Glasgow Rangers were busy throughout the summer transfer window as Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ross Wilson shaped the squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
A host of players came in and others moved on to pastures new as the Light Blues attempted to improve their squad whilst dealing with the sales of both Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey.
One player who they ultimately opted to keep hold of instead of allowing him to move on was winger Fashion Sakala. He was linked with an exit from Ibrox to join English side Burnley in the summer and FFC published an article stating that the club should have cashed in on him as he did not appear to be in the manager’s plans for the season.
The attacker had not made a single appearance in the Premiership prior to the transfer deadline passing and only played one minute of their four qualifying matches for the Champions League.
Van Bronckhorst and Wilson ignored our advice and kept their faith in the Zambia international and now look set to reap the rewards of that decision, avoiding a mistake in the process.
He has played 114 minutes of action across three Premiership appearances since the start of September and has caught the eye for the Gers with one goal and one assist in that time. Sakala created two ‘big chances’ and won 56% of his individual duels in those three games, whilst averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.30 – placing him fourth in the squad.
The form isn’t mind-boggling but after a summer where it looked like he was going to be alienated altogether, the fact he is now churning out such impressive performances means the hierarchy has struck gold on their decision to keep him at Ibrox, particularly with Rabbi Matondo and Scott Wright failing to score at all from a similar position on the pitch.
The £8.3k-per-week forward was previously described as “selfless” by Steven Gerrard and ex-Gers full-back Alan Hutton once dubbed him a “firework” due to his pacey and energetic play, whilst also saying: “He’s one of these players who plays at 100 miles per hour, he takes players on, he’s aggressive, he can get shots off.”
He has the potential to be a spark in games with his speed and ability to chip in with goals and assists at the top end of the pitch. As Hutton said, he is a firework who can ignite at any moment and this makes him a useful player to call upon now that van Bronckhorst has brought him back into the picture.
Last season, he showed signs of promise as he scored 12 goals and provided seven assists in 50 appearances for Rangers in all competitions, although he failed to provide a goal contribution in any of his 11 Europa League outings.
It is now down to him to show more consistency in his performances and his displays in the Premiership so far this season suggest that he is on his way to doing that.
Hopefully, he can continue to put in strong displays and prove that van Bronckhorst hit the jackpot by keeping him in Glasgow, as he is currently doing with his showings in the top flight.
West Bromwich Albion would be making the ‘perfect’ managerial appointment by hiring Sean Dyche, according to former Premier League midfielder Dave Edwards.
The Lowdown: The search continues…
The Championship outfit have been on the hunt to find Steve Bruce’s replacement since his sacking from the Hawthorns, with several names being mentioned on the hierarchy’s shortlist, including free agents Scott Parker and Chris Wilder.
Back in April, 51-year-old Dyche was relieved of his duties by Burnley after ten years in charge, though a return to the dugout could now be on the cards having been linked with a move to the Midlands.
The Latest: West Brom backed to appoint Dyche
During an interview with talkSPORT, via Twitter, Edwards, now in broadcasting, claimed that Dyche joining West Brom would be the ‘perfect fit’.
“You look at that West Brom squad and I think Sean Dyche will, if he gets the opportunity, see it as a club who are underperforming.
“There’s a lot of upsides to this West Brom job. They are third bottom in the table with a good group of players so he can make an instant impact and I feel for Sean Dyche to get back to the level he needs to be at in the Premier League, he’s going to have to take a Championship job and try and get them up himself. and I see that as being the perfect fit.
“I think Chris Wilder would be good as well. I don’t know if he’d want a bit of a longer break but Sean Dyche for me is the one because you don’t want to stay out of football too long, you can get forgotten about quite quickly so he’ll be itching to get back and I think West Brom will be the perfect opportunity for him.”
The Verdict: Fits the bill
West Brom will want to hire someone who has plenty of experience and the ability to get them competing at the right end of the table, and Dyche fits the bill.
The ‘remarkable’ coach, as dubbed by sports journalist Josh Bunting, has taken charge of a staggering 474 games as a senior manager, winning 169 and losing 175 (Transfermarkt), impressive numbers considering 118 of those losses are in the top flight.
