Everton must axe "struggling" star who's Moyes' new James Beattie

Bramley Moore looms large for those of an Everton persuasion. In fact, David Moyes will lead his troops out just twice more before hallowed Goodison Park will be consigned to history.

Time was when Everton would fail to mark this new era with impactful activity on the transfer front, in the planning room. But this is an exciting new project on Merseyside and Moyes is back to front it.

While the Scottish tactician will expect powers to bring in a wealth of fresh quality this summer, he will of course need to part with a few of the rusted-over parts of the Toffees make-up.

And he won’t be afraid to do it.

Why Moyes will get rid of Everton's deadwood

Everton have no less than 15 players reaching the conclusion of their contracts this summer – some are out on loan or indeed are reaching the end of their loan stints at Goodison Park.

Abdoulaye Doucoure, for example, is expected to leave. Sure, he scored the winning goal at the City Ground last weekend, but the 32-year-old isn’t popping up with such moments with the frequency to justify his £130k-per-week salary, the loftiest at the club.

Abdoulaye Doucoure

Moyes isn’t afraid to cut ties with his higher-profile stars, something he’s going to need to enact with another member of the squad, a player shaping up to be the 61-year-old’s next version of James Beattie.

Beattie spent two-and-a-half seasons under Moyes’ management at Everton, signed from Southampton for £6m in January 2005 after rejecting a move to Aston Villa.

Beattie was a talented centre-forward, hard to handle and powerful in the final third. He likely didn’t make too many friends with opposing defenders. He also didn’t make a friend out of Moyes, it would appear…

Across 85 appearances for the Merseysiders, Beattie only managed to score 15 goals, interestingly with 11 of them posted across the 2005/06 season before he provided a woeful product on his final term as a Toffee.

A five-cap England international, Beattie moved on to Sheffield United in 2007, the Blades breaking their transfer record and paying £4m for a player who had fallen by the wayside at Everton.

James Beattie

In fact, Moyes and his number nine had come to blows on numerous occasions, having to discipline his man after a headbutt on William Gallas in 2005 and Beattie later suggesting Everton didn’t treat him with respect while he played there.

His talent and focal presence got him far, but Moyes showed that he’s willing to make a tough decision for his team, and he’s going to have to make a similar one in the weeks ahead, with Everton needing to part ways with their new version of Beattie.

Moyes' new James Beattie

While he’s served at the club for a long time, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s best days appear to be long past, with The Athletic’s Paddy Boyland noting he has been “struggling” through the 2024/25 season.

Out of contract at the end of the season, Calvert-Lewin – who the Toffees signed from Sheffield United in 2016 – has toiled through what looks to be his final campaign as an Everton player, with a cruel injury picked up in January stunting any budding rebirth hinted at after Moyes’ return.

Still out of action, the 27-year-old surely needs to be axed this summer, with his inconsistencies and past successes suggesting that he is in a similar boat to Beattie way back when, albeit the older man being actively shoved out to sign for the Blades.

Calvert-Lewin – Scoring Stats in Premier League (past 3 seasons)

Season

Apps

Goals

xG (+/-)

24/25

22

3

6.11 (-3.11)

23/24

32

7

12.93 (-5.93)

22/23

17

2

5.84 (-3.84)

Data via Sofascore

Though DCL doesn’t share Beattie’s supposedly volatile temperment, he has been chained down by injuries and consequent issues, with his wasteful finishing and heavy wage rubber-stamping the expected decision to cut ties.

Calvert-Lewin has given Goodison Park so many fond memories. In his pomp, the long-discarded England international was among the most dangerous strikers in the Premier League, leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to remark in 2020 that “Carlo Ancelotti created a monster.”

Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates against Liverpool

But the truth is Calvert-Lewin’s finest days are behind him, at least in Evertonian Blue. With Beto looking like twice the player he was since Moyes came along and funding being handed ahead of the summer window, parting with the striker is sure to be the right decision.

Moyes proved before, with Beattie, that he’s not afraid to make a cut for the greater good of the team, and he must maintain this approach now.

He won't start again: Everton's £40k-p/w star looks finished under Moyes

Everton are undergoing a series of changes with David Moyes back at the wheel.

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 15, 2025

Jemimah Rodrigues, Pooja Vastrakar named in India squads, subject to fitness

Batter Jemimah Rodrigues and allrounder Pooja Vastrakar have been named in India’s Test and white-ball squads for the upcoming home series against South Africa, but their selection is subject to fitness.Rodrigues had missed the five-match T20I series in Bangladesh in April-May with a back injury and underwent rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Vastrakar, however, had played all five games in Bangladesh and the BCCI media statement did not specify the nature of her injury.Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry was also included in all three squads. She replaced Yastika Bhatia who was out injured after playing just one T20I in Bangladesh. Chetry had also been part of the India’s Asian Games squad that beat Sri Lanka to win gold in Hangzhou in 2023.

