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New Zealand will be cheering for PNG as their Super Eight hopes hinge on PNG beating Afghanistan

S Sudarshanan13-Jun-2024

Afghanistan are unbeaten in the World Cup so far•ICC/Getty Images

Match detailsAfghanistan vs Papua New Guinea
Tarouba, 8.30pm localBig pictureAfghanistan have had a dream start to their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. Having brushed past Uganda in the opening fixture, they dealt a killer blow to New Zealand and are comfortably placed to make the Super Eight.In the previous edition in 2022, Afghanistan were part of Super 12 but couldn’t register a single win, losing three games and the other two being washed out.Much of their success so far this year has been down to their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. They added 154 against Uganda and 103 against New Zealand, with Gurbaz hitting fifties in both games. The flip side is that the middle order has not had enough time in the middle. It could hurt them as it almost did when they lost 6 for 55 after their opening stand against New Zealand.It could well be their achilles heel against nearly-men PNG. They are yet to win a match but defending 136 in their opening game, they had West Indies in a spot of bother. In their next outing, they made Uganda work hard for a target of 78.The sluggish conditions in Tarouba could level the playing field, even though Afghanistan have the skills suited for those. PNG’s plethora of medium-pacers and spinners would want to leave a mark at the Brian Lara Stadium. And the team will have a whole bunch of New Zealand fans cheering for them, as their hopes of making the Super Eight hinge on, among other things, PNG beating Afghanistan.Form guideAfghanistan WWWWL (last five T20Is, most recent first)
PNG LLLWWIn the spotlight Over the last two years, Ibrahim Zadran’s consistent performances saw him cement his place at the top of the batting order across formats. He has turned out to be the perfect foil for Gurbaz, improving his range of shots as well as his T20I strike rate (117.91 in 2024, up from 102.91 in 2023). That has meant the scoreboard did not come to a halt when Gurbaz wasn’t on strike. He finished the Qosh Tepa National T20 Cup, Afghanistan’s domestic competition, as the leading run-scorer, and has carried his form into the World Cup.Can Norman Vanua help PNG to their first win of the tournament?•ICC/Getty Images

Seamer Norman Vanua is PNG’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is. The team felt his absence in the opening game of the tournament. But he made a successful return against Uganda, his 2 for 19 keeping the side in the contest. With PNG harbouring hopes of their maiden win in the competition, all eyes will be yet again on Vanua.Team newsMujeeb Ur Rahman missed the last game with a hand injury. If fit, he could come in for Noor Ahmad, who bowled just the one over against New Zealand.Afghanistan (probable XI): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Azmatullah Omarzai, 4 Gulbadin Naib, 5 Najibullah Zadran, 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Karim Janat, 8 Rashid Khan (capt), 9 Noor Ahmad/Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Fazalhaq FarooqiExpect PNG to field an unchanged team.PNG (probable XI): 1 Assad Vala (capt), 2 Tony Ura, 3 Sese Bau, 4 Lega Siaka, 5 Hiri Hiri, 6 Charles Amini, 7 Kiplin Doriga (wk), 8 Chad Soper, 9 Norman Vanua, 10 Alei Nao, 11 John KarikoStats and trivia Sese Bau needs 54 runs to become the fourth from PNG to a 1000 mark in T20Is. No opening pair has added more runs than Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz in T20Is in 2024. Among those who have bowled at least 50 overs in T20Is since January 2023, Rashid Khan and John Kariko are the second- and the fifth-most economical bowlers.Pitch and conditionsThe surface in Tarouba played true to its sluggish nature during the game between West Indies and New Zealand. Because of rain in the lead-up to the match, some deliveries from the good-length area outside off stump kept alarmingly low, and it was not easy to hit through the line. There isn’t any rain on the forecast – though that might change – but captain winning the toss is likely to bowl first because of the dew around.

Chelsea are set to try and ship out a host of different fringe players over the coming two months, as BlueCo look to trim their wage bill and keep in line with PSR regulations by raising funds.

Enzo Maresca’s side have done excellently to navigate their way around financial roadblocks to strengthen the squad consistently, ever since Clearlake Capital’s takeover of the club three years ago.

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However, if they’re not successful in offloading certain squad members, this task will be made all the more difficult.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season

Average match rating

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell, who are on a combined salary of around £525,000-per-week, are back at Cobham after their 2024/2025 loan spells at Arsenal and Crystal Palace respectively.