The former Clarets boss also has two promotions to his name so will know what it takes to get a team up, which is exactly what the Baggies want to achieve.
Jobe Bellingham will not face his older brother Jude when Borussia Dortmund take on Real Madrid at the Club World Cup due to suspension.
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Jobe Bellingham now at Dortmund
Was set to face brother Jude vs Real Madrid
Suspension rules out siblings reunion
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Dortmund are set to lock horns with Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup this weekend but the two Bellinghams will not line up against one another. That is because the 19-year-old former Sunderland star picked up his second yellow card of the tournament in Dortmund's 2-1 last-16 win over Monterrey on Tuesday, and now he will miss this upcoming clash.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Jobe swapped Sunderland for Dortmund this summer, in a move reminiscent of Jude's switch from Birmingham City to the German giants five years prior. The Madrid man, 22, is arguably one of the best young players in the world, and his teenage brother is hoping to get to that point one day. And while they won't compete against each other on this occasion, time is still on their side for that day to come.
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WHAT KOVAC SAID
Dortmund boss Niko Kovac revealed Jobe's "surprised" reaction to missing out on a first meeting with his brother in a professional match.
He said: “Okay, he's young. His brother is also young, so I'm convinced they will face each other, maybe next season in the Champions League, and then the future. The future is for them. And yeah, the Club World Cup would be nice, but now it isn't. Someone else must play for him, but it's also okay. I think he did not exactly know that the second yellow card is a suspension at halftime. He was a little bit surprised."
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WHAT NEXT?
Bellingham's Madrid side will hope to reach the last four of the Club World Cup when they take on Dortmund on Saturday. In addition to bragging rights, tens of millions of pounds are on offer for the victor of this contest.
It's pretty clear that signing a new centre-back will be Jurgen Klopp's priority for Liverpool transfer-wise this year, but supporters will probably have to wait until the summer before anything of substance occurs.
The Premier League pace-setters have been in fine fettle this term after recovering from an abject 2022/23 campaign that threatened to topple Klopp's dynasty, but with some excellent summer signings making up a brand new engine to charge the high-octane system, silverware is very much attainable as the business end draws closer.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
There have been shouts over the past several months that Liverpool still need to complete their midfield work with a specialist No. 6, but Wataru Endo's recent purple patch and Alexis Mac Allister's fine job in the deep-lying role suggest that focus could and should shift elsewhere.
And with Joel Matip's anterior cruciate ligament injury ending his season at the start of December, the concerns surrounding the defensive depth are only heightened.
Liverpool transfer news – Ousmane Diomande
Prior to the opening of the window, the Daily Mail compiled a list of options that Liverpool could choose from the bolster their backline this year, and while he's one of the more expensive picks, Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomande could be the dream addition.
Only 20 years old, Ivorian Diomande has been making waves with Sporting Lisbon of late and could even have a higher ceiling than teammate and fellow Reds transfer target Goncalo Inacio, who is technically superb but somewhat lacking in raw defensive strength.
Diomande has a buyout clause of €80m (£69m) and it's uncertain whether Sporting would acquiesce to discussions of a whittled-down fee, but if so, Liverpool will be sure to pounce.
Ousmane Diomande's profile
Contracted until 2027, Diomande has chalked up 38 senior appearances for his Portuguese outfit since signing from Danish side FC Midtjylland for an initial fee of €7.5m (£6m) on January 31, 2023.
Said to be “one of the most exciting CB prospects in Europe" by scout Jacek Kulig, Diomande is only 20 years old but is already proving to be one of the most dynamic young defenders around, with a modern skill set attracting the attention of some of Europe's most illustrious teams.
Ousmane Diomande: Key Characteristics
Strengths
Weaknesses
Passing
Discipline
Tackling
Dribbling
*Sourced via WhoScored
As per Sofascore, the 6 foot 3 titan has completed 15 appearances in the Liga Portugal, scoring one goal, supplying one assist, completing 91% of his passes, averaging 5.7 ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 64% of his contested duels.
Such metrics highlight a roundedness that will only serve him well in a side such as Liverpool, where the central defenders are expected to dominate the possession and control the flow of the match.
Taking an average of 79 touches per game, Diomande is not far away from being as active on the ball as Virgil van Dijk, who averages 90 touches per game in the Premier League.