South Africa tour of India

June 13: tour game vs Board President’s XI, Bengaluru
June 16: 1st ODI, Bengaluru
June 19: 2nd ODI, Bengaluru
June 23: 3rd ODI, Bengaluru
June 28 – July 1: One-off Test, Chennai
July 5: 1st T20I, Chennai
July 7: 2nd T20I, Chennai
July 9: 3rd T20I, Chennai

Top-order batter Priya Punia, who last played for India in July 2023, earned a call-up to the Test side. Medium-pacer Arundhati Reddy, who has played 26 T20Is so far, was called up to the Test and ODI squads as well. However, fast bowler Titas Sadhu, who was part of the T20Is against Bangladesh as well as India’s last ODI and Test assignments (against Australia last year), missed out.Punia had linked up with the India squad ahead of the one-off Test against Australia last year as cover for Shubha Satheesh.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Following a decent run in the WPL 2024, where she picked up eight wickets in nine games for Delhi Capitals, Reddy impressed with both ball and bat in the Senior Women Inter Zonal Multi-Day Trophy in April. She scored 174 runs, including two fifties, and took two wickets, in two games for South Zone.Legspinner S Asha, who had made her T20I debut in Bangladesh, earned her maiden ODI call-up while D Hemalatha, who had made her comeback in that series in Bangladesh, could return to ODI action after almost two years. Hemalatha also retained her place in the T20I squad.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Harleen Deol, who was part of the squad for the ODIs and one-off Test against Australia in December-January, was left out. She had picked up a knee injury early in WPL 2024 and underwent surgery in March. The other absentee from the ODI squad against Australia is left-arm spinner Mannat Kashyap.Related

  • Powerplay: An all-South African affair

  • India vs SA: Bengaluru and Chennai to host women's all-format series

South Africa’s all-format women’s tour of India will begin with a three-match ODI series, then move to the one-off Test, and end with the three T20Is. The ODIs, as well as a one-day warm-up game for the visiting side against a Board President’s XI side, will be played in Bengaluru, while the rest of the games will take place in Chennai.The one-off Test wasn’t part of the ICC’s FTP originally. It was added since BCCI and CSA have both been trying to promote women’s Tests of late. This will be India’s third Test in seven months, having played against England and Australia in December last year, both at home.

India’s squad for women’s ODIs vs South Africa

Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues (subject to fitness), Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Dayalan Hemalatha, Radha Yadav, Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Pooja Vastrakar (subject to fitness), Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Priya Punia

India’s squad for one-off women’s Test vs South Africa

Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Shafali Verma, Shubha Satheesh, Jemimah Rodrigues (subject to fitness), Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Saika Ishaque, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar (subject to fitness), Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Meghna Singh, Priya Punia

India’s squad for women’s T20Is vs South Africa

Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha, Uma Chetry (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Jemimah Rodrigues (subject to fitness), Sajana Sajeevan, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Asha Sobhana, Pooja Vastrakar (subject to fitness), Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy
Standby: Saika Ishaque

Aunshuman Gaekwad, former India batter and coach, dies at 71

He played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India between 1975 and 1987, before becoming a selector, and later, the coach of the national team

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jul-2024

Aunshuman Gaekwad was head coach of India in two separate stints between 1997 and 2000•Getty Images

Aunshuman Gaekwad, the former India batter and national head coach, has died aged 71, following a long battle with blood cancer. Gaekwad, who was in London till last month, died in Baroda after a brief time in the ICU due to various health complications.Gaekwad played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India between 1975 and 1987, before becoming a selector, and later, the coach of the national team.As a batter, Gaekwad scored 1985 runs from 70 Test innings, with a highest score of 201 against Pakistan in 1982-83, where he patiently batted for 671 minutes – then the slowest ever double-century in first-class cricket.

He also famously made 81 in Jamaica against a West Indies side boasting the likes of Michael Holding in its attack – a feat rendered doubly impressive by the fact that it came in an era when there were neither helmets nor restrictions on bouncers. Gaekwad had to have an operation after he was stung on the ear by a Holding bouncer that punctured his eardrum.