Chelsea will want to find new homes for the England international duo sooner rather than later, and they could be joined by Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, David Datro Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Armando Broja and Axel Disasi, who are all thought to be on the club’s ‘for sale’ list (The Athletic).

Chelsea could even sell Noni Madueke this summer, despite the Englishman being called one of Maresca’s “best players”, while striker Nicolas Jackson’s future is also up in the air.

There is also the curious case of Renato Veiga, who left Chelsea for Juventus on a loan deal midway through the season, mainly due to his determination to play as a centre-back rather than a full-back in Maresca’s system.

“I had a chat with Renato. I told him playing in the position he’s playing with us, it’s given him the chance to join the national team and created speculation around him, which only happens when you’re playing well,” said Maresca on Veiga’s dissatisfaction in the full-back role earlier this season.

“If there is a player that wants to play in just one position, they are going to struggle. They have to learn to play in different positions because it’s a good thing for the player and the club.”

Renato Veiga "surprised" by Chelsea decision with sale possible

As per journalist Graeme Bailey, after returning from his loan spell at Juve, Veiga was left “very surprised” by Chelsea’s decision to omit him from the Club World Cup squad.

What’s more, it hasn’t been ruled out that the defender could be one of a five-man defensive exodus before deadline day – with Veiga, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin, Benoit Badiashile and Disasi all on the chopping block.

“It’s a fascinating situation with Veiga, he was very surprised he wasn’t included in the Club World Cup squad,” said Bailey.

“There were indications from Chelsea that he would get a chance in a left-sided centre-back role — but Chelsea have so many centre-backs it’s staggering, and they still want more.

“It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile, Disasi and Veiga could all be sold.

“People keep asking why Chelsea can spend so much money, well, there’s five reasons why PSR isn’t a concern.

“But Veiga had a really good time at Juventus, playing at centre-back. And that’s why he left Chelsea on loan in the first place, he didn’t want to be a left-back, even if he was quite good at it.

“Chelsea were happy with him on the left but he turned up at Stamford Bridge wanting to be a centre-back. Now he’s gone to Juventus, played well, and he thought he’d done enough to warrant a spot at the Club World Cup to prove himself as a centre-back.”

West Bromwich Albion are now very keen on signing an “incredible” defender who has experience at the very highest level, according to a report.

Mason's arrival marks start of new era at the Hawthorns

West Brom’s 2024-25 campaign ultimately petered out, with Tony Mowbray being dismissed just three months after his arrival, having failed to build on the foundations laid by Carlos Corberan.

However, the appointment of former Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason marks the start of a new era for the Baggies, with reporter Steve Hermon claiming the board have made a “brave” decision by replacing Mowbray with a manager who has no Championship experience.

At just 33-years-old, Mason is certainly young for a manager, but the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler and Germany boss Julian Naglelsmann have proven that experience isn’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to being successful.

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Despite a poor end to the 2024-25 campaign, Albion finished just four points adrift of the Championship play-off places, which suggests Mason may not need to ring the changes this summer, but he will certainly be looking to put his own stamp on the squad.

According to a report from The Athletic, West Brom are now showing strong interest in signing Liverpool defender Nat Phillips, who is attracting the attention of a number of second-tier sides after impressing on loan at Derby County.

Derby boss John Eustace has confirmed he would like to sign Phillips on a permanent basis, with the defender’s time at Anfield surely coming to an end, having not featured for the Reds in the Premier League since the 2022-23 campaign.

"Incredible" Phillips impressed Klopp during Liverpool spell

Perhaps most memorably, the Bolton-born defender featured regularly for Liverpool during the 2020-21 season, at which point Jürgen Klopp was having to deal with an injury crisis.

Ultimately, the Reds managed to seal qualification for the Champions League despite the injury issues, and Klopp was left impressed by some of the £45k-a-week centre-back’s performances, particularly catching the eye during a 2-1 win against West Ham United.

Speaking after the match, Klopp said: “He’s a brilliant guy, smart guy, intelligent, everything. He’s not easy on the eye, he’s not Messi but who cares? In the air, he’s a monster! He was incredible.”

Since then, the 28-year-old has arguably gone on to find his level in the Championship, but he has continued to impress in the air, placing in the top 1% for aerials won per 90 over the past year, when compared to other defenders in similar leagues.

