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Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl will have known what he was getting himself into when he took the opportunity to join the club earlier this week.

As shown in the graphic above, Russell Martin only won five of his 17 matches in charge and his side conceded a staggering 24 goals in that time.

That is why Rohl may not have been too shocked when his team conceded three goals in a 3-0 loss to Brann in the Europa League on Thursday night.

The manager will have learned a bit more about some of his players, though, and he decided to withdraw Oliver Antman from the game after just 45 minutes.

Why Oliver Antman should not be dropped

Despite being hauled off at half-time, the Finland international should not be dropped for the weekend because he showed more promise in his performance than some of the other attackers on the pitch.

Per Sofascore, Antman completed 88% of his attempted passes, completed one of his two attempted crosses, and created one chance for his team. The cross that he did not ‘complete’ was also a brilliant ball across the face of the goal that Youssef Chermiti was unable to get on the end of.

Meanwhile, per Sofascore, Djeidi Gassama completed 60% of his attempted passes, did not complete any crosses, and created one chance for the team, whilst giving the ball away 14 times, nine times more than Antman did.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

This is why the Finnish winger should not be dropped, and why he was unfortunate to be withdrawn, as he offered more out wide than the Frenchman did.

Meanwhile, a Rangers attacker who should be ruthlessly ditched from the starting line-up for Sunday’s clash with Kilmarnock is centre-forward Chermiti.

Why Danny Rohl should drop Youssef Chermiti

Rohl should take the £8m summer signing from Everton out of the XI to bring Bojan Miovski into the side this weekend, because the Portuguese dud did not offer enough up front against Brann.

Speaking on TNT’s live coverage of the match, former Gers striker Ally McCoist claimed that the forward is “showing nothing” to prove that he is worth the £8m that the club paid for him in the summer.

RangersReview writer Derek Clark also stated that the young attacker is “nowhere near ready to lead the line” for the Ibrox giants, and it is hard to disagree with Clark and McCoist’s assessments of the forward.

Minutes

76

xG

0.38

Goals

0

Successful dribbles

0/2

Pass accuracy

50%

Key passes

0

Ground duels won

0/3

Aerial duels won

4/10

As you can see in the table above, Chermiti offered little to the side as a passer, as a creator, or as a physical presence in the number nine position, which is why he was even worse than Antman, who was reliable on the ball and created a chance for the team.

His 0.38 xG chance came from a brilliant ball to the back post that he softly headed in the direction of the goalkeeper, instead of directing it back across to the other corner, as McCoist suggested that he should have done on TNT’s commentary.

Chermiti, whose last club career goal came for Sporting in the 2022/23 campaign, has now failed to provide a goal or an assist in seven appearances for the Light Blues since his £8m move to the club.

Meanwhile, Miovski has scored two goals for the Gers since his switch from Girona, with strikes against Hibernian in the League Cup and Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.

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This suggests that the Macedonia international is more likely to make an impact in the final third if selected against Kilmarnock on Sunday, which is why Rohl should ruthlessly ditch Chermiti from the XI in order to bring the left-footed attacker into the side.

Manchester City haven’t been at their rip-roaring best so far this season, but there are certainly signs from Pep Guardiola’s side that they are reshaping into a force to be reckoned with.

Arsenal and Liverpool are possibly both ahead of the Citizens in the Premier League title power rankings. But the campaign is young, and Man City no a thing or two about constructing an incredible run of winning form.

There are still issues to be ironed out, but Guardiola looks to have rebuilt the core of his squad at the Etihad Stadium, and he’s also got Erling Haaland leading the line.

And Haaland, unto himself, is a title-winning machine.

Haaland's incredible start to the season

With eight goals scored across six Premier League matches so far this season, Haaland has endured his joint-worst start to a term in the English top flight.

He really is remarkable. Sure to retire as one of the game’s greatest goalscorers, the Norwegian has been a monstrous attacking focal point for City over the past three years, and he continues to be the driving force for his side as they look to add some silverware to the cabinet.

The 25-year-old only took seven touches during the first half of Man City’s 2-2 draw against Monaco. That was all that he needed to have added another brace to his swollen collection.

Some player, and it’s remarkable that he has maintained his god-like scoring record in spite of Kevin De Bruyne leaving at the end of his contract last summer, the legendary playmaker signing for Napoli as he steers toward the sunset of his illustrious career.

