 6 off 15 at one point. But two boundaries in the sixth over off the legspin of Grace Parsons helped her find some rhythm. Wareham was an important foil in a steadying 41-run stand. Wareham struck three boundaries in her run-a-ball 21 before holing out to long-on off Parsons. The legspinner should have had another straight away when Stalenberg skied her to deep midwicket, but Charli Knott dropped the chance diving forward. It proved a key moment.Instead of being 76 for 5 after 12 overs, Renegades took the power surge after just four-down. Matthews stepped up, thumping Shikha Pandey for three boundaries in the over. Jonassen then opted for spin in six of the last seven overs, with the exception of one from Lucy Hamilton. It worked to some degree, as Renegades scored just 50 from 42 balls, but it was odd to see Nicola Hancock bowl just one over in the final after being Heat’s star in last year’s decider with 3 for 23. Heat did take a wicket in each of the last five overs. Hamilton was the pick of the bowlers with 1 for 19 from her four including the dangerous Nicole Faltum. But Matthews was able to club three boundaries in the last three overs, all from the offspin of Knott.Jess Jonassen did her best to keep Brisbane Heat in the chase•Getty ImagesHorror Heat start compounded by rainGrace Harris held the key in the chase, and the decision to open with Charis Bekker’s left-arm orthodox proved a masterstroke for Renegades. Harris holed out trying to loft over mid-on for a second ball duck. Jemimah Rodrigues miscued Milly Illingworth to cover in the next over as Heat fell to 11 for 2 before a critical rain shower came after 3.2 overs. Rain had been forecast for some point in the afternoon and had been a factor in Heat’s decision to bowl first. But no one was sure how long the shower would last and how it would impact the chase.The rain lasted long enough to knock off eight overs but Heat’s poor start meant Duckworth-Lewis-Stern set them 98 to win off 12 overs with only eight wickets in hand and one power surge over to use. Renegades continued the trial by spin after the rain and Heat were doused. Molineux bagged the key wicket of Redmayne before Matthews added to her finals aura with two wickets in two balls, including Laura Harris for a first ball duck, to leave Heat 37 for 5 needing 61 from 30 balls.Jonassen almost pulls off a miracleHeat’s captain almost did it. Boundaries in each of the next two overs keep them within touching distance of the alarming required rate before she opted to take the surge with 43 needed from 18. Molineux opted to bowl just the second over of pace for the innings and Dottin got clobbered. Two length balls on the pads sailed to midwicket for six and four respectively. Jonassen lofted the next over cover for two more as Renegades fans started to get nervous.But a mistake from Lauren Winfield-Hill off the next delivery proved costly. Jonassen wanted a second run to deep midwicket to retain the strike, Winfield-Hill denied her. The English import miscued the next to Matthews at mid-off to fall for 3 off 5. Hancock then faced a dot and the equation was 30 off 12. Matthews bowled two long hops that were both smashed to the fence but was able to close out the over without any more damage. Molineux returned to bowl the last with Heat needing an unlikely 19. She gave up just 11 including a consolation six off the last ball, sealing Renegades’ first WBBL title.

Lucas Paqueta has been put through the wringer over the past few years, but there is light at the end of the tunnel for the West Ham United midfielder, having been cleared of wrongdoing in an FA betting scandal.

The spot-fixing charges pinned against the Brazil international would have had a ruinous effect on his career, had he failed to clear his name.

The 27-year-old can now turn his focus back to his football, and it’s a good thing too, for he struggled to capture his previous form under David Moyes last term, patently distracted by the off-field issues.

Graham Potter’s controlled, technical game aligns perfectly with the style of Paqueta, who has been described in the past as a “magician” by journalist Robbie Mustoe.

But he could do with some extra creative help in the middle of the park, and Potter is lining up a new dance partner.

West Ham in talks for new midfielder

Potter has welcomed Kyle Walker-Peters and El Hadji Malick Diouf to the Hammers ranks this summer, but after losing Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur for a £55m fee, more is needed across the midfield and attack.

Transfer Focus

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

Well, according to GIVEMESPORT, West Ham have pitched their proposal to Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, who is weighing up his options after falling down the pecking order in Unai Emery’s system.

