All posts by z3u9t.icu

Chelsea suffered a disappointing defeat in their second group match of the Club World Cup, going down 3-1 against Brazilian side Flamengo.

Enzo Maresca had led the Blues to an opening victory against LAFC, but the loss now means he will need to secure all three points against ES Tunis to qualify for the knockout round.

Given how big the prize fund is, going as far as possible is certainly within the club’s best interests.

The Stamford Bridge side have already signed Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for a fee of £30m, while deals for Estevao, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr, and Kendry Paez have also gone through so far this summer.

Maresca won’t be stopping there, that much is certain. With a move for Hugo Ekitike high on the priority list, it is clear the Blues want to sign another centre-forward this summer.

They have also been linked with moves to sign Tyler Dibling, Murillo, and Mohamed Kudus in recent weeks as Maresca prepares to take Chelsea into the Champions League.

With so many potential transfer links, the manager will surely be looking to offload a player or two. Not only to free up space in the first-team squad, but also to balance the books.

Several names have been touted as departing the club, but could Noni Madueke be the most high-profile sale this summer?

What the future holds for Noni Madueke at Chelsea

Last season saw Madueke come of age at Chelsea. Across 43 appearances in all competitions, the English winger scored 11 goals and provided five assists for the Blues.

He helped them win the Conference League in the process, and this campaign surely gave him plenty of confidence heading into the Club World Cup.

According to The Telegraph, Arsenal are seemingly keen on making a move to sign the former PSV Eindhoven starlet this summer in a bid to improve their attacking options.

With Maresca continuing his heavy recruitment drive at Stamford Bridge, Madueke’s space in the starting XI is certainly not guaranteed heading into the 2024/25 campaign.

The report goes on to state that the winger is not up for sale, but should things change in the coming weeks, he could be obtainable in the transfer window.

Metric

Premier League

Conference League

Goals

7

3

Assists

3

1

Big chances created

6

0

Successful dribbles per game

1.4

1.6

Key passes per game

1.1

1

He would be a fine signing for any club in the top flight, as evidenced by his statistics when compared to peers across Europe’s top five leagues.

Not only did he rank in the top 1% for progressive carries (6.82) per 90, but the winger also ranked in the top 4% for touches in the opposition penalty area (8.15) per 90 and in the top 7% for total shots per 90 (3.54), proving just how big an impact he had at Chelsea.

Should an offer come in that is too good to turn down, Maresca will surely accept it. This could allow him to make a move for a player who is on his wish list of late.

Chelsea eyeing move for Lyon sensation

According to football.london, Chelsea are interested in signing Lyon starlet Malick Fofana this summer.

As per the report, the club have already initiated contact with the Ligue 1 side regarding a move.

Any deal for the Belgian international will likely cost around £45m, which shouldn’t pose too much of a problem for the Blues, that’s for sure.

Given how many players are set to make the move to Stamford Bridge, however, moving for a first-team star or two looks like the best bet, hence the interest in Madueke.

Swapping the current Chelsea winger for Fofana has the potential to be an excellent deal for all parties involved.

But just what would the 20-year-old bring to Chelsea next season?

Why Chelsea must sign Malick Fofana

Just a couple of months ago, football talent scout Jacek Kulig lavished praise on the young attacking talent, saying: “Malick Fofana – 17 G/A in around 2000 minutes for Lyon this season. 20 years of age.

“Still a bit inconsistent, but already showing flashes of his enormous potential.

“Big future ahead.”

If he continues on this recent upwards trajectory following a stunning breakthrough season with Lyon, then he could become one of the finest attacking talents on the continent.

With the Blues returning to the Champions League for the first time since the 2022/23 campaign, Fofana could be a dangerous weapon in their quest for glory. Especially taking his Europa League displays from last term into account.

Across ten games in the competition for Lyon, the young dynamo scored six goals while providing two assists.

In addition, when compared to his peers in Europe’s secondary competition, Fofana ranked in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (1.05), progressive carries (7.88) and touches in the opposition penalty area (8.23) per 90 last term.

Of course, this wasn’t in the Champions League, but performing as well as this at such a young age, what is stopping him from shining on the biggest stage?

Fofana is a right-footed winger who prefers to operate on the left so he can cut in on a regular basis. Last season, however, Fofana did play a couple of matches on the right flank, scoring twice in the process.