Replacing the Belgian is going to be a tough task indeed. He is truly one of a kind. However, City did have such a player who looks like he’s up to the task, now that De Bruyne has left the English scene.

But Cole Palmer was sold before he could spread his wings for the Sky Blues.

Man City must regret selling Cole Palmer

In August 2023, Chelsea announced they had signed Palmer from Manchester City in a deal worth up to £42.5m. It was met with a mixed response, with the young playmaker regarded as an exciting talent but maybe also lacking experience at the highest level.

What followed was incredible. Palmer scored 25 goals and supplied 15 assists across a ridiculous breakout campaign at Stamford Bridge, swiftly rivalling the biggest hitters on English shores for being the face of the division.

He has now notched 74 goal involvements across 101 matches for the Blues, and across the past year, he ranks among the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe for progressive passes and the top 5% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Though injuries have impeded the opening weeks of the Three Lions star’s campaign under Enzo Maresca, he remains a source of strength in west London, with his return to full form and fitness sure to coincide with an upswing of results for Chelsea too.

How City must be reeling. CIES Football Observatory have estimated that the 23-year-old boasts a market value in the ballpark of £145m, which it a pretty penny above what Chelsea paid for him.

Outscored only by the three top strikers of this Premier League generation since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, Chelsea’s talisman continues to inspire awe, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher even going as far as to name him “the best player in the Premier League” about one year ago.

Erling Haaland

68

57

Mohamed Salah

76

49

Alexander Isak

66

44

Cole Palmer

74

38

Ollie Watkins

81

36

Haaland, of course, tops that list, and comfortably at that.

Palmer might actually be Man City’s talisman over the Norwegian sensation, had he been allowed to develop in Manchester. Goals and assists are dished out aplenty, and Palmer also won 56% of his ground duels in the Premier League last term, emphasising his underrated combative side.

That and he has been the all-inspiring leader for an up-and-down Chelsea side too, instrumental in winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup last year, thus establishing himself among the best players in the world at last month’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in France.

Indeed, Palmer placed eighth on the list, whereas Haaland will perhaps feel somewhat aggrieved after coming in at 26th.

To think that the Chelsea attacking midfielder achieved this without having played Champions League football (the first person to record a top-ten finish without that mark since Neymar Jr. 14 years ago) says much about Palmer’s quality, influence and the respect and admiration he is held in by journalists across the world.

If Haaland maintains his current form across the span of the season and wins a few trophies besides, the Norway international may fancy his chances of leaping well up the rankings during next year’s award ceremony, but Palmer, too, will look to bounce back from his current injury problems and push for a place at the very forefront of the list.

One thing’s for sure, Man City made a big mistake when signing off the cheque for Palmer’s sale to a divisional rival. He has only gone from strength to strength since departing and is now one of the best in the business.

Just imagine the Englishman feeding passes through to Haaland in the box, creating an almighty and unstoppable attacking partnership.

Given that De Bruyne is with City no longer, it really is frustrating to think the perfect replacement has already been sold.

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Crystal Palace are now rivalling Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of a former Real Madrid player, who “never puts a foot wrong.”

Palace keen on new centre-back with Guehi set for exit

Marc Guehi was hardly short of suitors before the international break, with the centre-back’s move to Liverpool falling through on deadline day, but the Englishman has once again put himself in the shop window courtesy of his performance against Wales.

The Three Lions haven’t conceded a single goal in World Cup qualifying, with Guehi helping his side continue their fantastic defensive record against Wales last week, while also assisting England’s opening two goals.

The 25-year-old has remained a consummate professional, having not downed tools in order to force through a move, but it appears as though an exit is inevitable, given that the Palace captain was left very unhappy with his move to Anfield breaking down.

Consequently, Crystal Palace have now started looking at potential replacements for the defender, and they have now joined the race for Lazio defender Mario Gila, who is also being targeted by Tottenham, Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states all the aforementioned Premier League clubs are keeping close tabs on Gila, who could command a huge transfer fee.

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The Italian club are only willing to listen to offers in the region of €45m – €50m (£39m – £43m), which is regarded as an affordable fee for Spurs, but would be a club-record signing for Palace, eclipsing the £32m spent on Christian Benteke back in 2016.