To emphasise how dynamic and multi-faceted he is in his style, Diomande ranks among the top 16% of centre-backs across divisions similar to the Portuguese top-flight over the past year for goals, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for pass completion, the top 2% for passes attempted, the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 8% for progressive carries, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 20% per 90, as per FBref.
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What this signifies is a superlative technical ability and a constant desire to drive forward – either as the vehicle or through his distribution – and when marrying this with his aforementioned precision in his defensive duels, Diomande really would be the perfect player to bolster the Liverpool defence.
How Ousmane Diomande compares to Goncalo Inacio
As mentioned earlier, Diomande is not the only Sporting defender to be on Klopp's radar, with Inacio, aged 22, holding a €60m (£52m) release clause and with reports even suggesting that Liverpool remain interested this month after seeing advances fall flat last summer.
Considered a comparable player to the Ivory Coast international by FBref's 'Similar Players' model, Inacio ranks among the top 8% of positional peers for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 3% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90.
Discernibly, there are striking similarities between the respective starlets, and while Inacio has been hailed for his "complete" array of abilities by Kulig, there are a few question marks lingering over his defensive application that could dissuade the Reds from prioritising his signature.
He only ranks among the top 58% for tackles (Diomande ranks in the top 80%) and in the league this season, while impressive, has won just 48% of his contested duels, which certainly doesn't evoke the confidence needed for a prominent role in Klopp's system.
For example, the 20-year-old Jarell Quansah, who has only emerged as a first-team member this season, has won 61% of his duels in the Premier League while also showcasing his ball-playing skills with a 90% pass completion rate.
Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah.
For all of Inacio's innate talent, it does seem that he is just not the most naturally formidable of defenders, instead flourishing his style through his high-class technical skills.
And while Diomande may require a greater outlay, it might be a prudent move, in the long run, to forge ahead with his signature and ensure that Liverpool have a player of genuine world-class credentials, with Klopp capable of shaping him into an "elite talent", as was said again by the voluble Kulig.
A decision will not need to be made until the summer but Liverpool would be wise to pull the strings soon to ensure that they are the favourites to swoop in and land their man.
CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that Newcastle United are among a number of clubs to have ‘scouted’ Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie.
The Lowdown: Interest in McKennie
It was reported last week that the St James’ Park outfit are ‘monitoring’ the 24-year-old’s situation in Turin and hold an interest ahead of the January transfer window.
Jacobs has added that McKennie is not going to seriously consider his future until after the World Cup in Qatar, but the Old Lady are ‘open’ to selling him for a transfer fee of £20m or more.
The Latest: McKennie ‘scouted’ by Newcastle
Taking to Twitter, Jacobs has also revealed that Newcastle are among a number of teams in the Premier League who have now ‘scouted’ McKennie, but there is ‘nothing advanced’ between any of his potential suitors at the moment:
“Several Premier League clubs have scouted McKennie, including Newcastle, Leeds, Everton and Arsenal. But none have advanced interest yet. He’s a player who could well move to England in January but right now there is nothing advanced from any potential Premier League suitors.”
Given the level of competition for McKennie’s signature, this is a deal that Newcastle should be looking to get done in January.
The 24-year-old ranks in the 97th percentile for progressive passes received and the 93rd percentile for touches among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, and he has a similar playing style to the Tynesiders’ own Joelinton (FBRef).
The 6 foot colossus is set to star for the USA in the World Cup, having accumulated 37 senior caps already for his country, scoring nine goals and delivering a further four assists (Transfermarkt).
Interest is likely to soar after the tournament, especially if he and his country do well, so the Toon need to ensure that they are first in line in the New Year when the transfer market reopens.
Also, McKennie shares the same agent as Eddie Howe, which could help to accelerate a transfer.
Celtic continued their sensational Premiership form on Saturday afternoon, with Ange Postecoglou’s side making it six league wins in a row after a comprehensive 4-2 victory over Dundee United at Parkhead.
Indeed, two Sead Hakšabanović strikes either side of Steven Fletcher’s 12th-minute penalty saw the Hoops take a 2-1 lead into the break, before Dylan Levitt’s 87th-minute equaliser appeared to have snatched a point for The Terrors.