Could he, then, be an ideal replacement for Madueke should the English starlet move on from the club this summer? It would be interesting to see exactly what position Maresca would utilise Fofana in, especially as he does appear rather flexible.

Given Madueke still has a few years left on his contract, the Blues should be able to demand a decent fee for the player, who only joined in January 2023.

If his sale can free up space for Fofana coming in, a player who appears to have a brighter future, then it would be a shrewd piece of business. For now, Maresca will just be looking to see his team defeat ES Tunis in order to seal a place in the last-16 of the Club World Cup.

Not just Jackson: 5/10 flop must never play for Chelsea again after the CWC

Chelsea were beaten 3-1 by Flamengo in their second game of the Club World Cup.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 21, 2025

As rumours persist over Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future, Crystal Palace have now reportedly entered pole position to sign an impressive striker who could replace the Frenchman this summer.

Mateta could leave Crystal Palace

Following another excellent season at Selhurst Park, Mateta was always likely to find himself on the radar of several top clubs. The big question is whether he departs this summer. Recent reports have revealed his desire to push towards France’s 2026 World Cup squad with a move away part of that plan, and that could deal Palace a killer blow.

What makes matters worse is that Manchester United are reportedly among those jostling for the forward’s signature this summer. To lose Mateta to any club would be a major blow for the Eagles. To lose him to another Premier League side, however, would be more frustrating than anything.

Appearances

45

Goals

17

Assists

4

All it takes is one look at the numbers to realise exactly why Manchester United have set their sights on signing Mateta. The Crystal Palace star, who helped his side defeat Manchester City in the FA Cup final recently, has done something that both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have failed to do by reaching double figures for goals this season.

Palace will be desperate to keep their forward, of course, and Oliver Glasner is well aware of his quality. The Austrian told reporters earlier this season: “We don’t always talk because he knows what we demand of him. With his two goals today, he is amazing in the box.

“He has the feeling that a number nine must have in the box. He makes so many runs where he doesn’t get the ball. You need to suffer as a striker because you make so many runs where you don’t get the ball. He gets the reward and it decides the game for us.”

Whilst his future continues to hang in the balance, however, those at Selhurst Park are reportedly eyeing an instant replacement for Mateta this summer.

Crystal Palace leading Emegha race

According to TEAMtalk, Crystal Palace are now leading the race to sign Emanuel Emegha from RC Strasbourg this summer. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic campaign for the Ligue 1 side, who shocked the rest of France’s first division by finishing as high as seventh under Liam Rosenior.

Almost a month since football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed his season as “fantastic”, Emegha has taken his total to 14 goals in all competitions to leave the likes of Crystal Palace in pursuit of his signature.

Crystal Palace jostling to sign "complete" midfielder in deal worth £30m

The Eagles could swoop in ahead of rival clubs.

ByTom Cunningham May 24, 2025

At this stage, a fair few dominoes would have to fall for Emegha to become a Crystal Palace player, but if Mateta does depart, he should remain the Eagles’ top target to arrive in the coming months.

Wednesday night proved that this season could, in fact, get worse for Arsenal fans.

While the Gunners were just about coming to terms with another season without a trophy, they had to watch bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur win the Europa League and, in turn, book their place in the Champions League next year.

So, to ensure it’s the red side celebrating silverware next season, Andrea Berta and Co need to make sure they bring in some incredibly talented players who can make a real difference in the summer.

Fortunately, that looks like it may well happen, as recent reports have linked the club with one of the most exciting internationals on the continent, someone who could be the perfect upgrade on the underperforming Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal looking at Odegaard replacement

Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other exciting players touted for moves to Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Rafael Leao and Bryan Mbeumo.

Transfer Focus

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

The former might have a release clause worth an astounding £145m, but he’s been in fine form this season, racking up a tally of 12 goals and 13 assists in 50 appearances for AC Milan.

Mbeumo, on the other hand, appears far more attainable at around £60m, which could prove to be something of a bargain for a winger who has scored 19 goals and provided nine assists in 41 games for Brentford this season.

However, if a player is going to come in and replace Odegaard, they need to be comfortable in the middle of the park and blessed with immense skill, which is where Xavi Simons comes in.

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are one of several clubs interested in signing the RB Leipzig star.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Liverpool and Manchester United are also keen on the Dutch international, who could be sold for around £60m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer, but given Simons’ immense ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be an ideal Odegaard upgrade.