Villa don’t particularly want to cash in on their homegrown product, but it’s felt that a bid of £40m would seal the deal.

Tottenham also have a long-standing interest in the versatile Englishman.

What Jacob Ramsey would bring to West Ham

Paqueta’s struggles make the perfect comment on how bad patches of form can affect any player. But class is permanent, and Ramsey could join the South American in leaping back into the ascendancy if signing for West Ham.

Still playing for his boyhood club, Ramsey has featured 167 times for the men’s team, though the past few years have indeed been testing and it might be the right time for him to jump ship and try his hand elsewhere.

A resurgence may yet be on the cards; Ramsey was regarded as one of the finest talents in English football when he burst onto the scene, journalist Charles Watts singling out his “special” quality.

West Ham are happy to give him that chance. Energetic, creative and a confident dribbler, there’s a lot to like, with Sofascore recording that the 24-year-old created five big chances in the Premier League last season, also completing 66% of his dribbles and winning 59% of his duels.

But that’s not to say that Ramsey doesn’t have the potential to become a standout in the Premier League and a regular in Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad, with Statman Dave once claiming the attacking midfielder is capable of “magic” things on the ball.

24/25

29 (19)

1

3

23/24

16 (8)

1

1

22/23

35 (31)

6

7

21/22

34 (29)

6

1

20/21

22 (6)

0

0

The past two campaigns have been frustrating on an individual level for Ramsey, with injuries and consequent slides in form leading to a more peripheral role, but along with Paqueta, who also has a flair for shifting between the left wing and a central midfield berth, Potter could create something special indeed.

The South American playmaker spent the lion’s share of the 2024/25 campaign in central areas, and Potter will likely seek to retain that next year, especially with Ramsey charging up and down the wing, latching onto Paqueta’s passes.

Ramsey might not be the flashiest name out there, but he could bloom into a superstar yet, and West Ham might look back at this one as a shrewd bargain, should he sign this summer.

Potter's new Bissouma: West Ham accelerate move for "outstanding" £20m star

West Ham want to sign at least one midfielder this summer

1 ByJoe Nuttall Aug 1, 2025

حقق فريق توتنهام فوزًا على خصمه وست هام، في مباراتهما مساء يوم السبت، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز لكرة القدم، موسم 2025/26.

وحل توتنهام ضيفًا على وست هام في ملعب “لندن الأولمبي” في الجولة الرابعة من الدوري الإنجليزي، حيث حقق الضيوف فوزًا بثلاثة أهداف دون رد. أهداف مباراة توتنهام ووست هام في الدوري الإنجليزي

ولم تُسجل الأهداف إلا في الشوط الثاني، حيث بدأ اللاعب باب ماتار سار ثلاثية توتنهام بتسجيله هدفًا في الدقيقة 47 من عمر المباراة.

واضطر وست هام إلى اللعب بـ10 لاعبين فقط منذ الدقيقة 54، بعدما تحصل لاعب الفريق توماس سوتشيك على بطاقة حمراء.

وفي الدقيقة 57، تزايدت معاناة وست هام بعدما سجل اللاعب لوكاس بيرجفال الهدف الثاني لصالح توتنهام، قبل أن يحرز ميكي فان دي فن الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 64.

بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد توتنهام إلى 9 نقاط في المركز الثاني، بينما تجمد رصيد وست هام عند 3 نقاط في المركز الثامن عشر.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin is set to bring a new style of play to Ibrox when his team takes to the field for the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

The former Scotland international plays a ball-dominant style that will see the Gers look to dominate possession and break teams down next term.

In order to build a squad that is suited to the way that the former Southampton manager wants to play, though, there will be players who have to move on in order to make way for new recruits.

One player who looks set to be on his way out of Ibrox is centre-back Robin Propper, as it was recently reported in his home country that he has agreed a deal to return to FC Twente on a three-year contract.

The Rangers Review also recently claimed that the Dutch giant is ‘expected’ to leave the club, amid interest in Leicester City central defender Conor Coady, who could come in as his replacement.

Why selling Robin Propper is a good move by Rangers

This proposed move back to FC Twente is a good move by Rangers and a good move for the defender because he did not settle in well at Ibrox on the pitch.