Gila could be exciting replacement for Guehi

Of course, no Crystal Palace fan will want their FA Cup-winning captain to leave, but given that he has shown no interest in signing a new contract, it is wise to start thinking about potential replacements.

Moreover, the Lazio defender could be an exciting option, given that he is experienced in Europe, having featured in the Conference League, Europa League and Champions League with Lazio.

The ex-Real Madrid man has also received plaudits from Lazio sporting director Igli Tare, who seemed to suggest he is destined for the top level, saying: “He is fast, intelligent and never puts a foot wrong. He can become one of the top 3-4 defenders in the world and it wouldn’t surprise me if Real wanted him back.”

As such, it would be a real coup if Palace were able to sign Gila, but the capture of Yeremy Pino in the summer showed that Selhurst Park is now becoming an attractive destination for top players.

Tottenham Hotspur have a world-class stadium which cost £1bn and they’ve also splashed the cash on several new signings over the years. However, their wait for a first trophy since 2008 goes on.

Spurs have also brought in big transfer fees for a plethora of stars, dealing with some of Europe’s biggest clubs in the process – but who is the club’s record departure?

Here is a look at Tottenham Hotspur’s most expensive sales in their history, with the help of news reports and Transfermarkt, with a detailed look at the top 10.

Tottenham’s most expensive sales of all time

Rank

Player

Fee

Sold to

Year

1

Harry Kane

£86.4m

Bayern Munich

2023

2

Gareth Bale

£85.3m

Real Madrid

2013

3

Kyle Walker

£50m

Man City

2017

4

Dimitar Berbatov

£30.75m

Man Utd

2008

5

Luka Modric

£30m

Real Madrid

2012

6

Steven Bergwijn

£26m

Ajax

2022

7

Oliver Skipp

£25m

Leicester

2024

=8

Kieran Trippier

£20m

Atletico Madrid

2019

=8

Heung-min Son

£20m

LAFC

2025

10

Robbie Keane

£19m

Liverpool

2008

11

Michael Carrick

£18.6m

Man Utd

2006

=12

Emerson Royal

£18m

AC Milan

2024

=12

Kevin Wimmer

£18m

Stoke City

2017

14

Christian Eriksen

£16.9m

Inter

2020

15

Nabil Bentaleb

£16m

Schalke

2017

=16

Toby Alderweireld

£13m

Al-Duhail

2021

=16

Juan Foyth

£13m

Villarreal

2021

=16

Ryan Mason

£13m

Hull City

2016

=16

Nacer Chadli

£13m

West Brom

2016

=20

Kyle Walker-Peters

£12m

Southampton

2020

=20

Andros Townsend

£12m

Newcastle

2016

=20

Peter Crouch

£12m

Stoke

2011

=20

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

£12m

Marseille

2025

Here’s a detailed look at Spurs' top 10 sales… 10 Robbie Keane £19m to Liverpool, 2008

Robbie Keane was Spurs’ star player and captain back in 2008, so it was a real blow when Liverpool took him to Anfield for £19m. The transfer fee could have surpassed £20m, but we doubt the Irishman met the required add-ons.

Daniel Levy publicly spoke of their disappointment that Keane wanted a move away, but six months later, Keane was back at Tottenham on a permanent transfer after struggling to become a regular on Merseyside.

9 Heung-min Son £20m to LAFC, 2025

A Tottenham icon, Heung-min Son lifted Spurs’ first trophy in 17 years following the club’s Europa League triumph in 2025, but months later, the South Korea forward left north London for the MLS.

The attacker departed for LAFC in a deal worth £20m, with Son scoring 173 goals in 454 games for Spurs, proving to be worth every penny of the £22m Tottenham spent in 2015.

8 Kieran Trippier £20m to Atletico Madrid, 2019

Kieran Trippier’s final game for Tottenham came at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium in the 2019 Champions League final. It would end up being his new club home after Spurs sold him to Diego Simeone’s side for £20m that summer.

Trippier has since become a La Liga winner and returned to the Premier League with Newcastle United, where he helped them qualify for the Champions League.

7 Oliver Skipp £25m to Leicester City, 2024

After coming through the academy and making more than 100 first-team appearances, midfielder Oliver Skipp was sold by Spurs for a reported £25m in 2024.