However, two late goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Ababa would go on to seal a well-deserved win for the home side, with the result moving the Bhoys seven points clear of Rangers at the top of the Premiership table.
And, while Hakšabanović’s two goals and overall performance will likely steal the headlines on Sunday morning, it was undoubtedly the display of Matt O’Riley in the middle of the park that provided Celtic with the platform for their win on Saturday.
Indeed, over his 90 minutes on the pitch, the £4.8m-rated midfielder was near-faultless in the heart of Postecoglou’s side, enjoying 118 touches of the ball – with no player from either side having more – completing 86 of his 91 attempted passes – a success rate of 91% – and finding his man with nine of his 11 attempted long balls and two of his seven attempted crosses.
The 21-year-old also took four shots at the Dundee United goal – three of which were on target – made four key passes and created one big chance for his teammates.
Furthermore, the central midfielder also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making two tackles, one interception and two clearances, as well as winning two ground duels.
These returns saw the Denmark U21 international earn an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 8.2 – the third-highest of any player to feature in the fixture – while Glasgow Live’s Ryan Thom also awarded the playmaker a seven in his own player ratings, as well as stating of the midfielder’s display:
“Another industrious display from the midfielder. Can always be trusted to do a job and makes this Celtic side tick.”
As such, with O’Riley himself claiming that his performances in recent weeks will determine whether or not he is called up for Kasper Hjulmand’s 26-man squad for the World Cup this winter, the Dane’s display at Parkhead will certainly have boosted his chances of sealing a seat on the plane to Qatar – as the youngster well and truly ran the show against Dundee United.
West Ham United continued their poor run of Premier League form away from the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with David Moyes’ side narrowly losing out 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
However, much like the 1-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield earlier this month, it was arguable that the Hammers deserved at least a point from the meeting with Erik ten Hag’s side – if not all three – with David De Gea making a series of world-class saves late on to deny the Irons a share of the spoils.
And, despite Sunday’s result making it five losses from seven games away from home in the league this season, there were nevertheless a number of eye-catching performances on display for the visitors, with Declan Rice typically running the show from the middle of the park and Saïd Benrahma again looking lively on the left wing.
However, while both Rice and Benrahma were impressive, it was arguably the performance of Kurt Zouma that will have most pleased Moyes on Sunday afternoon, as the centre-back was very much at his imperious best at Old Trafford.
Indeed, over the course of his 90 minutes on the pitch, the £26m-rated Frenchman was near faultless in a defensive capacity, making five clearances and winning one aerial duel – keeping Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes largely quiet in the first half.
And, after the interval, the £125k-per-week centre-back also proved to be one of the Hammers’ most dangerous players going forwards, launching a number of counter-attacks through his three long balls and 43 completed passes, as well as taking two shots at the United goal – most notably being denied a late headed equaliser by a sensational De Gea save.
These efforts saw the 55-touch “machine” earn a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.9, while football.london’s Jonty Colman awarded the 28-year-old an eight in his own player ratings – the best of any West Ham player on the day – with the journalist going on to state of the 11-cap international’s performance:
“Hardly put a foot wrong before half-time, making countless interceptions and winning anything that came at him aerially. Keen to start counters as often as possible and gained plenty of yards when getting forward. Was a great attacking threat late on and forced David De Gea into an excellent diving save with a header with just over five minutes remaining. Very impressive throughout.”
As such, while it is true that the Hammers ultimately left Old Trafford empty-handed, Zouma’s performance in the heart of defence will have greatly encouraged Moyes, while it is also likely that the France international’s display will have boosted his chances of securing a late spot in Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad this winter.
The defender has been capped 11 times by his country but hasn’t been seen in the French set up now for nearly a year, suggesting that he will need to produce a few more performances like this in order to earn a place in the squad.
West Ham United will look to open in-house talks with Manuel Lanzini over his future at the east London club, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
The Lowdown: Lanzini’s contract at West Ham
The midfielder, who has made 13 appearances for the Irons across all competitions this season, is set to see his current contract at the London Stadium expire at the end of June.