How Simons compares to Odegaard

So, the first thing to clear up is that while Simons can play in a number of positions – which is another reason Arsenal should sign him – attacking midfield is his second most played role, and with some of the other wingers linked to the club in recent weeks, we wouldn’t be surprised if that was where Arteta and Co would want to play him.

Therefore, his biggest competitor for game time would be Odegaard, so who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when it comes to pure output, it’s the mercurial Dutchman who comes out way ahead.

In just 33 appearances this season, the 22-year-old has really showcased why he’s “one of the best 10s in the world” in the words of one analyst on social media, having scored 11 goals and provided eight assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games.

In contrast, the Norwegian ace has scored just five goals and provided 12 assists in 44 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.58 games.

The one-sided nature of the comparison only continues when we go back and take a look at their output from last season, when the Gunners captain was actually in form and won the team’s Player of the Year Award.

For example, he managed a respectable haul of 11 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances, which came out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.08 games.

Appearances

43

48

Goals

10

11

Assists

15

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

0.47

Appearances

33

44

Goals

11

5

Assists

8

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

0.38

However, the former PSV gem did even better and ended the campaign with a superb tally of ten goals and 15 assists in 43 appearances, which came out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games.

Ultimately, while Odegaard remains an incredibly talented footballer, he’s been seriously underwhelming this season, and even when he was nearer his best last year, Simons outperformed him.

Therefore, Arsenal should do what they can to sign the Leipzig star before someone else beats them to it.

He's like Isak: Arsenal plan talks to sign £105m Gyokeres alternative

The free-scoring forward would be perfect for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 22, 2025

Glasgow Rangers’ 2024/25 is over following their Europa League defeat in midweek to Athletic Club at the quarter-final stage.

Having been knocked out of the Scottish Cup in February, plus the fact Celtic are runaway leaders of the Premiership, the final five league games will be dead rubbers for the Ibrox side.

While Philippe Clement was to blame for many reasons, the transfer activity, both in the summer and winter windows, has a lot to answer for regarding the club’s dismal campaign.

Out of all the arrivals to join the club this season, only a few have gained pass marks. Robin Propper could have made that list, yet he has endured a poor season.

Robin Propper's dismal season in numbers

The Dutch defender had played over 100 times for FC Twente, even captaining the side, before making the move to Ibrox last summer.

On the surface, it looked as though he could be a solid signing, especially given his age and the experience gained over his career.

Fast-forward nine months, and it couldn’t have gone any worse. Propper has failed to truly acclimatise to the physical nature of Scottish football, being regularly outpaced and outfought by opposition defenders. As he admitted himself, he “maybe underestimated” the quality of the Premiership.

In Europe, the centre-back has won just 44% of his aerial duels while losing possession 6.7 times per game, and overall, he hasn’t been the best of signings.

Metric (per 90)

Premiership

Europa League

Accurate passes

58.6

30.3

Tackles

1.6

0.8

Total duels won

5.6

2.5

Interceptions

0.9

1

Possession lost

8.7

6.7

Despite this, Propper – who was sent off against Athletic in the first-leg stalemate – may not even be the worst defensive signing Clement made this term. That honour could go to Rafael Fernandes, who, with every passing week, looks an extremely strange signing.

How Rafael Fernandes has performed for Rangers

A few winter arrivals were expected by the Ibrox faithful, but only Rafael Fernandes made the move to Rangers, much to the disappointment of the supporters.

The 22-year-old defender signed on an initial six-month loan deal, having the option to make it permanent, but given how little he has featured, this shouldn’t be exercised.

Indeed, the youngster has played a total of 91 competitive minutes for the Gers spread across four appearances.

His first start for the club came against Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup, and it soon turned into a disaster. He lasted only 60 minutes as the Light Blues suffered a shock defeat.

Since then, Fernandes has started only one more game – against Aberdeen last week – and it doesn’t look like he will feature much in the closing weeks.

Across his three league outings, Fernandes won just 25% of his total duels contested, along with committing one foul per game and making zero tackles each match.

He hasn’t exactly had many chances to make an impact at the club, but even when he has been on the pitch, Fernandes hasn’t done himself many favours, that’s for sure.

It was a weird signing in the first place, and when the season finishes, Rangers should say thanks before allowing him to return to Lille.