Phillips, who has seven Champions League appearances to his name, could be an excellent signing for West Brom this summer, and the hope will be that he is available on a permanent basis, having not been a part of Liverpool’s plans for a number of years.

The need for a new striker at Manchester United is there for all to see, with their lack of ability within the final third hugely evident throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

Ruben Amorim’s side only managed to find the back of the net on 44 occasions in their 38 Premier League outings, an average of just 1.15 goals per match.

Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes ended the season as the joint-top scorers, both registering eight goals, with no player in the squad registering double figures, highlighting the need for added reinforcements.

Two centre-forward options, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, only managed seven league goals between them, with the former hugely touted with a move to Inter Milan this summer.

Given such form, it’s a surprise to no one to see the hierarchy prioritising a move for a player in such a department, with countless players already on their radar.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Over the last couple of weeks, numerous names have been mentioned to fill the striker void at Old Trafford, but no deals have yet been agreed to bolster Amorim’s side.

The likes of Hugo Ekitiké, Moise Kean and Aleksandar Mitrovic have all been mentioned as potential summer signings for the Red Devils, but it appears that attention has been turned elsewhere.

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is the latest on their radar this summer, with the Napoli talisman expected to leave the Serie A outfit, according to United In Focus.

Their report claims that talks have already been held for the 26-year-old star over a move to Old Trafford, undoubtedly providing a superb option for the club after scoring 37 times on loan at Galatasaray in 2024/25.

It also states that after rejecting a move to Saudi Arabia, his priority is a switch to the Premier League, potentially seeing the Red Devils move to the front of the queue for his signature.

Why United’s latest target would be a better signing than Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres has been a player firmly on United’s radar over the last couple of months, unsurprisingly so given his previous stint under Amorim.

The Swede netted 54 goals in his 52 appearances across all competitions this campaign, undoubtedly being one of the hottest prospects in Europe, with Arsenal also in the race for his services.

It was reported earlier this week that the hierarchy have made contact with the 27-year-old’s representatives over a switch to the Premier League, with a £55m transfer fee mooted.

There’s no doubt that such a goalscoring record would improve the situation at the manager’s disposal, but he’s never showcased his talents in Europe’s top five leagues, posing a potential risk given his price tag.

Osimhen has managed to thrive in such a department, scoring 65 league goals in his five seasons as a first-team regular with Napoli – helping them claim the Scudetto back in 2022/23. He’s truly one of the great forwards, with European football expert Zach Lowy notably suggesting he is already “one of the best strikers of this century.”

When comparing their stats from the ongoing campaign, the Nigerian has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, further backing up why he’d be a better addition.

He may have registered fewer goals to date, but has notched a higher goal per shot on target rate, highlighting his clinical edge within the final third.

How Osimhen & Gyokeres compare in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Osimhen

Gyokeres

Games played

30

33

Goals & assists

31

46

Shots on target

2.2

2

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Aerials won

4.3

0.6

Aerial success rate

64%

30%

Take-on success

60%

27%

Stats via FBref

He’s also won more aerials and completed more take-ons, handing Amorim an all-round option that could take United to the next level throughout 2025/26.

Whilst either of the pair would hand the club the talisman they’ve been craving in recent months, it’s pivotal that, with such big money being spent, the right man arrives in the coming months.

From the stats produced and their previous experience in Europe, it’s evident that the Nigerian would be the better choice, pushing them in the right direction to try and return to their former glory.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Jun 10, 2025

Liverpool are not resting on their laurels after they won the Premier League in Arne Slot’s first season as the manager in the 2024/25 campaign.

The Dutch head coach arrived from Feyenoord last summer to replace Jurgen Klopp in the dugout at Anfield and clinched the top-flight trophy at the first time of asking.

Despite that incredible achievement, Slot and his staff are looking to bolster the squad with reinforcements to achieve even more success, hopefully across multiple competitions, next season.

One star who is reportedly on the club’s radar is Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, who was recently the subject of a £105m bid by the Premier League champions, as per Sky Sports.

It now remains to be seen whether or not the Reds can get a deal over the line for the Germany international in the weeks to come during the summer transfer window.

Liverpool have, however, already completed and announced a move for Jeremie Frimpong from the Bundesliga club, and he may not be the only full-back to arrive at Anfield this summer.