India captain Rohit Sharma said he was “absolutely devastated” to hear the news. “I was lucky to have a few conversations with him during the BCCI awards, and on a personal note as well,” Rohit said in Colombo, on the eve of the first ODI against Sri Lanka. “When I was playing Ranji Trophy, he was there and I had a chance to speak to him when he had a few things to talk about my game as well, which was overwhelming for me because he was such a great cricketer for us. It’s always nice when you learn from your seniors, understand how cricket was played back in the day, how tough it was and then to pass on his experiences on cricket and what his visions are about cricket. For me, to understand that was a great learning at that point. Condolences to his family, it’s not a good time when you lose your loved ones, it’s always tough. I was lucky that I had a few chances to meet him and talk to him on a personal level.”1:31

Rohit: ‘Was absolutely devastated’ to hear about Gaekwad’s death

Gaekwad had two separate stints as India coach between 1997 and 2000. He first took over in the Sachin Tendulkar era where he oversaw a period of transition, and later came back in the middle of the match-fixing saga, after Kapil Dev’s resignation for a brief time while a permanent appointee was being finalised.Among India’s high points during his tenure were the Independence Cup triumph, a 2-1 home series win against Australia, Anil Kumble’s 10-wicket haul against Pakistan to level the Test series at home, and a drawn ODI series in New Zealand. He came back at the request of the then BCCI president AC Muthiah, to take them to the final of the ICC Knockout Trophy in 2000, where they lost to New Zealand in the final.Roger Binny, the BCCI president, said in tribute: “Anshuman Gaekwad’s passing is a great loss for Indian cricket. His dedication, resilience, and love for the game were unparalleled. He was not just a cricketer but a mentor and a friend to many. The cricketing community will miss him dearly, and his contributions will always be remembered.”Earlier this month, the BCCI had released INR 1 crore towards Gaekwad’s treatment, after Kapil and Sandeep Patil urged the board to help him.

The PSL draft 2019 FAQs

A total of 663 players are eligible to be picked, with six teams having a pre-set order and various categories to choose from

Umar Farooq19-Nov-2018The player draft for PSL 2019 will need franchises to keep several factors in mind. Here is a quick explainer.How is this draft different from the previous one?
Last year, the teams could retain only a certain number of players in each category since it was an expansion year. But this year, all teams have been given the option to retain up to 10 players across any category they want, subject to the overall category restriction, which is three players in Platinum, three in Diamond, three in Gold, five in Silver, and two in Emerging.The retention window this year closed on November 13, with Islamabad United retaining ten players, so they can pick six more from the draft. Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi and ‘The Sixth Team’ retained eight players each and can pick another eight on draft day. Quetta Gladiators will pick seven more to add to their nine retained players. Each of the six teams has an optional round to pick another four players from the Supplement category.How many players will be available for picking in the draft?
A total of 663 foreign and local players are part of the Diamond, Gold, Silver and Emerging rosters for teams to pick their player at the draft.What is the value of each category?
Platinum (US $570,000): Teams can have a maximum three players with no more than two local or foreigners. The base price $160,000 and the maximum for one player is $250,000.Diamond (US $270,000): Teams can have a maximum of three players and the base price starts from $80,000. The maximum one player can get $100,000.Gold (US $180,000): Teams can have a maximum of three players, with base price $50,000. The maximum a team can pay a player is $70,000.Silver (US $140,000): Teams can have five players with the base price being $24,000. The maximum for one player is $40,000.Emerging (US $25,000): Two players can be in a side with prices of $12,000 and $13,000 respectively.Supplement (US $175,000): This category doesn’t have a maximum and minimum payroll. It’s an additional round, allowing teams to pick extra players as backup. They can pick a maximum of four players from the purse of $175,000. All foreign supplementary round picks will be active members of the squad. All local supplementary round picks may be confirmed as active players at the discretion of the team.What is the “Sixth Team”?
The PCB recently terminated the eight-year ownership rights of Multan Sultans after the franchise failed to pay their annual fee of US $5.2 million. The PCB repossessed the ownership rights and are reselling the rights before the start of next year’s PSL. Pending further updates, the team shall be referred to as ‘The Sixth Team’ of the PSL.The new rights holder will have the option of choosing the sixth franchise city and name. The board took complete responsibility of all player and coach contracts, and will handover the operation to the new rights holders.How many foreign and local players can a team have in its 16-man squad?
Franchises must pick at least one foreign and one local player in Platinum, meaning they can have two foreigners and one local player or vice versa. But at the conclusion of the Gold round, each team must have four foreign players and four local ones before going into the Silver round. In total, each 16-man squad can have a maximum of five foreign players only. In the Supplementary round, each team can pick up up to two foreign players, to bring their roster up to seven players at the maximum.What is the draft sequence this year?
The formula that the PSL management and franchises have agreed upon is the reverse order of the previous year’s standings. Islamabad United are the title holders and on top of the table, so they will be the last to pick a player in every round. Lahore Qalandars – who finished last in the 2018 season – will have first pick in each round. The Sixth Team will be second, Quetta Gladiators will be third, Karachi Kings fourth and Peshawar Zalmi will be fifth.Every team has retained players in every category. What will they do at the draft?
Teams will first pick new players where applicable in a particular category. So if a team had retained three Platinum players, they can skip their turn in the Platinum round. This will be the same for every category. If a team has retained two Diamond category players going into the draft, that team will use its first pick in the Diamond category to select a new player. The retentions will be counted against the remaining picks in that category.Who traded whom before the draft?
Lahore Qalandars traded Umar Akmal and Sunil Narine to Quetta Gladiators, in exchange for spinner Hassan Khan and fast bowler Rahat Ali. This trade also meant Gladiators gave up their Platinum pick to Qalandars in the first round. Both Gladiators and Qalandars also swapped their second-round picks in the Silver category.The Sixth Team, formally Multan Sultans, sold Sohail Tanvir to Quetta Gladiators for a Diamond-round pick, and bought Mohammad Junaid in exchange for getting the second pick in the Emerging Category.How can a player be an Ambassador for a team?
Each team can have one Ambassador, given additional ambassadorial responsibilities. Teams are allowed to have one player in the squad in a lower category than designated one to prevent ‘underhand’ deals. An Ambassador can be appointed at the time of retentions, or after a player has been picked at the draft.What is the role of a mentor?
A player can be eligible for a mentor’s role if he has captained his national team and has either announced retirement from international cricket, or been inactive in the national team set-up for at least one year. The role was instituted for players like Brendon McCullum, Kumar Sangakkara, Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq. This nomination allows teams to not spend their Platinum picks on players close to retirement.A player mentor can be relegated by a maximum of one category if designated at the time of retentions. If he is picked in the draft, he cannot be relegated and appointed mentor.