Rangers trio worth £5m to leave Ibrox after Athletic Bilbao defeat

Barry Ferguson’s side crashed out of Europe on Thursday.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 19, 2025

Sheffield United head into the Championship’s latest round of fixtures later today keen to get back to winning ways and eager to ensure Burnley’s stay at the very summit is premature.

Indeed, the Blades fell to an unexpected 1-0 defeat at the weekend away at relegation-threatened Oxford United, with a Siriki Dembele strike for the U’s the difference between the two sides.

Now, it’s up to Chris Wilder to inspire his troops to a win back on home turf, with Scott Parker’s Clarets only one point ahead at the top.

Millwall will be a stern opponent in South Yorkshire, but the United boss will know if he can get the very best out of certain key individuals, a much-needed three points will be heading their way.

Best summer signings at Sheffield United

Wilder should be commended – regardless of what happens this season – with how quickly he’s got his team back believing in themselves, considering they dropped out of the Premier League bottom of the pile last campaign.

Of course, he was helped last summer by a whole host of positive new additions entering his camp, with the £2m signing of Michael Cooper in-between the sticks proving to be a particularly inspired pick-up.

The former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper has settled in swimmingly to his fresh South Yorkshire environment, with Cooper conceding just 28 goals from 38 Championship encounters, leading to a high 19 clean sheets piling up.

Moreover, away from how few goals are being conceded, Tyrese Campbell – who entered the building last summer on a free transfer – is ensuring there are plenty of strikes hitting the back of the opposing nets, with the ex-Stoke City attacker boasting ten Championship goals.

Whilst Campbell and Cooper are both undoubtedly transfer success stories, the South Yorkshire outfit have fallen foul to some blunders in this department, with one high earner often in the treatment room instead of playing on the Bramall Lane pitch.

The "outstanding" United striker who could be axed

Wilder would have expected this signing to be a rip-roaring success, considering the striker in question’s glittering goal record in the EFL.

Before joining the Blades, Welsh talisman Kieffer Moore had tallied up 56 career goals in the Championship alongside 33 League One strikes, but his time with the promotion chasers to date has been bumpy.

Games played

23

Goals scored

5

Assists

0

Games missed through injury

17

Days missed through injury

82

Wage per week

£25k-per-week

Looking at the table above, it’s clear to see that the ex-Cardiff City striker’s stay at Bramall Lane has been severely disrupted by injury, with Moore out of action for both club and country this season for a bumper 17 clashes.

Annoyingly, the experienced EFL head has shown spurts of his obvious quality when injury-free – with his five goals this campaign even seeing Wilder herald the 6 foot 5 attacker as “outstanding” – but Moore’s long absences from the side still fail to justify his steep £25k-per-week pay packet.

The United number nine’s wage looks even more extortionate when you consider both Campbell and Cooper earn less at £15k-per-week and £17.5k-per-week respectively, despite being concrete parts of Wilder’s starting XI during these last few crunch months in the tricky league.

With Moore not getting any younger either, it could be time for the Blades manager to consider the Welshman’s long-term future, with the signing so far going down as a slight misfire, despite some promising early performances from the unlucky centre-forward.

Sheffield United already sold their own Cannon who has "massive potential"

Sheffield United could well have dropped a clanger getting rid of their own Tom Cannon.

2 ByKelan Sarson Apr 7, 2025

Incoming Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is now intent on signing a “world-class” duo in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Berta drawing up plans for the summer

Although Berta is yet to be officially announced as the Gunners’ new sporting director, there have been suggestions the Italian has already started identifying a number of potential targets ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 53-year-old is believed to be a huge fan of Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios, as a result of the time they spent working together at the La Liga club, while he will also try to sign Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes.

The north Londoners are now in talks over a deal for Guimaraes, with Berta ‘in love’ with the Brazilian after trying to sign him for Atlético Madrid on a number of occasions.

Better than Sesko: Arsenal in talks to sign "one of the best in the world"

Arsenal could sign one of the best forwards in the world on a free transfer.

2 ByMatt Dawson Mar 23, 2025

As such, the 27-year-old has now emerged as a key target for Arsenal, which could perhaps indicate Martin Zubimendi is no longer as high up the list, but a new report from GiveMeSport suggests otherwise.

According to the report, Berta is still intent on signing Zubimendi this summer, with the former Atlético Madrid man particularly keen on the Spaniard, alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha.