Propper did not do enough in his performances to show that he was ready for the physicality of the Scottish Premiership, which was a clear problem early on in his career in Glasgow.

In December 2024, the centre-back lost 100% (2/2) of his duels and was substituted at half-time against St. Johnstone, which led to him being criticised by former Gers midfielder Derek Ferguson.

The BBC Sportsound pundit said: “Propper is struggling. He’s been pretty vocal over the last couple of weeks that he’s finding it tough in our league. He’s been asked the question early on. It’s quite worrying when you see him struggling as bad as that. Look at the body language – he’s looking for a way out already.”

As you can see in the table above, the 31-year-old centre-back also struggled with the physicality of European football in the Europa League, as he lost the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air.

These statistics and the criticism of his play in the Premiership illustrate exactly why the decision to allow him to move back to the Netherlands is a good one for all parties involved.

Propper may not be the only first-team player to move on from Ibrox before the Martin era officially gets underway on the pitch, though, as another dud is attracting interest from elsewhere.

Five teams eyeing deal for Rangers forward

According to the Daily Record, a number of teams are showing an interest in Rangers winger Ross McCausland during the summer transfer window.

The report claims that FC Cincinnati, Plymouth Argyle, Cardiff City, Basel, and OH Leuven are all eyeing up a potential swoop for the Northern Ireland international.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that they are all keeping tabs on his situation at Ibrox heading into the summer, which shows that there is plenty of interest from clubs across the globe and in the UK.

The Daily Record adds that McCausland is keen to remain at Rangers and would like to be a part of Martin’s project, but that the Scottish head coach could be willing to listen to offers for the academy graduate.

It reveals that the former Norwich City centre-back is still assessing the squad and that no final decisions have been made either, which means that the attacker’s future is still up in the air.

However, Rangers must take advantage of the level of interest in McCauland, with five teams eyeing him up, and cash in on him this summer.

Why selling McCausland is as important as Propper

As aforementioned, it is a good call to sell Propper because he did not deliver on the pitch and the Light Blues need more strength and quality in that area of the park to be successful under Martin next season.

Since making the breakthrough as a first-team regular under Philippe Clement in 2023, McCausland has failed to prove that he is good enough to be a key player for the Scottish giants moving forward.

The 21-year-old attacker has shown some promise at times, including scoring his first goal for the club in the Europa League in the clip above, but has not delivered consistently enough in the final third.

To date, McCausland has scored three goals and provided six assists in 44 appearances in the Premiership, and racked up seven goals and seven assists in 66 games in all competitions for the first-team.

As you can see in the table above, the Northern Irish dud ended the 2024/25 campaign without a single goal to show for his efforts in the league, whilst he had as many red cards as goal contributions.

McCausland was once described as an “explosive” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, but he has failed to kick on since exploding onto the first-team scene at Ibrox. The winger has gone from an exciting young talent to just another one of the players, like Propper, who needs to be replaced.

Put simply, the Gers academy graduate does not offer enough in front of goal to be a key attacking figure for Martin moving forward, as shown by his lack of end product in the Premiership in particular, which is why it is as important to sell him as it is to sell Propper.

This could provide the new Rangers manager with a chance to replace him with another winger in the summer transfer window, with the hope that any new recruit could come in to offer more goals and assists to win vital points for the team moving forward.

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

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

By
Ben Gray

Jun 8, 2025

It is now down to Kevin Thelwell and Martin, though, to field offers and work with the interested parties to find the best solution for all parties involved.

Celtic’s connection to Ireland is deep-rooted and historic.

The club was founded back in 1888 by Irish Marist Brother Walfrid, with the stated objective of integrating Irish immigrants into Scottish life and society.

To this day, the Hoops remain one of the most popular clubs in Ireland, while many of their greatest-ever players are Irish: Patrick Bonner, Patsy Gallacher, Neil Lennon, Sean Fallon and Aiden McGeady, to name but a few.

Now, could the Scottish Premiership champions be about to add another current Republic of Ireland international to their ranks, one that has the potential to be a superstar?