'Tall Paul' Walter could make BBL return to Brisbane Heat

The left-arm seamer took 17 wickets in last season’s competition and has full availability

Andrew McGlashan23-Aug-2024Allrounder Paul Walter, who was a key figure in Brisbane Heat’s BBL title success last season, could be in line for a return to the competition after he was confirmed among the latest batch of nominations for next month’s draft.Walter, a left-arm seamer and hard-hitting batter, became a cult hero for Heat as he claimed 17 wickets, celebrating with a trademark aeroplane each time, and was named in the team of the tournament voted for by the eight head coaches.Related

  • 'Tall' Paul Walter makes big splash at the Big Bash

  • Heather Knight: Dani Gibson's 'bravery' elevates her T20 World Cup credentials

  • Shamar Joseph nominates for BBL draft; Harmanpreet confirmed for WBBL draft

  • Ollie Pope signs for Adelaide Strikers, Akeal Hosein joins Sydney Sixers

Heat have retention rights for Walter should they want to bring him back and another team tries to select him. A key factor is he has full availability including the finals and he would again seem a good fit for them after supplementing their varied attack which includes Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson plus spin twins Matt Kuhnemann and Mitchell Swepson.”I think we’ve got the best bowling unit in the competition,” he told ESPNcricinfo during last season’s campaign. “I feel like I complement the rest of the attack quite well and we’ve been good at managing games. Kuhny and Sweppo have bowled so well through the middle that teams have come hard at me, which is probably what you want with my style of bowling.”I’ve worked a lot on my defensive bowling, trying to figure out how to get batters off strike and trying to keep the ball away from the shorter pockets. I normally bowl the overs where the right-handers are hitting to the short leg side, so I’ve had to get quite clever with getting them to hit to the other side of the ground. I do a lot of work off the field figuring out what I’m going to do in different situations.”English cricketers dominated the list of names released on Friday although most only have availability for between six and nine games. England have a Test series in New Zealand that finishes three days after the BBL begins and then have a limited-overs tour of India starting on January 22 next year. A significant number of players also have ILT20 or SA20 deals.However, some will likely attract interest including Olly Stone, Dan Lawrence, Jordan Cox and Joe Clarke. Legspinner Rehan Ahmed, who was initially drafted by Sydney Sixers last season before withdrawing when he was selected to tour West Indies, has again nominated.Pakistan allrounder Imad Wasim, who Melbourne Stars have retention rights for, has full availability as does slingy fast bowler Zaman Khan who played for Sydney Thunder last season.England players are also strongly represented in the latest WBBL nominations. Dani Gibson, who played a defining role in the Hundred final last week and earned praise from captain Heather Knight, impressed for champions Adelaide Strikers last season striking at 147.43 in the middle order and claiming ten wickets. She is currently down as having full availability although England have a T20I series against South Africa which overlaps with the WBBL finals.”We saw the game she played at Lord’s, a reverse-sweep to go and win the game against Australia last year, and that’s the sort of mindset that we want in that England side: the willingness to take risks, take the game on and express what your talent, and Dani epitomises that,” Knight said.South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, who was announced among the initial batch of nominations and has been a regular for Strikers, now has availability of six to nine games rather than the entire tournament.Strikers in the WBBL are the only club yet to name a pre-draft signing although they are expected to fill that spot next week. Each club across BBL and WBBL can sign one player ahead of the draft. In the draft, a club can use their retention option once and only if they have not already selected the player in the relevant round.