Cunha provides a goal threat and creativity in attack, which makes the Brazilian a necessary addition to Mikel Arteta’s frontline, but he will not come cheap, given that he has a £62m release clause included in his contract.

Previous reports have stated Zubimendi will be a little cheaper at £51m, meaning Arsenal may have to shell out the huge sum of £113m to get the two deals over the line.

However, it is also detailed that Arteta’s side could listen to offers for Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli this summer, which may boost their budget significantly.

Zubimendi and Cunha could be "world-class" additions

Cunha has shown signs of year-on-year development since signing for Wolves, having already beaten his Premier League goal tally from last season by netting 13 times in 26 appearances this term, while also providing four assists.

The Brazil international has thus been hailed as “world-class” by members of the media, and Kieran Tierney has stated Zubimendi is in the same category.

“You have world-class players like [Martín] Zubimendi, [Mikel] Merino, Brais [Méndez]. It’s not that people don’t think they’re good; it’s just that if you’re only watching the Premier League every week, it’s hard to know. They’re world class.”

As such, the duo could be fantastic signings for Arsenal this summer, but Cunha should be Arteta’s priority, given that the manager is light on out-and-out centre-forwards, and the 25-year-old has proven himself as a reliable goalscorer in the Premier League.

Manchester United face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium later on tonight, looking to build on the Europa League triumph over Real Sociedad on Thursday evening.

Ruben Amorim’s side are looking to make it four games unbeaten in the Premier League, after two draws and a win against Everton, Arsenal and Ipswich Town, respectively.

It will be the fourth time the two sides have met throughout 2024/25, with the Red Devils winning the other league clash this campaign with victories in the Carabao and FA Cup.

However, the manager may have some selection decisions to make if they are to extend their unbeaten run, helping end the season on a high after enduring a dismal campaign to date.

He will certainly be without one player for the trip to the East Midlands, with one first-team regular currently serving a suspension after picking up a red card a couple of weeks ago.

Patrick Dorgu’s suspension for Leicester City

Left-back Patrick Dorgu impressed massively during the win over Real Sociedad, looking like the player they decided to splash £30m on in the January transfer window.

However, the 20-year-old won’t be available for the clash with the Foxes this evening, serving the second of his three-game ban for his straight red card received in the win over Ipswich.

The Dane missed the clash with Arsenal last week, but his absence may be felt more tonight, given his impressive showing against the Spanish outfit a couple of days ago.

With Luke Shaw still out injured and Tyrell Malacia spending the remainder of the campaign out on loan, options are limited within the defensive department.

As a result, Amorim could look to start one player in an unfamiliar role, looking to follow in the footsteps of one player who previously impressed in his new position.

The player who could solve Amorim’s wing-back dilemma

Amad Diallo hasn’t featured since the last clash with the Foxes at the start of February, potentially missing the rest of the campaign with an ankle issue.

However, before his setback, Amorim often utilised the Ivorian in a slightly deeper wing-back role rather than his preferred attacking position, managing to get the best out of the youngster in the process.

The 22-year-old has managed to register 12 combined goals and assists since the former Sporting CP boss’s appointment, thriving with added minutes in the first team.

However, Amorim could look to replicate such success by unleashing Alejandro Garnacho in a similar position on the opposite flank, potentially allowing the Argentine to spark into life under the new manager.

The 20-year-old has only registered four combined goal contributions this calendar year, struggling to adapt to Amorim’s demands of operating in a more central role rather than his preferred wide position.

Whilst it may seem like a far-fetched idea, the young “game-changer” – as described by journalist Samuel Luckhurst – has all of the tools to operate in such a role, having the energy to get up and down the line, with his stats showing the impact he can have at both ends.

In the Premier League throughout 2024/25, Garnacho has averaged 1.1 successful dribbles and created 1.3 chances per 90 – showcasing the impact he can have when marauding into forward areas.

Games played

27

Goals & assists

4

Pass accuracy

83%

Successful dribbles

1.1

Chances created

1.3

Duels won

4.1

Tackle success rate

65%

He’s also won 4.1 duels per 90, along with a 65% tackle success rate, having the defensive capabilities to regain possession should he need to when the side are without the ball.

Given the form of Amad in a similar position, it could be a great opportunity for the manager to start the academy graduate in a new role – offering added versatility to the side in the process.