Celtic's search for a new centre-forward

According to a report by the Daily Record, Celtic are willing to ‘gamble on a permanent transfer’ to sign Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson, if the Seagulls are unable to find another buyer.

Transfer Focus

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

Ferguson spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham United but, as Hammers supporter Martin Treasure puts it, his stint in East London was a ‘disaster’, making just eight appearances that totalled a miserly 151 minutes, scoring zero goals.

Two years ago, as an 18-year-old, he burst onto the scene by scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle; only three players, namely Chris Bart-Williams, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler, have bagged a Premier League treble at a younger age.

Since 2 September 2023 however, he has scored just three club goals, enduring a 336-day goal drought, so could he move north of the border in an attempt to get his career back on track?

How Ferguson could fit in at Celtic

Of course, Celtic already have one Republic of Ireland international striker in their squad; after a successful six-month loan spell, Adam Idah’s move to Parkhead was made permanent for £9.5m last summer, a fee Amy Canavan of BBC Sport described as ‘eye-watering’.

The 24-year-old has so far scored 29 goals in 72 appearances for the club, most notably bagging a stoppage-time winner in the Scottish Cup Final against Rangers, albeit he’s been unable to cement himself as the undisputed first-choice, despite the departure of Kyōgo Furuhashi in January.

So, let’s assess how the two Irish strikers compare to one another.

Age

20

24

Senior appearances

92

188

Senior goals

17

46

Premier League appearances

68

29

Premier League goals

13

1

Republic of Ireland caps

22

32

Republic of Ireland goals

5

5

Current market value

£21.4m

£5.5m

Peak market value

£55m

£5.5m

As the table outlines, Idah does have more senior experience, which shouldn’t be too surprising as he is four years older, albeit Ferguson is vastly more experienced at Premier League level, also scoring the same number of international goals in ten fewer caps.

What is also revealing is their respective Transfermarkt values, given that they believe Ferguson was worth over £55m in the autumn of 2023, still valued at in excess of £20m right now, despite his decline.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him a “big talent”, Beth Limb of Total Football Analysis is impressed by his ‘all-round game’, while Ryan Kilbane of Football Talent Scout outlines how he boasts ‘clever movement’ and is ‘comfortable with his back to goal’.

In short, not so long ago, everyone was forecasting that Ferguson would go to the top although, since then, as documented by Andy Naylor of the Athletic, injuries have massively hampered his development, citing Alan Shearer, who labelled him a “special talent… that needs to be nurtured”.

Thus, it is clear that Ferguson is a top-quality talent so, if Celtic are able to get a deal done, it would surely be a no-brainer, even if there is obvious risk.

After Tierney: Celtic now "in talks" to sign the next Hatate

Celtic have enjoyed huge success signing players from the J League, Reo Hatate to name one, now set to secure a “tactically intelligent” Japanese star

1 ByBen Gray Jun 17, 2025

Glasgow Rangers face one of the most important summer transfer windows in their recent history.

After yet another trophyless season combined with Celtic’s domestic dominance, patience is wearing thin among the Ibrox faithful.

The saving grace is that 49ers Enterprises appear to be closing in on their takeover of the Light Blues, which could bring plenty of positive changes at the club heading into next season.

Members of the US consortium were given a tour of Ibrox during the week, and everyone associated with the club will be hoping a deal is signed, sealed and delivered sooner rather than later.

While a permanent manager is top of the to-do list, the first-team squad needs a major overhaul when the transfer window finally opens. No longer can the Gers splurge millions on players who won’t live up to expectations, nor waste wages on those who miss far too many games due to injury.

This could be seen as a change of approach in the summer. Lyall Cameron has already signed a pre-contract with the Gers, while they are also keen on bringing Josh Mulligan to Glasgow.

Signing young talents with a high ceiling appears to be the next strategy, much in a similar mould to the prior capture of Ryan Kent.

Ryan Kent’s Rangers statistics

Kent signed for Rangers on an initial season-long loan deal at the start of the 2018/19 campaign. By the end of that season, he had registered 15 goal contributions – six goals and nine assists – while even punching Scott Brown during an Old Firm clash.