What Jeremie Frimpong could bring to Liverpool

Firstly, the Reds have already found their replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has completed a transfer to Real Madrid on a permanent basis, in the form of Frimpong.

Liverpool reportedly paid a fairly modest fee of £29.5m, thanks to his release clause, to sign the Netherlands international, which makes him a fairly cost-effective replacement for Trent this summer.

In terms of his style of play, Frimpong is a very front-footed and attack-minded ‘defender’ who will want to be on the last line and make runs to impact games from an offensive perspective.

The 24-year-old star primarily played as a wing-back for Leverkusen down the right and could push on very high and wide for Liverpool, which would suit Mohamed Salah well, as he likes to drift infield onto his favoured left foot to score and create goals.

Jeremie Frimpong’s form for Bayer Leverkusen (all comps)

Season

Appearances

Goals

Assists

24/25

48

5

9

23/24

47

14

10

22/23

48

9

10

21/22

34

2

8

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Frimpong delivered goals and assists at an impressive rate, for a wing-back, for the majority of his time with the German side, which shows that he could bring goals and assists to the Liverpool team next season.

This could also provide Salah with more room to work with, because opposition full-backs may have to pay extra close attention to Frimpong’s runs, possibly creating space for the winger to receive the ball with fewer defenders on him.

Frimpong, however, may not be the only full-back to arrive at Anfield in the coming weeks, as Liverpool are reportedly eyeing up a left-back from the Premier League.

Liverpool set to bid for Premier League defender

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Liverpool are interested in a deal to sign Bournemouth full-back Milos Kerkez during the summer transfer window.

The reporter claims that the Premier League champions are set to make a formal bid to sign the Hungary international in the coming days, as they look to bolster their options at left-back.

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Jacobs does not reveal how much the bid from Liverpool is set to be worth, but does claim that Bournemouth are looking for a fee of at least £40m to allow their star defender to move on from the Vitality Stadium.

The journalist also states that the 21-year-old Premier League star has ‘already agreed to the move’ to Anfield, which means that there would not be any issues on personal terms if the Reds were able to agree a deal with the Cherries in the coming days.

If Liverpool do wrap up a transfer to bring Kerkez over to Merseyside this summer, then it could be a repeat of their Sadio Mane masterclass back in 2016.

Why Milos Kerkez could be Sadio Mane 2.0

The club reportedly paid a fairly modest fee of £36m to sign the Senegal international from Southampton after the 2015/16 campaign, in which the forward had produced 11 goals and six assists to lead his side to European football.

Mane went on to score 120 goals and provide 46 assists in 269 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions during his career at Anfield, winning the Champions League and the Premier League during that time.

This shows that Liverpool hit the jackpot with the exciting attacker because they snapped up a star who was shining for a team punching above their weight in the Premier League, and he was able to adapt to a team that wanted to win trophies year-on-year.

Bournemouth finished ninth in the top-flight, just shy of a spot in Europe for next season, and Kerkez played a significant role in their achievement of finishing in the top half with his impressive performances in the left-back position for Andoni Iraola’s side.

24/25 Premier League

Milos Kerkez

Andy Robertson

Appearances

38

33

Goals

2

0

Assists

5

1

Big chances created

8

7

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.6

1.8

Dribbled past per game

0.4x

0.6x

Duel success rate

54%

48%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Hungarian star outperformed Andy Robertson with his work in and out of possession during the Premier League season, by offering more as a scorer and a creator, whilst also being more effective defensively.

These statistics suggest that Kerkez has the quality to make an instant impact at Anfield as an upgrade on Slot’s current left-back option, which is another reason why he could be a repeat of Mane, who became an instant star with his goals and assists on the wing.

As Izzy Christiansen said in the clip above, the “machine” is only 21 and is not close to reaching his peak, which means that Liverpool would also be paying for the potential that he has to get even better.

Like Mane, who joined at the age of 24, Kerkez would arrive at Anfield with time on his side to be a key player for the Reds for many more years to come, which is yet another reason why he could be a fantastic signing after the Frimpong deal for the opposite flank.

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Liverpool have received a boost in their pursuit of a £84m striker, as he is now keen on a summer move to Anfield, according to a report.

Reds set sights on new striker

While Mohamed Salah may have received most of the plaudits, Jamie Carragher has asserted that the Reds having lots of different goalscorers is the reason they won the Premier League title, considering Arsenal have been more defensively solid.