Leicester City were happy to pay big for Skipp after winning promotion, with the player signing a five-year deal. For a player who didn’t quite reach his potential at Tottenham, it wasn’t the worst deal in the world.

6 Steven Bergwijn £26m to Ajax, 2022

Tottenham signed Steven Bergwijn in January 2020 in the hope that he’d further boost a very exciting attacking lineup under Jose Mourinho.

However, the Dutchman rarely started and wasn’t the attacking threat Spurs had invested in. Eight goals in 83 appearances isn’t exactly worth what they paid for him, so they did well to bring in a £26m fee in 2022.

5 Luka Modric £30m to Real Madrid, 2012

Luka Modric’s performances over a four-year period at White Hart Lane caught the eye of Real Madrid in 2012, who took the Croatia international to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2012 for £30m.

The midfielder went on to star in Spain and even won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, so the £30m fee is probably looked back on as a bargain for Madrid.

4 Dimitar Berbatov £30.75m to Man Utd, 2008

Stylish striker Dimitar Berbatov struck up a brilliant relationship with Robbie Keane in north London, with the former scoring 46 goals in 102 games.

Despite having Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United added Berbatov to their ranks in 2008, and he’d go on to win six honours with the Red Devils in four years following his £30.75m transfer from Spurs.

3 Kyle Walker £50m to Man City, 2017

Kyle Walker became the world’s most expensive defender when he joined Manchester City from Tottenham in 2017 for £50m, with the England international going on to win everything under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.

Walker is arguably England’s greatest-ever right-back, but at the time, Tottenham had Kieran Trippier waiting in the wings, so were seemingly happy to cash in on him for such a large sum.

2 Gareth Bale £85.3m to Real Madrid, 2013

Gareth Bale followed Modric to Real Madrid in 2013 after starring in north London. The Wales international cost Real more than they had paid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009, with the transfer a world-record €100m (£85.3m) at the time.

Bale would go on to win 15 honours at the Bernabeu, including five Champions League titles. He scored 106 goals in 258 appearances in a Madrid shirt.

1 Harry Kane £86.4m to Bayern Munich, 2023

Topping the charts as Tottenham’s record departure is record goalscorer Harry Kane, who brought in £86.4m when he joined Bayern Munich in 2023.

The striker was linked with a Spurs exit on numerous occasions during his 13-year spell as a professional in north London, but it was the Bundesliga and Bayern that persuaded him to leave Tottenham. Kane, as expected, has gone on to continue to score for fun in Germany.

Brevis looked good for his 42 but there were no other significant contributions from CSK’s batters

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Apr-20253:11

Did CSK get it wrong at the auction?

An impressive CSK debut for Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre’s good start in his second game, were not enough to drag Chennai Super Kings out of the mire. Winning only their third toss of the year, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) capitalised on a dry pitch in their bid to beat CSK in Chennai for the first time and also get their own campaign back on track after just two wins in eight matches. CSK’s 154 was their third-lowest total of the season.Harshal Patel tested the middle of the pitch better than the others and ended up with analysis of 4-0-28-4. Pat Cummins got the wicket of the dangerous-looking Mhatre and topped it up with two boundaryless overs in the 16th and the 18th, ending up with figures of 4-0-21-2. Kamindu Mendis wowed people again with his ambidextrous bowling, taking Ravindra Jadeja’s wicket and then removing Brevis with a sensational catch at long-off.Mhatre got CSK off to one of their more enterprising starts despite a first-ball dismissal of Shaik Rasheed, but SRH were quick to start bowling into the pitch. Only Brevis rose above the conditions and the bowling, hitting four sixes in his 42 off 25. That included three sixes in Kamindu’s third over after he had not been hit for any boundary in his first two.Related

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Brevis was looking dangerous when he hit a slower bouncer over extra cover for six, but when he smashed a shot flat off a slot ball from Harshal, Kamindu dived to his left at long-off, got both his hands to the ball and caught it behind his body.After Brevis’ dismissal, the SRH bowlers turned the screw in with their tall bowlers banging the ball into the pitch. Jaydev Unadkat got Shivam Dube, and Harshal sent back MS Dhoni. Hooda added 17 for the last wicket with Khaleel Ahmed, but it wasn’t quite the finishing kick they needed.