Not a bad way to endear yourself to the supporters, and this led to calls for Steven Gerrard to splash the cash on him permanently in the summer of 2019.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2022/23

44

3

10

2021/22

46

3

19

2020/21

52

13

14

2019/20

33

8

4

2018/19

43

6

9

The next two seasons saw Kent at his very best. A tally of 14 goals were scored, and the winger recorded an impressive 18 assists, underlining how good he had become for the club.

The 2020/21 campaign was particularly impressive. Rangers went the entire league season undefeated, securing their first title in a decade, and Kent was unplayable at times.

Kent recorded 2.3 shots per game in the top flight that term, along with creating nine big chances, averaging 1.9 key passes and succeeding with 1.9 dribbles per match for the Ibrox side.

He gave opposition defenders no chance when driving towards them at full throttle, and this is what made him arguably the best winger in the country at the time.

His final two seasons saw him score only six goals before he left the club in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract.

Those first three years saw Kent at his very best. Could a certain Bobby Clark offer the same sort of qualities from the heart of the midfield?

Rangers transfer news

During the January transfer window, the Light Blues wanted to bring Clark to the club on a short-term loan deal until the end of the campaign. He made the move to RB Salzburg in the summer of 2024 for a fee believed to be around the £6m mark, but he failed to truly settle in Austria.

Transfer Focus

No move ever materialised for the youngster, but could he be back on the market this summer?

The £3.5k-per-week starlet could be ready to leave on loan as Salzburg are keen on letting him leave temporarily for the 2025/26 season. This could put the Ibrox side on high alert following their early attempts to secure his signature.

A former Liverpool academy graduate, much like Kent, the youngster could well look to emulate his compatriot at Ibrox…

Why Rangers should sign Bobby Clark

Starting his youth career at Newcastle United – aiming to follow in the footsteps of his father, Lee, who played for the Magpies – Clark ended up at Liverpool in the summer of 2021.

The youngster made his mark on the youth teams at Anfield before finally making his senior debut during the 2022/23 campaign under Jürgen Klopp.

He made 12 appearances for the Reds the following season, scoring once and grabbing two assists. His future looked bright indeed.

Journalist Lee Ryder discussed his potential in the past and compared him to a former Newcastle legend, saying Clark “reminds me a little bit of Gazza at the same age.” Which is high praise indeed.

Clark moved to Salzburg last summer, linking up with former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders, although he was sacked just a few months into the role, and Clark failed to settle under new manager Thomas Letsch.

Despite his lack of game time in the Austrian Bundesliga, Clark still managed to record 0.4 shots per game, while also averaging 0.7 key passes and succeeding with 0.4 dribbles per match in the league.

Considering he averages only 41 minutes for the club domestically, these statistics aren’t the worst. If he can move to a club where playing consistently becomes a regular theme, Clark can continue his development.

A loan move to Ibrox would be an excellent chance for him to prove the doubters wrong, especially as he could feature in European competition.

Across six Champions League matches for the Austrian side this season, Clark showcased his abilities, averaging 1.7 tackles, winning 2.8 total duels and succeeding with 89% of his passes.

Playing against teams such as PSG, Atlético Madrid, and Bayer Leverkusen gave Clark the chance to perform at the highest level against some of the finest clubs on the continent.

It may not have gone well for the Englishman since the start of 2025, but all he needs is a fresh start and a chance to impress.

In that regard, Rangers is the perfect place for him – as it was for Kent.

Rangers can revive Tavernier by hiring manager who's "a level above Gerrard"

As the 49ers continue their search to find a new Rangers manager, they should hire “one of the most promising coaches in world football”.

May 2, 2025

Arne Slot has done a sensational job in charge at Liverpool during his first campaign at the helm, producing a seamless transition after taking over from Jürgen Klopp last summer.

Their latest win over Tottenham Hotspur secured their second Premier League title with four games to spare, highlighting the impressive work conducted by the Dutchman.

The success endured has been made even more impressive given the fact that only one addition was made last summer in the form of Federico Chiesa, who’s only featured for 33 league minutes in 2024/25.

However, if they are to build on their achievements in Slot’s second season, additions are needed to bolster the squad and inject further quality in key areas of the pitch.