However, the lack of a dependable centre-forward is a real concern for former Red Danny Murphy, who has claimed Arne Slot is no great admirer of Darwin Nunez, saying: “Slot obviously doesn’t fancy him.

“Slot has played a winger, Luis Diaz, ahead of him as a striker at times. That tells you everything you need to know.”

Murphy also states he would be “amazed” if Nunez remains at Anfield beyond the summer, and work has started on bringing in a potential replacement for the Uruguayan, with DaveOCKOP recently dropping a new update on Liverpool’s pursuit of Benjamin Sesko.

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The report states that Sesko is now interested in a move to Anfield this summer, with the Reds holding a serious interest, but a concrete offer may have to wait until after Nunez is offloaded, with Napoli and clubs from Saudi Arabia keen on the 25-year-old.

The Slovenian striker is attracting interest from across Europe, but a deal will not be cheap, with RB Leipzig looking to hold out for a fee of €100m (£84m), although there may be some leeway to negotiate a lower fee.

"Incredible" Sesko admired by Jürgen Klopp

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is known to be a big admirer of the 21-year-old, stating he has “incredible potential” earlier this year, while also detailing that he is happy to have him at a Red Bull Group-owned club.

The forward certainly isn’t short of admirers, with former Leipzig technical director Christopher Vivell also adding: “Benjamin is a real goalscorer, who despite his 1.95m (6’4″) is mobile and technically strong. His abilities make him a special player with a special profile.”

The Reds are known to have a good business relationship with Leipzig, which they will be hoping they can use to their advantage in negotiations, as it is evident that Slot will need to bring in an upgrade on Nunez this summer.

The former Benfica man has just five Premier League goals to his name this season, so it is exciting news that Sesko is now a serious target to replace the striker, alongside a number of other top forwards.

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting CP

£60m

Hugo Ekitike

Eintracht Frankfurt

£84m

Alexander Isak

Newcastle United

£150m

Victor Osimhen

Napoli

£60m

Everton are on the brink of change. Real change. Not just the elation of David Moyes returning to the dugout after so many years away; not just the change of ownership, the lift that that brings; not just an upswing in results after the shackles of Sean Dyche’s final failure were taken off.

Real change. These varying parts look like they might all come together and advance Everton forward, away from the bogs of recent seasons and into a new era, into Bramley-Moore Dock.

The Friedkin Group will have a grand vision of a future in European competition, but to achieve this, the Toffees must ensure they hit the mark in the summer transfer market.

Moyes has the skills to reach TFG’s vision of apotheosis, but he will need to be backed, with Everton already looking to make their move on a sought-after England international.

Everton chasing swift signing

Too long have Everton been hesitant in the transfer market, then jump-started in moving for an easy solution in a panic. Moyes’ decision to hold off on all but the astute signing of Charly Alcaraz in January already points toward a shift on that front.

But he and new Director of Football, Angus Kinnear, will be swift when they need to be, and GIVEMESPORT believe that sharpness will be directed toward Angel Gomes, whose deal with LOSC Lille expires next month.

GMS claim that Everton are gearing up to make an official offer for the 24-year-old, though there is an awareness of rival interest from Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

What Angel Gomes would bring to Everton

Gomes, who currently earns just £12k per week, would pounce on the chance to move back to his homeland, and while Everton would have lagged behind in such a transfer battle in years past, things are different with Moyes at the helm.

Gomes will consider the Scotsman’s ability to nurture talented midfielders into superstars. Look at Declan Rice, who emerged from West Ham’s academy under Moyes’ wing and went on to dominate in east London, win European gold and then transfer to Arsenal in a £105m deal, where he is now thriving.

Rice’s technical distinction has always been on a different level to his positional peers, with his range of passing something that elevated Moyes’ Hammers system. Now, Gomes can play the same role on Merseyside.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 5% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 19% for passes attempted and the top 12% for progressive passes per 90. So then, you can see he’s got a gift for the technical side of the game.

Injuries have sadly limited Gomes to a bit-part role at Lille this season, and he’s only started ten times in Ligue 1. Still, he’s shown off his balance nonetheless, winning 54% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

Deeper analysis from Gomes’ metrics this term, when compared against Rice’s, wouldn’t present the full picture, so let’s peer back at the Lille man’s league data from last year against Rice’s across the current Premier League campaign.