Manchester United will want to address their goalkeeping situation before the window is closed at Old Trafford and could now be set to focus all their efforts on a talented stopper from the continent, according to a report.

Bayindir's error vs Arsenal leaves Man Utd searching for answers

Truthfully, there wasn’t much to separate Manchester United and Arsenal in their Premier League opening clash, apart from the level of goalkeeping performances on display.

Unfortunately for the Red Devils’, Arsenal’s prevalence at set-pieces earned the points for the visitors, who received a helping hand from Altay Bayindir’s failure to steer away Declan Rice’s delivery before Riccardo Calafiori pounced from close range.

Speaking on the BBC’s Football Daily podcast, David James believes the Turkish international shouldn’t have got involved with William Saliba in the lead-up to the only goal of the encounter.

He explained: “There were two issues with the goal. The first was Bayindir getting involved with William Saliba before the corner-kick was taken. Saliba ran across the front and I actually think it was a foul on Mason Mount because Saliba nearly dragged his shirt off to get in front of Bayindir.

“But by getting involved with Saliba, everyone has now got arms on each other and Bayindir is in no position to do anything decent from where he is.”

On the same day, reports emerged that Man Utd are plotting a surprise reunion with David De Gea. Meanwhile, Gianluigi Donnarumma has been considered by the Red Devils amid speculation surrounding the future of Andre Onana.

Nevertheless, there could now be another solution to their woes between the sticks as INEOS prepare to focus their attention on finalising a deal for a rising star.

Manchester United look to finalise Senne Lammens move

According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United chiefs are convinced they’ll win the race to sign Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens despite interest from Inter Milan in securing his signature.

The outlet claim he only has eyes for a move to Old Trafford and they will now look to put a ‘decisive plan’ in action to land the goalkeeper. Albeit, Onana’s failure to secure a move elsewhere has impacted their overall pursuit of a new number one.

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Overall, the Belgian star has kept 12 clean sheets in 64 appearances for Royal Antwerp, leading to a call-up to his senior national team back in March for their UEFA Nations League playoff matches against Ukraine.

Manchester United have kept in touch with his entourage all summer and have him on a shortlist alongside Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez. Now, it appears Lammens is top priority as the Red Devils consider a late move to bolster their goalkeeping department.

Labelled “elite” by Ben Mattinson, Fotmob show the 23-year-old has retained a 73.3% save percentage this season, which may pique the interest of supporters as they cross their fingers for a new number one at Old Trafford.

Savinho has reportedly agreed to a new contract at Manchester City, with Tottenham dealt a massive transfer blow. The north London club had tried to sign the forward in the summer and were thinking of returning for him in January but those hopes are now dead in the water. Spurs had tabled discussions confident that the 21-year-old winger's head could be turned, but City slammed the door shut, insisting the Brazilian was not for sale.

• Man City lock down their jewel until 2031

  According to City have secured Savinho on a new deal that ties him to the Etihad until 2031, killing off any lingering Spurs optimism. It’s a hammer blow to Thomas Frank’s rebuilding project, especially as Tottenham viewed Savinho as a ready-made star capable of bolstering their attack. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Savinho back in form after injury

  Savinho missed the first three games of this campaign with injury, but he’s wasted no time making his mark since returning. The Brazilian grabbed his first goal of the season in City’s 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Huddersfield, reminding Pep Guardiola exactly why he fought to keep him. In his debut campaign at the Etihad, he clocked 48 appearances, chipped in with three goals and laid on 13 assists across competitions.

• Guardiola has a vision for Savinho

  Guardiola has never hidden his admiration for Savinho. Back in August, the City boss made it clear he wanted the winger to be part of his long-term plans, brushing aside any transfer plans. 

  "I am only concerned right now that Savinho will be with us for the rest of the season and hopefully many years because at 21, with the potential he has, he is an extraordinary player," said Guardiola.

  "Otherwise, he would not have played more than 3,000 minutes last season. At the end, the desire of the players is above everything but then they have to find an agreement with the club. If they don’t take an agreement, the player will be here."

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  From Belo Horizonte to Brazil’s new starboy

  Savinho made his senior debut for Atletico Mineiro at just 16 years old before joining Troyes in 2022. Spells at PSV and Girona hardened his game, and now he’s flourishing on the biggest stage at the Etihad. Already capped 13 times by Brazil, with one goal to his name, Savinho is being tipped as one of the Selecao’s next great wingers. His next assignment is Premier League showdown against Burnley this Saturday.