Leicester’s lowly league standing could allow for one or two risks to be taken, with Amorim having the perfect chance to work his magic by utilising an attacker in a wing-back role, which could get the best out of his game after a stuttering few months.

Man Utd have hit gold on "phenomenal" ace who cost even less than Heaven

Manchester United have hit the jackpot on one player who signed for less than Ayden Heaven.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 14, 2025

The father of one Celtic transfer target has launched a jab at Scottish football, labelling it an “intermediate” step for his son.

Celtic miss out on late deals

Brendan Rodgers side may well be well clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, but they remained active in the January transfer window.

Kyogo Furuhashi departed to join Rennes, which left the Scottish giants needing to replace the forward before the window slammed shut. After failing with several offers to sign a new forward, they ultimately opted to re-sign Jota, with the 25-year-old joining from the same side that Kyogo joined.

Celtic once had the 'best striker' after Larsson, now he's in the 8th tier

Celtic have had a few excellent centre-forwards in recent years, but one of the best, at least statistically, has joined an eighth-tier English club.

Feb 14, 2025

He has already marked his return with two goals and an assist in three Scottish Premiership outings, hitting the ground running at his former stomping ground and beginning to pay back his transfer fee at Celtic Park. But that move hasn’t gone down well in all quarters.

Strelec's father reacts to failed transfer

Before they signed Jota, one player that Celtic made a move for was Slovan Bratislava talent David Strelec, who has found the net 11 times in 19 games so far this season and who had caught the eye of Rodgers’ side.

They made an offer to sign the forward, but it was knocked back by the Slovakian side as it was deemed to be too low, and Celtic ultimately moved onto other targets before landing Jota.

Appearances

19

Goals

11

Assists

3

Minutes per goal involvement

83.5

And now Strelec’s father has revealed just what happened, and how it left both him and his son fuming.

“You know, when I heard about Celtic’s interest, I was thrilled”, he explained. “I was there at Slovan’s first match in the Champions League, whole families were sitting there, old and young, amazing atmosphere. I would have loved to see him there. He has made great progress since the Euro, he is doing well, he is scoring goals. But the decision about his transfer was made higher up.

“Celtic’s bid of 9.5m Euros? [£7.9m] That didn’t help either. Unfortunately, that’s how it is. But none of us knows the exact details of the contract or how the installments or bonuses were set. Maybe Slovan wanted to get it all at once, that’s why the club decided against it. It’s probably pointless to get into it.”

However, his further comments will not go down well with fans either side of the Old Firm divide, with Strelec adding that Scotland was just a two-team league and an “intermediate step” for his son.

“I watched the Celtic game over the weekend, everyone knows that the Scottish competition is about two clubs, but it could have been a good intermediate step for David. But there are things you simply can’t influence. It turned out the way it turned out. We’ll see what happens in the summer. My son will continue to perform well, I’m sure of that.

“It was beyond my control. They have invested a lot in David over the years, although some would say he’s already paid it back. I guess they know what they’re doing. My son will continue to perform well and be professional and in the summer… who knows?”

If Celtic go back in for the Slovakian, he will have some work to do to win over the Parkhead faithful.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl was thrown into a difficult situation when he decided to take on the job as Russell Martin’s replacement at Ibrox.

The former Gers boss only won five of 17 matches in charge of the club, whilst the summer transfer window was navigated by Kevin Thelwell, who has since been relieved of his duties.

Now that Thelwell has departed, Rohl will have a chance to lead the charge to recruit his own players in the upcoming January transfer window, and a new winger has to be on the agenda.

Ranking Rohl's winger options for Rangers

Rohl has plenty of options who can play on the left or the right flank, but very few of them have shown that they have the quality to be reliable options in the present day.

Oliver Antman and Nedim Bajrami are both currently out through injury, which means that they are not current options for the manager, whilst Kieran Dowell has only just returned from injury and has yet to be given a chance to shine.

1

Mikey Moore

2

Djeidi Gassama

3

Findlay Curtis

4

Danilo

5

Kieran Dowell

N/A

Nedim Bajrami

N/A

Oliver Antman

As you can see in the table above, we have ranked Mikey Moore as the best current option on the wing for Rangers, because he has scored two goals in his last two Scottish Premiership games.

No other natural Gers winger, with Danilo a striker by trade, has scored more than one league goal for the Gers this season, with Djeidi Gassama on one goal and one assist.