League Stats – Declan Rice vs Angel Gomes

Stats (* per game)

Rice 24/25

Gomes 23/24

Matches (starts)

33 (31)

31 (29)

Goals

3

0

Assists

7

8

Touches*

57.7

65.1

Pass completion

90%

91%

Big chances created

16

15

Key passes*

1.8

1.5

Dribble success

48%

65%

Ball recoveries*

4.3

4.0

Tackles + interceptions*

2.4

1.4

Ground duels (won)*

2.4 (49%)

2.7 (53%)

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see, both players thrive in creative capacities but like to keep it crisp. Basically, they know exactly when to make an ambitious pass but usually retain possession in the most beneficial and fluent manner.

They are also active in recovering possession, denoting athleticism which Moyes’ Everton will need to maintain the expected hard-working standard.

Bring him in. Everton can’t promise European football (yet), but they can promise a breeding ground for talented players who want to progress their careers and reach a higher level.

Praised for his “incredible” performances by French football writer Robin Bairner, Gomes would be wise to pick blue this summer.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson May 11, 2025

Glasgow Rangers should be in the market to find a manager who can bring success and trophies back to Ibrox ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The board decided to part ways with Philippe Clement earlier this year, and they brought in Barry Ferguson to Rangers as the interim head coach until the end of the season.

Whilst the former Scotland international has not completely disgraced himself in the job, the Ibrox outfit’s form since Ferguson took the reins does not suggest that he is a serious contender for the full-time gig.

Rangers have won four, drawn four, and lost four of his 12 matches in charge, and are currently on a run of six matches without a win after their 1-1 draw with Celtic.

This does not suggest that Ferguson is the man to turn Rangers into a winning machine that can wrestle back the Scottish Premiership title from Celtic next season.

Another manager who is not likely to be in the dugout at Ibrox next season is former Gers title-winner Steven Gerrard, as he has been ruled out in a new report.

The latest on Steven Gerrard to Rangers

According to TEAMtalk, the Liverpool legend will not be the next Rangers manager to come in and take over from Ferguson at the end of this season.

The report claims that the 49ers, who are set to make their first appointment once a takeover is finalised, want a new head coach who has no prior connections to Ibrox.

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It states that the prospective owners want to gradually build a winning team in Glasgow and they want to start by appointing a fresh face, with no pre-existing relationships at Rangers, who has a philosophy and a style of play that can be built around for years to come.

Gerrard, of course, does not fit what they want because he has already managed the Light Blues successfully in his first spell at Ibrox before his move to Aston Villa in 2021.

Steven Gerrard (Premiership)

20/21

21/22

Matches

38

12

Wins

32

8

Draws

6

3

Defeats

0

1

Points

102

27

Points per game

2.68

2.25

League position

1st

1st

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the English boss only lost one of his last 50 league matches in charge of the club, going unbeaten in the 2020/21 campaign.

The 49ers, however, have decided that they do not want to retread that path, which means that Gerrard will not be returning to Scottish football this summer, at least not with Rangers.

It is now down to the club to find an alternative manager who can be as successful as the English tactician was during his time at Ibrox, and they could do that by hiring Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen.

TEAMtalk’s report adds that the Gers have been linked with the Norwegian boss in the past and that he should be the kind of manager that they target this summer.

The outlet also reveals that this year could be the year that Knutsen finally moves on from Bodo/Glimt, having been linked with other clubs for several years, going back as far as 2021 when he was linked to Premier League side Norwich City.

Rangers must, now, tempt the 56-year-old head coach to come to Ibrox ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, because he could be a dream alternative to Gerrard for the 49ers.

Why Knutsen is a dream alternative to Gerrard for Rangers

The former Liverpool midfielder and Rangers manager was an appealing option to the Light Blues because he has been there and done it; he has won the Premiership.

Knutsen, however, is a head coach who knows how to win league titles, having won even more than Gerrard, and has had success in Europe for Bodo/Glimt, as shown by the impressive fact below.

The Norwegian boss’ side are currently 3-1 down on aggregate against Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals of the Europa League, and still have a chance to make the final in their second leg clash on Thursday night.

This suggests that he has the tactical nous and playing style to be effective in Europe, whilst also having already proven his ability to set up a team to win league titles consistently.