With the title secured, undoubtedly attention will now shift onto the transfer window, with numerous names already thrown into the mix over a switch to Anfield.

An update on Liverpool’s hunt for new attackers

In recent days, it’s emerged that Liverpool are one of a number of Premier League clubs in the race for Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman during the summer window.

The Nigerian, who has scored 18 goals this campaign, also has admirers from Chelsea and Manchester United, with the Serie A side demanding a £50m fee for his signature.

However, despite the interest in his services, the Reds have also made a move for Monaco’s 20-year-old forward Eliesse Ben Seghir, making an approach for him, according to French outlet L’Equipe.

The report also states that Slot’s side have been keeping a close eye on his progress in Ligue 1, with Manchester City also in the race to land the Moroccan international.

It also goes on to state that he’s frustrated at his current outfit, potentially being open to a move to England should the side give the attacker first-team assurances.

Why Liverpool’s target would be an upgrade on Luis Diaz

After joining in January 2022, many expectations were placed on winger Luis Diaz to succeed, especially after Sadio Mané departed Merseyside just a few months after his arrival.

Whilst he’s managed to net 40 goals in his 145 appearances to date, frustrations have been growing around the Colombian in recent months, leading to rumours around his future at the club.

Barcelona have recently been credited with an interest in signing the 28-year-old, whose current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2027 – but could yet extend his stay on Merseyside.

Such a situation could lead to a move for Ben Seghir in the months ahead, offering Slot an upgrade on the former Porto ace, adding a new dimension to his already impressive front line.

The Moroccan, who’s been labelled a future “£100m” star by The Athletic’s Euro Expert, may have registered fewer goals and assists, but has managed more progressive carries and carries into the final third per 90 – highlighting the threat he poses in attacking areas.

Games played

30

33

Goals & assists

9

17

Progressive passes

6.5

4.1

Progressive carries

4.5

4.1

Carries into final third

4.5

2.1

Take-ons attempted

4.9

4.4

Fouls won

2.9

1.2

Aerials won

37%

26%

Ben Seghir has also managed to achieve a higher tally of take-ons, whilst also winning more of the aerial duels he’s entered, offering Slot an excellent all-round option within the final third.

His talents don’t stop there, winning more fouls per 90, along with more progressive passes completed, demonstrating his relentless athleticism, which has seen countless defenders struggle to contain him.

At just 20, he has the current ability and potential to transform into an elite-level talent, having all the tools to back up the Euro Expert’s predictions around his future at the top level of the professional game.

Whilst it’s unclear what the situation is with Diaz heading into the summer, a move for the Monaco gem would allow the club to cash in should no contract be agreed – also landing a star who could improve tenfold and secure his place in the side for many years to come.

Worth as much as Huijsen: Liverpool struck gold on "special" £4m signing

Liverpool could sell this young star for a significant profit this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 30, 2025

He was nearly unplayable on some surfaces, made a strong case for catch of the tournament, and made useful contributions as a batter

Matt Roller30-Jun-20243:54

DP World Going Beyond Boundaries – Axar Patel

A spell of 2 for 23 in three overs. Hardly an uncommon set of figures in a T20 match but in the context of an innings of 176, there is an obvious question to ask: why only three overs? Keshav Maharaj took two wickets in his first over of Saturday’s T20 World Cup 2024 final and went at 7.66 runs per over, compared to an innings run rate of 8.80. But after the ninth over, he was not seen again.Maharaj bowled his full four-over allocation in each of his first six appearances at the World Cup, and might well have done the same in the semi-final if his team-mates had not rolled Afghanistan over for 56. And yet, in a final of fine margins, his fourth over went unused.The reason behind it was straightforward: it was because of Axar Patel.Related