Current BBL nominations by retention clubs

Adelaide Strikers: Adam Hose, Jamie Overton, David Payne
Brisbane Heat: Paul Walter, Tom Banton
Hobart Hurricanes: Corey Anderson, Sam Hain
Melbourne Renegades: Joe Clarke, Jordan Cox, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Melbourne Stars: Dan Lawrence, Imad Wasim, Liam Dawson, Olly Stone, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf
Perth Scorchers: Zak Crawley, Stephen Eskinazi, Laurie Evans, Tymal Mills
Sydney Sixers: Izharulhuq Naveed, Rehan Ahmed, James Vince
Sydney Thunder: Alex Hales, Zaman Khan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore
Nominations with no retention club: Jason Roy, Lockie Ferguson, Shadab Khan, Shamar Joseph

Current WBBL nominations by retention clubs

Adelaide Strikers: Dani Gibson, Georgia Adams, Laura Wolvaardt
Brisbane Heat: Bess Heath
Hobart Hurricanes: Shabnim Ismail, Bryony Smith
Melbourne Renegades: Eve Jones, Harmanpreet Kaur
Melbourne Stars: Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley
Perth Scorchers: Amy Jones, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt
Sydney Sixers: Suzie Bates, Sophie Ecclestone, Jess Kerr, Chloe Tryon, Linsey Smith
Sydney Thunder: Heather Knight
Nominations with no retention club: Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues

Borussia Dortmund chief admits Jamie Gittens' move to Chelsea 'is moving'

Jamie Gittens has left Borussia Dortmund's Club World Cup camp and his move to Chelsea "is moving", according to a club chief.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Jamie Gittens to Chelsea "in motion"
  • Dortmund chief admits move is close
  • Player has left Club World Cup
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Dortmund's sporting director Sebastien Kehl was quizzed about the Gittens rumours and accepted it is close, with the winger allowed to speak with the Blues. He did insist however, that the deal is not completely done yet.

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  • Getty Images Sport

    WHAT KEHL SAID

    Kehl told Sky Germany: "We have given Jamie permission to hold talks with another club, which are still ongoing. There are still things to be clarified. Things are moving, but no decision has been made yet. We were aware that the player has a higher market value than what was on the table two weeks ago. We’ve exuded confidence. In the final analysis, we’ll see if we receive adequate compensation."

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Chelsea are aiming to compete on all fronts next season by signing another array of attacking players this summer. Liam Delap has already arrived as the club's new number nine, with Brighton's Joao Pedro expected to join Gittens by signing in the coming days.

  • Getty Images Sport

    WHAT NEXT FOR DORTMUND?

    Dortmund have plenty to think about on the field, ahead of their Club World Cup last-16 tie against Monterrey on Tuesday night. With Gittens in discussions with Chelsea, they will have to do without the Englishman.

Rangers have now submitted offer to "disciplined" manager with 12 trophies

Rangers are believed to have made an offer to a trophy-laden young manager over becoming their next boss, according to a significant new update.

Rangers eyeing up and comers in manager search

Despite the transfer window rolling around, much of the Gers’ focus is still on making sure they bring in the right manager this summer, with Barry Ferguson’s spell as interim boss not expected to be made permanent at the end of the season.

There are various names who have been thrown into the hat, including former Southampton manager Russell Martin, who is looking for a new job after being relieved of his duties early in the season. While some saw his risky ball-playing style with Saints as flawed, it could go down well at Ibrox, as the Gers dominate possession in the majority of their games.