Knutsen’s title dominance in Norway

Eliteserien season

Points per game

Position

2025

2.50

1st

2024

2.07

1st (champions)

2023

2.33

1st (champions)

2022

2.00

2nd

2021

2.10

1st (champions)

2020

2.70

1st (champions)

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Bodo/Glimt have won the Eliteserien in four of the last five seasons, and are currently top of the table after four matches in the 2025 campaign, averaging at least two points per match in all of those years.

This shows that Knutsen can build a team that can consistently challenge for titles and dominate a league, which is the ambition that Rangers should have, after watching their rivals lift the Premiership title in each of the last four seasons.

As well as being a great candidate because of his team’s trophies and progression in Europe, he could also be a great alternative to Gerrard because of his style of play. Bodo/Glimt captain Ulrik Saltnes described Knutsen’s playing style as “kamikaze” and Transfermarkt notes that he plays an attacking 4-3-3 formation.

Bodo/Glimt scored 71 goals and 78 goals in 30 league matches in the 2024 and 2023 campaigns, which shows how exciting that ‘kamikaze’ style can be as his team can score plenty of goals on their way to winning trophies.

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Therefore, Knutsen could be the dream alternative to Gerrard for the 49ers because he has the style of play, the trophies, and the European success to suggest that he could be an excellent appointment. It is now down to the club to convince the Bodo/Glimt boss that a move to Rangers is the best next step in his coaching career.

Glasgow Rangers held their annual player of the year award ceremony on Sunday evening. After a campaign filled with disarray at Ibrox, many would have wondered why the club bothered.

Nevertheless, several first-team players won awards on the night. John Souttar claimed the John Greig CBE Achievement Award while Hamza Igamane won the Men’s Goal of the Season award for his stunning late winner against Celtic at Parkhead in March.

Elsewhere, Cyriel Dessers won the Sam English Bowl for being the club’s top scorer this season. The most deserving award, however, went to Nicolas Raskin, who won both the Men’s Players’ Player of the Year and Men’s Player of the Year awards, with both the players and supporters recognising the Belgian’s achievements.

With the 49ers Enterprises takeover looking like it could go ahead before the start of next season, they will be keen on building as strong a squad as possible.

Financial investment would be welcome, of course, but keeping the club’s best players for a tilt at the Premiership title next term is the main aim.

Having won two awards on the weekend, Raskin is certainly one player who could attract plenty of attention this summer, no doubt about that.

Nico Raskin: Rangers most indispensable player?

Michael Beale may go down as one of the worst managers in the history of the football club, but paying a fee of just £1.5m to bring the young midfielder to Ibrox is arguably the best decision he made while in charge.

He may have struggled to assert his authority during his first few months at the club, but the persistence the former Standard Liege starlet has shown is now beginning to pay off.

After suffering an injury in pre-season last summer, it appeared as though Raskin would never fulfil his potential at Ibrox. Upon his return to the first-team picture in September, the 23-year-old has been a revelation.

Nine goal contributions have been registered across 43 appearances in all competitions, but it was his opener against Celtic in the 3-2 win last month which was the most important.

Raskin even captained the side during the festive season when James Tavernier was sidelined through injury, and he gave a dominating performance in the Old Firm clash at the turn of the year.

The midfielder has shown in the Premiership so far this term. His tenacious nature has certainly been on display, making 2.9 tackles per game and winning an impressive 6.5 total duels per match – a success rate of 57% – which has allowed the player to dominate at the heart of the pitch.

Going forward, however, Raskin has demonstrated his attacking abilities. Not only has he created six big chances for his teammates, but the Belgian also averages one key pass and 0.9 successful dribbles per match in the top flight.

This combination of attacking and defensive traits makes Raskin a prized asset at Ibrox. There will be a time when the club decides to cash in, but he could be the fulcrum of a new-look side at the start of next season.

Who shouldn’t be at the club next season? Well, it may be a bit of a surprise to some.

Rangers' most dispensable player?

While the 49ers will be keen on strengthening the squad, they must also balance the books by moving several players this summer.

It shouldn’t be a difficult decision on who to release and sell, especially with so many players underperforming throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

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

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Dessers may have won the Sam English Bowl, but in reality, the Gers must cash in on him before the start of next season.