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Axar had been deployed as a floater by India, making a vital 20 from No. 4 in a low-scoring game against Pakistan in the group stage. But it came as a surprise even to him when he was sent in ahead of Shivam Dube in the final: “Suddenly, Rahul [Dravid] asked me to pad up. I didn’t get to think anything about my batting and that worked for me,” he explained afterwards.The idea was simple enough. Axar was carded to bat at No. 8 and therefore the value on his wicket was relatively low. He rarely gets the chance to face many balls, and if India lost another quick wicket, at least they would have Dube, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja to come. His promotion artificially lengthened their batting line-up.But it also ensured that Maharaj’s impact on the game would be limited, particularly when Axar played a shot that proved vital in the context of the final. Axar hit the first six of India’s innings when slog-sweeping Aiden Markram over midwicket, hitting with the wind, but in the following over, he played the same shot the breeze off Maharaj and cleared the boundary.In Markram’s eyes, it effectively rendered Maharaj unbowlable while India had a left-hander at the crease. This was not a case of blindly following match-ups, or the guiding principle that fingerspinners turning the ball into batters is high-risk: Markram took the gamble, and the on-field evidence suggested that even with the wind helping him, Maharaj was too vulnerable.Axar’s stand with Virat Kohli was the biggest of the final – and he dominated the partnership. They added 72 off 54 for the fourth wicket, of which Kohli’s contribution was 21 boundary-less runs off 23 balls; Axar hit 47 off 31, including a four and four sixes. Without Axar’s impetus, Kohli would have felt compelled to take more risks earlier: that would have made India more likely to reach 190, but would also have increased the chance of them folding for 140.

“This time, I felt that I had to do something good for India. Finally, I did it. I’m feeling so proud”Axar Patel

The slog-sweep was the defining shot of Axar’s innings, with another off Tabraiz Shamsi just about evading Kagiso Rabada’s sprawling dive at long-on. But this was not just a tailender promoted to have a swing: it was an innings of high skill, exemplified by his straight-bat, high-elbow on-drive for six off Rabada.Axar even timed his dismissal well, midway through the 14th over. Perhaps he was a little dozy when running through to the non-striker’s end, only for Quinton de Kock’s direct hit to find him short of his ground. But it meant Dube had the chance to impact the game from No. 6 and gave Kohli a free hand at attacking at the death without fear of failure, with Hardik and Jadeja still waiting.Few would have sincerely nominated Axar for Player of the Tournament, but he has been the sort of player that every champion team needs: a regular contributor with the versatility to be useful in all facets. He bowled dry on New York’s seaming pitches, took a stunning catch against Australia in St Lucia, and played this vital hand with the bat against South Africa in Barbados.Axar Patel gave the India innings some impetus in the final•Getty ImagesThat is not to forget his spell of 3 for 23 against England in the semi-final, a throwback to his performances against the same opposition in two Ahmedabad Tests in 2021. Axar is not the most talented player India have, but he is a master of working out how he can be effective in certain conditions: in Guyana, the turn and low bounce on offer made his straighter ball deadly.The final could have been very different for Axar. If South Africa had held their nerve with 30 needed off 30 balls or if Suryakumar Yadav’s foot had brushed the boundary cushion, his abiding memory of the final would have been his over to Heinrich Klaasen which cost 24 runs, including two huge sixes – one onto the roof, another into the pavilion. In a cricketing culture where idolisation turns into vilification overnight, Axar’s over would not have been forgotten in a hurry.And yet, for all the ignominy it involved, standing at the top of his mark and waiting for the ball to be fetched, perhaps that was when the final turned in India’s favour. The ball was retrieved from the stands, rather than replaced; barely two overs later, Jasprit Bumrah was getting it to reverse-swing. Maybe it would have done anyway, but it goes to show how fickle sport – and life – can be.”This time, I felt that I had to do something good for India,” Axar said in the moments after India’s victory. “Finally, I did it. I’m feeling so proud.” Kohli, Bumrah and Rohit Sharma rightly took the plaudits, but Axar was India’s unsung hero.