Sheffield Wednesday ace Danny Rohl has also been mentioned as a possible option for the Gers, having impressed with the Owls, coming in last season and guiding them away from the Championship relegation zone, before steering them to a 12th-place finish this time around.

Frank Lampard’s name has been discussed, too, with the Chelsea legend and his former England teammate Steven Gerrard both also in the mix to take charge ahead of next season. The former is impressing at Coventry City, preparing for their Championship playoff semi-final second leg clash with Sunderland on Tuesday.

Rangers make offer to Davide Ancelotti

According to a big claim from Corriere dello Sport, Rangers have now made an offer to Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti. The 35-year-old is said to have received multiple offers from clubs, including the Gers and Como. He is the son of Carlo Ancelotti, working alongside his father at the Santiago Bernabeu currently.

The Italian has enjoyed great success in his career so far, playing his part in coaching Bayern Munich and Madrid to a combined 12 trophy wins, including two Champions League and La Liga titles apiece with the latter. Meanwhile, his father has praised him, saying: “Davide is a competent, disciplined, professional and very calm assistant coach.

Bundesliga

Bayern Munich

2017

German Cup

Bayern Munich

2017

German Cup

Bayern Munich

2018

Champions League

Real Madrid

2022

La Liga

Real Madrid

2022

Spanish Cup

Real Madrid

2022

Club World Cup

Real Madrid

2023

Spanish Cup

Real Madrid

2023

Spanish Super Cup

Real Madrid

2023

Champions League

Real Madrid

2024

La Liga

Real Madrid

2024

Spanish Super Cup

Real Madrid

2024

“He works alongside Francesco Mauri, who is very young too. Luis works with the goalkeepers, Pintus with his experience on the physical side of things. I have a young and very competent coaching team. We combine their enthusiasm with my experience well.”

Rangers have sent scouts to watch 19 y/o attacker with tiny release clause

He could be seen as one for the future for the Gers.

ByHenry Jackson May 11, 2025

Ancelotti would certainly be a gamble for Rangers, considering he hasn’t actually been a manager yet in his career, but there would be an intriguing aspect to them appointing him, considering he has coached some of the best players in the world, from Kylian Mbappe to Vinicius Junior.

Romano: Wolves make approach to sign "highly rated" gem wanted in Europe

da blaze casino: Wolverhampton Wanderers managed to enjoy a comfortable end to the campaign and have now made an approach to bring a talented youngster to Molineux this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Wolves transfer rumours with Cunha set to join Man Utd

da brwin: The Old Gold spent a portion of the campaign flirting with relegation from the Premier League. However, Vitor Pereira made sure that no such thoughts managed to enter their psyche in the West Midlands and secured safety with plenty of time to spare.

Thanking supporters for their crucial role in backing the team, the Portuguese boss has promised to add to his Wolves squad this summer to ensure a repeat scenario doesn’t unfold next term.

He stated: “Our supporters, they are fantastic. I’m very proud of them, very proud of my team, proud of our work, proud of our club, all the staff, all the efforts that everybody did to finish the league in the situation that we know we can build on in the future.”

Matheus Cunha may be on his way to Manchester United, though Pereira has already profiled Leicester City midfielder Bilal El Khannouss as an ideal Wolves replacement for the Brazil international.

A bid of around £22 million should be enough to entice him away from the King Power Stadium, and he is far from the only star lined up at Molineux now the window is around the corner.

Offer made: Wolves submit bid for £42m star who "never puts a foot wrong"

The Old Gold have now made a move for a defender.

ByDominic Lund May 29, 2025

Lazio defender Mario Gila could also pitch up at Wolves if they can see off competition from Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion for his signature.

Plenty of movement is underway as the Old Gold build for next season, and they have now reportedly made an approach for a highly-rated talent.

Romano: Wolves make approach for Liverpool's Kieran Morrison

Taking to social media platform X, renowned transfer specialist Romano has reported that Wolves have made an approach for “highly rated” Liverpool winger Kieran Morrison.

Said to be on their shortlist, there is also competition from around Europe for his signature as the summer window kicks off in earnest.

Capable of operating out wide or in a central role, the Northern Ireland Under-19 international has registered five goals and six assists in 27 appearances for Liverpool’s youth development squad this season.

It feels unlikely that Morrison would immediately become a first-team figure at Molineux, though his versatility and scope to develop would be an attracting commodity looking towards the future.

Under contract at Anfield until 2027, it remains to be seen what type of fee he could command if he were to leave the Merseyside giants. However, it may be worth noting that a sale would likely count as pure profit for Liverpool, indicating that a move could go through before the PSR deadline.