With that in mind, unless the £70k-per-week Argentine were to put pen to paper on a new deal at West Ham before the end of the campaign, he could well end up leaving the club as a free agent.
However, it appears as though some behind-the-scenes details have emerged regarding what the club’s hierarchy could aim to do in terms of finding out what Lanzini’s future may look like.
The Latest: In-house talks with Lanzini
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones was doubtful as to whether Lanzini would want to stay at West Ham with a bit-part role, although he believes that the club will commence talks with him soon regarding his future at the London Stadium.
He said of the Argentine: “I guess the question is whether he is happy with that role and that’s probably a different matter.
“One thing playing in the Europa Conference League has done is it’s helped to keep him in form and in condition for when his chances come in the Premier League.
“But I think, before January, the club will have had talks with him and will know whether he’s going to push for a transfer.”
The Verdict: Big decision for Moyes
Having only started in one of his five appearances in the Premier League this season but selected for all six of their Europa Conference League group matches, it’s clear that David Moyes has relied on Lanzini in European rather than domestic action.
With that in mind, it seems as though the midfielder’s importance and role in the squad going forward could be a main factor in potentially seeing him leave the club in the summer or staying put.
Moving forward, it seems as though Moyes could have a big decision on his hands over whether or not he feels that the 29-year-old is worth keeping hold of beyond this season.
If he does, then the Irons’ hierarchy will need to offer the player a new deal swiftly so that they don’t risk losing him as a free agent in the summer.
Southampton are ‘set to be offered’ the chance to sign Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Jones era begins…
Former Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was recently given his marching orders after almost four years at St Mary’s, with the club quickly turning to former Luton Town boss Nathan Jones as his replacement.
The latter’s Premier League arrival marks a new era on the south coast, and owners Sport Republic will need to back their new head coach financially if they are to stand the best possible chance of maintaining their top-flight status.
All eyes will duly turn to January, with a report now sharing who could make a return to Southampton mid-season.
The Latest: Saints ‘set to be offered’ Oxlade-Chamberlain…,
According to Football Insider on Wednesday evening, Southampton and Jones are now ‘set to be offered’ a chance to sign Liverpool midfielder Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The Englishman has struggled for game-time at Anfield this season, with manager Jurgen Klopp no longer viewing him as a key player moving forward.
As such, the Reds could turn to Southampton as they attempt to rid themselves of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s £125,000-per-week wages.
The Verdict: Do it?
The 29-year-old has suffered with a plethora of injury issues since joining Liverpool from Arsenal in 2017, and we believe that the price tag must be a reasonable if Jones is to consider signing the midfielder.
That being said, with Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract set to expire in 2023, Southampton would be in a position to demand a reasonably cheap fee as Klopp’s side risk losing him for nothing next summer.
Former footballer and now journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft has made a claim on Jude Bellingham’s future, again hinting that Jurgen Klopp’s influence at Liverpool could be key.
The Lowdown: Bellingham superb for England
The 19-year-old made a dream start in his first-ever World Cup appearance on Monday, producing a magnificent performance in England’s 6-2 win over Iran.
Bellingham headed home brilliantly to give the Three Lions the lead and he was a silky presence in midfield throughout, completing 96% of his passes.
It was the latest show of excellent from the prodigiously talented teenager, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool so often in recent times.
The Latest: Fjortoft’s claim
Taking to Twitter, Fjortoft gave an update on Bellingham’s next move after Borussia Dortmund, mentioning Klopp as a potential factor when it comes to Dortmund selling.
“Re: Jude Bellingham My take: Dortmund- boss Watzke doesn’t want to sell him to ‘those kind of clubs’. Meaning ‘state-clubs’. His mate Klopp is at Liverpool. But Team Bellingham will make their own analysis.”
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The Verdict: Game-changing signing
Bellingham really does look like a generational talent who could become one of the world’s best players, already performing with so much class and influence.
If Liverpool managed to snap him up, he could genuinely transform their midfield and be a mainstay of it for a decade, being capable of thriving as No.6, No.8 or even a No.10.
The Reds surely have to qualify for the Champions League to have any chance of getting Bellingham, though, but he seems like a player who won’t just go somewhere for the money, and Dortmund’s relationship with Klopp could be an advantage.