Beale may have spent little to bring Raskin to Scotland, but the opposite is true of Dessers’ move to Glasgow. Indeed, he cost around £4.5m from Serie A side Cremonese in the summer of 2023.

Given that Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent had left for free just a month or so before, Beale had to inject some goals into his side ahead of the 2023/24 season. Dessers had netted just ten goals the season prior, hardly the prolific forward Beale required.

Dessers’ Premiership stats since joining Rangers

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

16

13

Assists

4

2

Big chances missed

27

20

Shots per game

2.9

2.2

Goal conversion percentage

16%

19%

Via Sofascore

A total of 22 goals and nine assists during his maiden year at the Light Blues certainly appears to be a decent tally, but diving deeper, Dessers could have scored a lot more.

In the Premiership alone, he missed a staggering 27 big chances across 35 matches, often taking three or four opportunities to find the back of the net.

This season hasn’t exactly been much of an improvement. 13 domestic goals have been scored thus far, yet he has still missed 20 big chances in the top flight. With four games to go, this figure could still rise.

Scottish analyst John Walker dubbed the centre-forward as “poor” during a pre-season friendly against Manchester United last July. He may offer plenty in terms of work rate and determination, but the Nigerian striker simply isn’t the right man to lead the club into a new era under the 49ers.

The 30-year-old has two years left on his current contract at Rangers, which means this summer represents the perfect chance to try and make back some of the £4.5m that was spent on him two years ago.

Not only that, but he is also one of the highest earners at the Light Blues. Taking home a wage of £27k-per-week, Dessers ranks second behind only Tavernier in terms of earnings.

There is no doubt that freeing up this money in the summer and redirecting it back into bringing one or two younger talents would be the best thing to do.

The club face one of the most important transfer windows in recent memory this summer. Get things right and Celtic could be set for a serious title challenge next season.

On the flip side, however, if the same mistakes are made, Rangers will continue to be left in the wake of their rivals as they motor to a fifth consecutive title.

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Aston Villa have now held talks to sign an in-demand attacker who has been likened to boyhood Villa fan Jack Grealish.

Aston Villa looking for more Champions League football after PSG exit

The Villans nearly produced a memorable Champions League comeback in the week against Paris Saint-Germain after finding themselves 5-1 down on aggregate early in the second leg.

Goals from Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Ezri Konsa meant that Villa would win the second leg 3-2 in front of their fans, but they fell agonisingly short of progressing to the semi-finals.

Talking after the game, Unai Emery challenged his Villa side to qualify for the Champions League again next season in the Premier League run in. “It is now most important to get Europe again. The most important competition is the Champions League. The challenge we have for the last six matches is to try and get Europe and the Champions League.

“The players showed their capacity to compete at this level. Hopefully we can come back quickly to play in the Champions League. This is our objective and to play in the FA Cup as well for a trophy.”

Aston Villa’s Premier League run-in

Date

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United

April 19

Man City vs Aston Villa

April 22

Aston Villa vs Fulham

May 3

Bournemouth vs Aston Villa

May 10

Aston Villa vs Tottenham

May 18

Man Utd vs Aston Villa

May 25

With six games to go, Villa go into this weekend’s crucial top flight clash against Newcastle United a point off Manchester City in fifth. A win would see them go level on points with the Magpies who currently sit third, and they also have an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley to prepare for later this month against Crystal Palace.

It is promising to be an eventful end to the campaign on the pitch, and behind the scenes, NSWE and Monchi appear to be working on potential new signings.

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Recently, it has been reported that Aston Villa are looking to close a deal to sign Rosenborg star Sverre Nypan, with the 18-year-old also wanted by Arsenal. Now, Villa have made their move for another in-demand teenager.

Aston Villa hold talks to sign Crystal Palace youngster Derry

According to TBR Football, Aston Villa are in talks to sign Crystal Palace gem Jesse Derry. Son of former Crystal Palace and QPR midfielder Shaun Derry, the 17-year-old has been catching the eye coming through the Eagles’ academy.

Derry, called a “talented ball carrier”, has even been likened to Grealish due to his hair and having low socks when playing, and he has rejected the chance to sign professional terms with Crystal Palace.

As a result, Villa are looking to take advantage, alongside Manchester City, whereas other huge European clubs such as Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus and PSG have also made contact.

Capable of playing anywhere across a front three or even as an attacking midfielder, Derry looks set to be one to watch over the coming months.