Higham-Claridge stand keeps Storm rooted to foot of table

Lucy Higham and Ella Claridge staged a superb unbroken match-winning partnership of 105 in 22.3 overs to guide The Blaze to a five-wicket success over Western Storm in a hard-fought Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy contest at Cheltenham.Pursuing a modest victory target of 218, the visitors made a great start to their chase, courtesy of a hard-hitting 61 in 54 balls from opener Sarah Bryce. But the outcome was in doubt when The Blaze slipped to 115 for 5, and they were ultimately indebted to their sixth-wicket pair, Higham and Claridge raising unbeaten knocks of 62 and 43 respectively to seal the win with 7.3 overs remaining.Fran Wilson had earlier top-scored with 67 and added 62 for the third wicket with Sophie Luff after Storm had been inserted on a flat pitch. But Luff’s dismissal, run out by Kathryn Bryce for 31, sparked a collapse in which the home side went from 133 for 2 to 217 all out in 16.2 overs, their last eight wickets realising just 84 runs. Bryce finished with 4 for 20 from 8.5 overs as Storm were dismissed inside 47 overs.Rooted to the foot of the table, Storm have now lost their last five matches in the 50-over format and face testing fixtures away to Central Sparks and leaders Southern Vipers in the space of the next week. The Blaze remain in fifth place after registering their fourth win of the season and will approach Sunday’s away game against title-chasing Northern Diamonds in confident mood.Storm may have lost the toss and had to bat beneath low cloud cover, but they nevertheless made a decent start, Corney and Smale growing in confidence and fluency in an opening stand of 57 that afforded the innings solid foundations.Kirstie Gordon ended the partnership, bowling Corney in the act of slog-sweeping for 23, while legspinner Josie Groves held a catch off her own bowling to send back Smale for 32 as Storm slipped to 71 for 2.Wilson and Luff then forged an alliance characterised by quick running and aggressive intent, raising 50 for the third wicket in 13.2 overs as the sun came out and conditions for batting improved. But their burgeoning stand was ultimately undermined by confusion, Luff guiding a ball from Gordon to backward point and setting off on a run, only to be sent back by Wilson and run out for a 41-ball 31 by Bryce’s throw. A partnership that had promised a good deal was terminated on 62 with the score on 133.Determined to make amends, Wilson went to her second 50 in as many games at the Festival via 53 balls, adding 35 in five overs with Nat Wraith to afford the innings renewed impetus. Cassidy McCarthy’s express pace accounted for Wraith, caught and bowled for a 21-ball 20, as The Blaze fought back once more.Sophie Luff and Fran Wilson combined well for the third wicket•Getty Images

Wilson had scored 67 off 68 balls when, pursuing a ninth boundary, she drove at a length ball from Heather Graham and found long-on, while Amanda-Jade Wellington was bowled by Grace Ballinger without scoring as the innings began to unravel. Kathryn Bryce then single-handedly wiped out the tail, removing Alex Griffiths, Issy Wong, Niamh Holland and Ellie Anderson in the space of seven balls from the Chapel End.Needing a good start with the ball, Storm made early in-roads, England star Tammy Beaumont falling to Wong for six. But Sarah Bryce seized the initiative thereafter, adding 47 for the second wicket with her elder sibling as The Blaze reached 75 for 2 at the end of the 10-over powerplay. Ultra-positive from the outset, the 24-year-old Scot raced to a 36-ball 50, which included seven fours and a six and served to force Storm onto the back foot.Undeterred, the home side weathered the storm and Griffiths bowled Marie Kelly to at least stem the flow of runs. Skelton then removed Heather Graham before claiming the crucial wicket of Bryce, who played back to a full delivery and was bowled as the visitors lurched to 115 for 5.With a further 103 runs required, Claridge and Higham sought to stabilise the innings, the sixth wicket pair initially adopting a low-risk approach to see off the threat posed by Wong’s pace and Wellington’s legbreaks. As their partnership grew in stature, so their willingness to pursue boundaries increased, Higham in particular playing with fluency as the finish line came within sight.Higham brought up a 60-ball 50 in the 39th over, sweeping Smale for her sixth boundary to attain that landmark and put the outcome beyond doubt.

Bad news for Dessers: 4-3-3 boss becomes leading candidate for Rangers job

Glasgow Rangers had little to play for but pride and bragging rights when they faced Celtic in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Their city rivals had already wrapped up the league title last weekend, resigning the Gers to another second-placed finish, but Barry Ferguson’s men restored some pride with a 1-1 draw in front of their home fans.