There are around two weeks left to go before the end of the summer transfer window and Glasgow Rangers have not lost any of their major assets yet.

Brazilian left-back Jefte is reportedly closing in on a return to his home country to sign for Palmeiras for a reported fee of £6m, with the club set to bank a healthy profit on the £800k they paid Fluminense last year.

The crown jewels of Russell Martin’s side, however, have not yet been snapped up, as Hamza Igamane, Nicolas Raskin, and Mohamed Diomande are still Rangers players as it stands.

Premier League side Everton have been linked with Igamane, the Gers are braced for interest in Raskin still, and the Light Blues have fielded an offer from Besiktas for Diomande.

This shows that there is tangible interest in some of the club’s best talents, and that is why there is still some doubt over whether or not they will still be part of the squad at Ibrox when the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the start of next month.

If Bestikas, for example, come back in with another offer for Diomande, the Light Blues may have their resolve tested despite there not being much time left in the window.

Why losing Mohamed Diomande would be a blow for Rangers

Selling the Ivorian central midfielder before the end of the window would be a big blow to Martin and Rangers because he is a proven performer who has showcased his quality domestically and in Europe.

Diomande is a versatile midfield talent who can easily be deployed as a deep-lying midfielder, as a box-to-box workhorse, or further forward in a number ten role, due to his wide range of attributes in and out of possession.

In the Scottish Premiership, the left-footed star scored four goals, created 11 ‘big chances’, and delivered seven assists in 36 appearances, per Sofascore, which shows that he can make an impact at the top end of the pitch as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

He is not only effective in possession, though, as the 23-year-old talent caught the eye with his defensive contributions in midfield in the club’s Europa League campaign last season.

Tackles

12

Top 19%

Tackle success rate

63%

Top 45%

Duels won

53

Top 11%

Interceptions

11

Top 23%

Ball recoveries

47

Top 22%

Fouls committed

12

Top 18%

As you can see in the table above, Diomande ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of defensive metrics, which shows that he was one of the more effective defensive midfielders in the competition.

This is why it would be a big blow to lose him before the end of the window, because of the quality he provides on and off the ball, but the Gers are reportedly looking at a star who could ease that blow.

Rangers racing to sign Premier League midfielder

According to Football Insider, Rangers are one of the teams racing to strike a deal with West Ham United for central midfielder Andrew Irving this summer.

The report claims that the Light Blues and their Premiership and Glasgow rivals Celtic are both fighting it out to sign the Scotland international to bolster their midfield options.

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It adds that Irving wants to play regular football and would jump at the opportunity to play European football, which both teams will have, after a season of mainly watching on from the sidelines or bench with the Hammers.

Football Insider reveals that Celtic and Rangers are both exploring the possibility of a swoop for the former Hearts man, and that West Ham will not stand in his way if a good offer comes their way.

It was reported earlier this month that a fee in the region of £3m could be enough to tempt the Premier League side into cashing in on the midfield maestro.

Why Rangers should sign Andy Irving

The Gers should be pushing to beat Celtic to the West Ham United outcast’s signature because he could come in as a Diomande clone for Martin, easing the blow of potentially losing the Ivorian star this summer.

Even if the former Nordsjaelland ace remains at Ibrox, signing Irving would leave the manager with two top-quality options in midfield to rotate between.

Like Diomande, the Scottish whiz is a versatile midfielder who has the qualities in and out of possession to suit playing in pretty much any role that Martin needs in the middle of the park.

Irving, who made ten substitute appearances, ranked within the top 8% of Premier League midfielders for passes made (60) and the top 16% for pass accuracy (90%) for West Ham last season, which speaks to his ability to play in a deep-lying controller role.

The 25-year-old’s form on loan at Klagenfurt in the Austrian Bundesliga in the 2023/24 campaign, meanwhile, shows that he can be a box-to-box presence in midfield, just like Diomande.

Appearances

28

36

Goals

9

4

Big chances created

7

11

Assists

4

7

Dribbles completed per game

1.1

0.9

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.7

1.8

Duels won per game

4.9

4.2

As you can see in the table above, both players offer similar qualities in the middle of the park with their goal contributions, dribbling skills, and defensive work off the ball, which suggests that they make a similar impact on matches in midfield.