Gassama has been particularly disappointing of late, with one goal and no assists in his last 11 matches, and Rangers could finally replace him as a starter by signing Yelimay Semey left winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek in January.

Why Rangers should sign Galymzhan Kenzhebek

The 22-year-old forward has been the subject of a bid from Rangers ahead of the January transfer window opening for business, and they should push to get a deal done for him because he could be an upgrade on Gassama.

Rangers should bolster their options in the wide areas in the winter market because we have ranked the Frenchman as their second-best wide option, despite the fact that he has only scored one league goal for the club.

A return of one goal and one assist in 15 Premiership matches for the Gers, per Sofascore, is not a good enough return for a team that should be competing to win the title, which is why Kenzhebek should be considered as a possible replacement for the starting XI.

Transfer Focus

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

The young winger currently plays in Kazakhstan, which makes it hard to predict how he will adapt to the Premiership, but it is worth remembering that Hearts, who top the league, signed Alexandros Kyziridis from Slovakia and Claudio Braga from the second division in Norway.

There are hidden gems to be found in more obscure leagues, as evidenced by those two signings, who have combined for 15 goals and nine assists for Hearts, per Transfermarkt, this season.

Appearances

11

15

Goals

6

1

Minutes per goal

162

1,171

Key passes per game

1.7

0.9

Assists

4

1

Successful dribbles per game

8.6

2.0

As you can see in the table above, Kenzhebek’s form for his current club is far more impressive than anything Gassama has produced at the top end of the pitch for the Light Blues in the Premiership.

Whilst there is no guarantee that he can translate that form over to Scottish football, there is also no guarantee that signings from the Championship or other top leagues in Europe can adapt to the league or Ibrox.

It is also worth taking into account that Kenzhebek, who was hailed as a “very pacy” player by Rangers Journal creator Kai Watson, has also shown promise at international level.

The Rangers target has scored two goals and provided one assist in six World Cup qualifiers for Kazakhstan, per Sofascore, which shows that he can compete on the international stage, as well as impress for his club domestically.

On top of being an attractive target on paper because of his statistics, Kenzhebek’s contract with his club is due to expire at the end of this month, per Transfermarkt, which means that the Gers can pick him up on a free transfer.

Therefore, Rangers must push to get a deal done for the talented youngster because he could be a hidden gem, away from the usual markets that the club shop in, who could come in and take Gassama’s place in the side.

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If he can then translate his current form over to Ibrox, Rohl would finally have a consistent winger who can provide goals and assists on a regular basis.

Rangers have made contact to sign a £20,000-a-week player who has been likened to full-back Jefte, according to a Sky Sports reporter.

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Russell Martin is currently preparing for his first Scottish Premiership season in charge at Ibrox, with players set to report back for pre-season on Monday ahead of an early Champions League qualifier in July.

However, in the transfer market, the 49ers are looking to back their new manager with additions in the window. One move that was agreed before Martin arrived and the 49ers officially took over was a pre-contract agreement for Lyall Cameron, with the midfielder joining Rangers from Dundee.

Cameron was unveiled as a new Rangers player on Tuesday after a stellar 2024/25 campaign which saw him score 14 goals and provide nine assists. Speaking on his recent performances, Cameron said:

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Alongside the midfielder, there have also been strong links to AFC Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons, with claims even suggesting a verbal agreement was done and a loan move was close for the Englishman.

However, there has been a new update on a move for the full-back who has been likened to Jefte.

Rangers in contact to sign Aarons as Bournemouth stance shared

Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam provided an update on Rangers’ attempts to sign Aarons on Tuesday.

He stated that contact has been made by Rangers for the 25-year-old, however, while the Gers are looking at doing a loan deal for the £20,000-a-week defender, Bournemouth would prefer a permanent transfer.

Aarons appears to be out of favour at the Vitality Stadium under Andoni Iraola but is still under contract on the south coast until 2029. Therefore, a move could be complicated as the Cherries are looking to recoup as much of the £7m they paid for Aarons, whereas Rangers want him on a temporary basis.

Milan van Ewijk

Coventry City

Jefte

Rangers

Isaac Schmidt

Leeds United

Jordi Alba

Inter Miami

Alistair Johnston

Celtic

One way the clubs could get around negotiations could be to include an option or obligation to buy Aarons next summer, but at this moment in time, a deal doesn’t appear to be as advanced as previously suggested.