Cyriel Dessers scored the only goal of the opening 45 with a tidy finish just before the half-time break, slotting into the bottom corner with his left foot after Liam Scales failed to complete a tackle on him, before Adam Idah’s second-half equaliser.

The Nigerian forward held the corner flag aloft and basked in the joy of the home support, able to celebrate in view of away supporters, finally, in an Old Firm clash.

It was his 17th goal of the season in the Premiership and the Europa League combined, which is a respectable return but does not tell the full story of his campaign.

Why Rangers could sell Cyriel Dessers

With the summer transfer window on the horizon, Rangers will have some big decisions to make on the players currently in the squad, as they have now failed to win the title in each of the last four seasons.

The Light Blues have to find a way to improve and close the gap to Celtic in the league in order to compete for the title in the 2025/26 campaign, and Dessers is one star who could be a candidate to move on from Ibrox.

During the Sky Sports commentary of the 1-1 draw with Celtic, former Gers midfielder Scott Arfield noted that Dessers is “on his heels” too often when the ball comes forward, which limits how effective the team can be in transition when passes are played down the sides of the defenders.

Cyriel Dessers (Premiereship)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

35

32

Goals

16

14

Assists

4

2

Pass accuracy

70%

73%

Duels won per game

2.3

1.9

Ground duel success rate

29%

33%

Aerial duel success rate

40%

32%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers striker struggles with the physical side of the game, losing the majority of his duels without winning many per game, and is not particularly reliable as a passer.

Dessers has also missed a whopping 59 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership and European competitions combined since the start of last season, which shows that the striker is very wasteful in front of goal to go along with his struggles out of possession.

The 30-year-old forward could, therefore, be sold if the new Rangers manager does not want him to be his first-choice striker, and that could be the case if the latest report is to be believed.

According to Football Insider, Steven Gerrard has emerged as the leading candidate to take the permanent Rangers job as manager this summer.

The report claims that the English head coach is now the ‘favourite’ to land the role for the second time in his career, having left the club back in 2021.

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It states that the former Aston Villa boss, who is currently out of work, is the favourite to be appointed as the next Rangers manager ahead of Marco Rose, the former RB Leipzig tactician.

Football Insider reveals that the 49ers are expected to play a key role in the appointment and that the 4-3-3 favoured boss is currently at the top of their list of targets for the job.

Steven Gerrard

If the iconic Liverpool midfielder does become the Gers manager for the second time, this could be bad news for Dessers and his future at Ibrox beyond this season.

Why Gerrard's appointment would be bad news for Dessers

The English boss returning for a second go at Ibrox would be bad news for the Nigeria international because of the kind of striker he liked in his first spell at the club.

Only Connor Goldson (182) and James Tavernier (178) made more appearances for Rangers as outfield players under his management than Alfredo Morelos (158), which illustrates how important the Colombian star was for him in Glasgow.

Gerrard, whose reputation was described as “amazing” by former England defender Glen Johnson, won the league title for the Gers in the 2020/21 campaign with the Colombia international as his main man up front.

Morelos, once described as a “real battering-ram” by ex-coach Scot Page, scored 12 goals and provided four assists in his 29 Premiership outings, but it was also the physicality in his performances that made him so influential for the Scottish giants.

Alfredo Morelos (Premiership)

20/21

21/22

Appearances

29

26

Goals

12

11

Assists

4

7

Pass accuracy

80%

80%

Duels won per game

3.7

4.1

Ground duel success rate

42%

41%

Aerial duel success rate

36%

48%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the powerful forward provided a physical presence in the number nine role for Gerrard, winning more duels and winning a higher percentage of his duels than Dessers has in his two seasons at Ibrox.

The current Rangers striker does not have the pace, the raw strength, or the mobility that Morelos consistently displayed under the English boss during that successful period in the club’s history, as evidenced by his struggles in the Premiership this season.

Dessers’ wasteful finishing in all competitions is another reason why Gerrard may not want the Nigerian number nine to lead the line for his team next season, should he be appointed as Ferguson’s successor this summer.

Therefore, the ex-Serie A marksman may not want the legendary former midfielder to get the job because it could spell the end of his career at Ibrox if he wants a forward who is similar to Morelos at Ibrox.

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Rangers are eyeing up a young striker who could be the club’s new Kris Boyd.

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Apr 30, 2025

It is now down to the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell to convince Gerrard to take the job, if he is their favoured candidate, to bring glory back to the club next season and beyond.

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