In fact, Rangers fan and analyst Kai Watson recently claimed that Irving “would provide everything that most fans have been expecting from Mo Diomande” and that he would suit Martin’s tactical system well.

The statistics from his time in the Austrian Bundesliga suggest that it is an accurate assessment from Watson, as Irving has the offensive and defensive qualities to be a Diomande clone at Ibrox.

This is why Irving could be a fantastic signing for Rangers because he could provide competition for the Ivorian midfielder if he remains at Ibrox, whilst also having the ability to be a brilliant replacement for him.

Rangers must replace Jefte with Ibrox swoop for "offensive" £13m star

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Hosts cruise in chase after England had scrapped a score from the depths of 24 for 4

Alan Gardner06-Nov-2024

Keacy Carty celebrates reaching his maiden ODI hundred•Getty Images

West Indies made light work of their run chase under the Kensington Oval floodlights, centuries from Keacy Carty and Brandon King setting up a dominant eight-wicket win that sealed a 2-1 series victory over England.Carty’s maiden hundred, from 97 balls, made him the first cricketer from St Maarten to reach the landmark for West Indies. He was followed to three figures by King, who made the most of being dropped twice with a timely knock, his first 50-plus score in ODIs since the World Cup Qualifier in July 2023. Their double-century stand, eventually worth 209, was the highest for West Indies against England in the format.England had scrapped their way up to what might have been a competitive total after a nightmare start saw them 24 for 4 at the end of the first powerplay. Phil Salt knuckled down to play his longest international innings, in terms of balls face, while Dan Mousley was inventive on the way to a maiden ODI fifty. With an injury to Romario Shepherd forcing Shai Hope to turn to Sherfane Rutherford – whose 3.5 overs at the death disappeared for 57 – England had at least given themselves a glimmer.It took one ball of the reply to suggest that conditions for batting had eased, as King spanked Jofra Archer’s opening gambit through the covers. He did the same to the second delivery, with Archer’s first three overs eventually costing 24 – and although Jamie Overton claimed a first ODI wicket with his third legitimate ball, Evin Lewis bounced out for 19, West Indies were already up and running.King finished the powerplay by bashing Reece Topley for two fours in three balls, putting West Indies ahead of the asking rate at 65 for 1 after ten. And while Carty, who picked up his first four by gliding Topley behind square in the same over, had some uncertain moments against the legspin of Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone early on, the second-wicket pair were soon motoring towards the target.Rashid’s first three overs had gone for just seven, but King pumped him down the ground for six to mark a shift in the mood. An edge off Livingstone evaded Salt’s gloves when King was on 44, and the West Indies opener went to a 60-ball fifty in the next over, clubbing Rashid emphatically through midwicket.Carty had been given out lbw to Livingstone’s first ball, but reviewed in the knowledge that there was bat involved. He cut and swept consecutive boundaries in the same over, and later launched Rashid over the deep midwicket boundary as West Indies steadily brought the required rate down while negotiating England’s seven bowling options. After bringing up a 61-ball fifty, Carty again took back-to-back fours off Livingstone, before doing the same to Sam Curran.A muscular pull for six off Topley ended up in the crowd at deep midwicket, as Carty overtook his partner, followed up by a flat-batted four down the ground. Having surpassed his previous ODI best of 88, he reached his hundred with a glide for four off Jacob Bethell’s left-arm spin – removing his helmet and raising his arms aloft as applause rolled around the ground.The moment was repeated at the start of the following over as King, who also saw a cut off Archer burst through the hands of Jordan Cox in the covers on 86, swatted the same bowler through fine leg to raise his third century in the format. King was bowled by Topley with 13 required but the result was beyond doubt.The alacrity with which West Indies hunted down their requirement amply demonstrated why both captains had wanted to bowl first at the toss. Shai Hope, who grew up at Kensington Oval, said he was “not sure what we’re going to get” from the surface – but his seamers certainly knew how to exploit the conditions, leaving England four down and tottering inside the first powerplay.The main source of discomfort for West Indies early on came via an extraordinary on-field contretemps between Alzarri Joseph and Hope, the fast bowler seemingly unhappy with the field set for England’s No. 3, Cox. Joseph could be seen repeatedly remonstrating with his captain from the top of his run-up, and he took his frustration out on the batter, Cox barely seeing a 148kph/92mph lifter that flicked the glove on its way through. Joseph didn’t celebrate and walked off at the end of the over, briefly leaving West Indies with 10 men on the field.Matthew Forde had already struck in his second over, responding to being driven for four by Will Jacks with a similar delivery that went away just enough to take the outside edge. Shepherd then enjoyed immediate success when replacing Joseph, as Bethell slashed at a wide delivery only to be spectacularly held by the leaping Roston Chase at point. When Livingstone fell to another catch at the wicket trying to force a drive off Shepherd, England were flatlining at 24 for 4 with one ball left in the powerplay.One of the England batters still standing was Salt. His half-century in the second ODI was the first time he had batted through the powerplay since June 2022, but he backed up that effort in Barbados – albeit 11 not out off 26 balls told of England’s struggle.He found useful allies in Curran and Mousley, adding consecutive stands of 70 for the fifth and sixth wickets. Curran, again up the order at No. 6, was proactive from the outset but fell looking to take on Chase’s offspin. Mousley then continued the rebuilding effort, with Salt grinding away to a 79-ball fifty – by far the slowest of his five in ODIs.England were 163 for 5 at the end of the 40th but lost Salt in the following over, King’s athleticism at deep midwicket resulting in a comfortable relay catch for Joseph. Shepherd then collapsed after catching his studs in the turf and had to be helped from the field, as the momentum shifted again. Mousley fell shortly after reaching fifty but lower-order cameos from Overton (32 off 21) and Archer (38 not out off 17) saw Rutherford’s medium-pace take a battering and 100 runs bleed from the last ten overs. That ended up as a footnote after King and Carty took charge.