This series has lit up the island in ways that turbines, fossil fuels, and generators never could

Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Jun-2022Is this it? Have they arrived? Is this the new Sri Lanka? The future? Bright? Blinding as the sun?Energy. Remember that? Batters who will whisk the team out of a hole. Bowlers who will make an anthill of a target seem like a forbidding Himalayan peak. Fielders who don’t comically clang into each while circling under a gently descending catch. It has been long enough. Too long. Years since #SangaMahelaDilshanMalingaHerathMurali.Okay, but wait. What is the future, even? This is a nation run by a government essentially living hand-to-mouth. They are awaiting the next fuel shipments at the end of the week, desperately scrambling for money to pay for them. Meanwhile, fuel queues choke the roads like metal pythons, getting longer and fatter by the day. Trains and buses are crammed evermore with commuters who have no choice but to cling for life on the brimming footboards. The vegetable stalls and grocery shelves, though, are empty.Related

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In normal times you ask what things will be like down the line. Will this batter develop into the next guy to get 10000 runs? Oh and that bowler has something about him, no? Five years time, just watch. He’ll have won so many games by then. He’ll have such an aura.What about us, though? Where will we be in five years’ time? Still struggling? In queues? Skint? Abroad, after giving up on a country we love? In daily fits of rage at the news out of parliament?Stop. Save yourself the spiral. It’s not worth thinking about. For one night, you tune it out.It’s easy when they play like this. Dhananjaya de Silva, spindly arms in those long sleeves, turning his wrists to drive a fast bowler past a diving backward point. Charith Asalanka camping on his back foot to launch no less a bowler than Pat Cummins over the deep midwicket boundary, with a half-pull, half short-arm jab, that leaves a stadium breathless for half a second.Together, they put on 101 to rescue Sri Lanka from 34 for 3, and the is pouring out over the stands like a joyous waterfall, and the kids are dancing, the teenagers are selfie-ing, and a local pop hit comes on at the end of an over that has brought two boundaries, so in a second the entire stand is in voice, and you can feel it right? These are real smiles, not the barely-keeping-it-together smile when you learn that the bicycle you’re trying to buy to save on motorbike fuel, costs twice what it did two months back. This is real laughter, and happy hugs, not the we-made-it-through-another-day-without-collapsing ones.Look, it’s not real life. Everyone knows that. We all have powercuts to go back to. But then why is it that these two guys putting on a century stand is what makes life feel good again?

Right through the tour, in Pallekele as well as Khettarama, there have been these moments of pure elation, which even the unrelenting press that Sri Lanka’s daily life has become, has not been able to corrupt

Right through the tour, in Pallekele as well as Khettarama, there have been these moments of pure elation, which even the unrelenting press that Sri Lanka’s daily life has become, has not been able to corrupt. Dasun Shanaka’s manic hitting to win the third T20. The Wanindu Hasaranga googlies that batters still have not deciphered. Pathum Nissanka’s big, bold hundred.This was a Tuesday night, and traveling even a couple of kilometres is a trial because there’s so little petrol into the country. But more than 30,000 have made it to Khettarama, a ground which, at times like this, it seems especially fitting, is in one of Colombo’s most working-class neighourhoods. Who deserves this fun more than those who have been battered hardest and longest by the collapsing economy?Will this team, full of potential young stars, be the one that drags Sri Lanka’s men’s team into a glowing new age? Maybe. In Hasaranga, there is a potential global phenomenon. In Nissanka and Asalanka, two reliable operators. In Dushmantha Chameera a rapid and increasingly clever quick. So is this it? Have they arrived? Is this the future?It seems a silly question to ask right now. Because the future is the thing that poverty obliterates. And in this article, we’re living in the now.Sri Lanka celebrate after clinching victory•AFPThis series, which in cricketing terms is of no real use beyond preparation for an ODI World Cup that is more than a year away, and whose results don’t count towards the Super League, and which in most other countries would not be nearly this well-attended, has lit up the island in ways that turbines, fossil fuels, and generators never could.At Khettarama, on a Tuesday night, a team packed full of spinners turned derailed an opposition chase. There were close catchers in past the 40th over. Mid-pitch conferences on strategy as things got tight. A glimpse of a normal time.Even Lasith Malinga, who has raised as many roars at this stadium as anyone, was in attendance in his role as Sri Lanka’s bowling consultant. In that nerve-wracking final over that Sri Lanka should have had no trouble getting through, he was fuming outside the square-leg boundary like he wanted to beat up the universe for its failure to arrange for him to be the guy bowling to close out the game. An angry Malinga is, in its own way, a marker of normal Sri Lankan life too.They won off the final ball, and Khettarama exploded. The last few moments in this parallel universe. One in which, thank god, finally, there might be a future.