West Bromwich Albion are now in a transfer race with Middlesbrough to sign an experienced defender on a free transfer, according to a recent report.

West Brom chasing multiple transfer targets

It’s been a steady start to the transfer window for the Baggies and new manager Ryan Mason, as they have brought in three new players so far. Defenders George Campbell and Nat Phillips have arrived from Montreal and Liverpool respectively, as well as Aune Heggebo to reinforce the front line.

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The Championship side are looking to remain active however, and have their eye on adding more attacking talent. It was reported earlier this month that West Brom are among the teams interested in signing Mikey Moore on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. The youngster featured for the Premier League side last season but could be set for a spell away given the change in the dugout.

And Moore is not the only attacker Mason has his eye on, as the Express & Star recently revealed that Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is also wanted by West Brom and could be available for around £10 million, as he looks set for a move away from Crystal Palace. However, the Baggies face a tough battle, as rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers are also keen on the exciting winger.

West Brom in race with Middlesbrough to sign Jamal Lewis

Despite already adding defensive reinforcements this summer, Mason appears keen for more options at the back. According to The Belfast Telegraph, West Brom are interested in signing Jamal Lewis on a free transfer.

The left-back was released by Newcastle United in the summer after a tough spell at St James’ Park, where he made just 31 Premier League appearances in three seasons. His availability on a free transfer has now alerted the Baggies but also Middlesbrough and Norwich City, who are keen on the defender.

The 27-year-old, who has earned 39 caps for Northern Ireland, spent the first half of last season on loan at Brazilian side São Paulo, but it was an experience that didn’t go to plan, as he appeared just six times. Lewis returned to Newcastle and didn’t feature in a single game for the remainder of the season.

Jamal Lewis’ Championship stats

Apps

100

Minutes played

8289

Goals

0

Assists

6

Despite his struggles at Newcastle since Eddie Howe arrived, the Englishman has been full of praise for Lewis, dubbing him an “incredible athlete” in the past. Howe said: “Jamal, we hope, can stay fit and show us what he’s capable of.

“I believe in him as a player, but he’s just had really bad luck. He’s got a lot to offer physically; we’ve certainly seen that in pre-season – an incredible athlete. He needs consistency of training at the moment – and hopefully he can get that.”

Interestingly, the Baggies have already dealt with his agency, PLG, this summer, as the group also represent Phillips, as well as current star Jayson Molumby, perhaps smoothing negotiations considering Lewis is a free agent.