Manchester United are rivalling Premier League rivals Liverpool and Arsenal for the signing of Bayern Munich and France winger Michael Olise.

The 23-year-old has arguably matured into one of the best wingers in world football, excelling in a Bayern shirt since joining from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024.

Olise has six assists already in the Bundesliga this season, which is more than Bruno Fernandes (three) and Bryan Mbuemo (one) combined in the Premier League, with a half-dozen league goals also coming his way, outlining his end product.

The Frenchman is a hugely sought-after player, which is no great surprise, given his age and talent – Liverpool have been linked with a move – and Bayern will be desperate to fend off any interest in him.

United may have spent big on attackers in the summer transfer window, bringing in Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, but they are likely to be on the lookout for further additions in 2026, in order to make competition for places as fierce as possible.

Man Utd in the mix to sign £123m-rated Michael Olise

According to Caught Offside‘s Mark Brus, Manchester United are showing “serious interest” in £123m-rated Bayern star Olise, but Liverpool and Arsenal are also in the race to snap him up.

Olise would be a spectacular addition for United, with Bayern centre-back and teammate Dayot Upamecano heaping praise on his brilliance in the past, saying: “He’s a magician. His technical level is very high. He can do everything. He can score, set up, and even defend.”

That said, the one confusing aspect of United potentially signing him is the fact that he plays a similar role to Mbeumo, in terms of being a left-footed right winger who cuts inside to wreak havoc.

It could be argued that the Red Devils don’t need both, especially with Amad Diallo continuing to grow as player in that role, with those funds being focused on other key positions, such as central midfield.

Man Utd have advantage over Chelsea in race for "midfield sensation" Assan Ouedraogo

He has a massive future in the game.

ByHenry Jackson Nov 25, 2025

That’s not to say that United should pass up the chance to bring in Olise, though, and beating Liverpool and Arsenal to him would be a massive statement, and he has the talent to light up Old Trafford for years to come.

Man Utd have advantage over Chelsea in race for "midfield sensation"

Both teams have two points each and are looking to add to it in their push to make the knockouts

Sruthi Ravindranath19-Oct-20252:39

Preview – Sri Lanka can’t control their fate

Big picture: SL move from wet Colombo to dry Navi MumbaiBangladesh and Sri Lanka head into their clash with two points each, yet their campaigns couldn’t have been more different. For Sri Lanka, those two points came courtesy washed-out games in Colombo. They have now moved to hot and humid Navi Mumbai, where they will begin their final leg with an outside chance to make the top four.Bangladesh had started brightly with a win over Pakistan, but have struggled since. They have run top sides close, but have fallen short at crucial junctures. Though Bangladesh are yet to beat Sri Lanka in ODIs, they will fancy their chances, given their spin attack has troubled established batting line-ups. The loser of Monday’s fixture will be knocked out of contention for the semi-finals.The two sides have met each other four times in ODIs, with Sri Lanka winning two and the other two being washed out. It will be a long shot for Bangladesh to make the semi-finals, but they can get there if they win their next two games and hope other results go their way. Even a top-five finish will be significant for Bangladesh, their senior spinner Fahima Khatun said on the eve of the match, in what is only their second appearance at an ODI World Cup.While Bangladesh’s batting remains a concern, their bowling, led by spinners, has been their strength. But it was a different story against Australia, who razed down their target of 199 with ten wickets to spare.Sri Lanka have had similar issues. While their batters have often made promising starts, they’ve lost wickets in clusters. But the washed-out match against New Zealand, where they posted 258 before rain had the final say, showed a glimpse of what they can do. In this match, it will come down to how well they operate against Bangladesh’s spinners, while Bangladesh will want to show some of their batting capabilities in their quest for a first win against Sri Lanka in ODIs.Form guideBangladesh LLLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LLLLLIn the spotlight: Harshitha Samarawickrama and Sobhana MostaryHarshitha Samarawickrama has quickly risen through the ranks for Sri Lanka to become one of their batting mainstays. Since her 53 against India in the tri-series earlier this year, she has not scored a half-century in six innings though she’s got starts. Against England, she looked well set in the chase of 254 with a 58-run stand with Hasini Perera but lost her wicket to Sophie Ecclestone, which triggered a Sri Lanka collapse. Sri Lanka will be expecting more runs from their No. 4 as they look to finish their campaign on a high.Sobhana Mostary has been the most impressive Bangladesh batter in the tournament so far. She has two fifties, both coming against top oppositions in Australia and England. In a tournament where most other Bangladesh batters have struggled, the 23-year-old has stood out at No.5. She is adept at rotating the strike and finding the gaps. Against Australia, she was circumspect against Alana King but took on Annabel Sutherland and Darcie Brown, her 66 not out taking Bangladesh to a respectable 198.1:24

Fahima Khatun: We’ve lost games, but gained a lot of positives

Team news: Marufa Akter set to returnFast bowler Marufa Akter, who was rested for Bangladesh’s previous match against Australia, is expected to return to the side. “Marufa is better now, she has been training hard the last couple of days and I think we will have her fully fit for the next match,” Khatun said at her press conference.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Rubya Haider, 2 Fargana Hoque, 3 Sharmin Akhter, 4 Nigar Sultana (capt & wk), 5 Sobhana Mostary, 6 Shorna Akter, 7 Fahima Khatun, 8 Rabeya Khan, 9 Ritu Moni, 10 Nishita Akter Nishi, 11 Marufa AkterVishmi Gunaratne was on 12 when she was stretchered off the field against South Africa, after being struck by the ball on her left knee while completing a run. She, however, returned to bat and finished with 34 off 33 balls. Sri Lanka head coach Rumesh Ratnayake said she was “okay for selection” against Bangladesh.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Chamari Athapaththu (capt), 2 Hasini Perera, 3 Vishmi Gunaratne, 4 Harshita Samarawickrama, 5 Kavisha Dilhari, 6 Nilakshika Silva, 7 Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), 8 Piumi Wathsala, 9 Sugandika Kumari, 10 Malki Madara, 11 Inoka RanaweeraChamari Athapaththu is one away from 4000 ODI runs•Getty Images

Pitch and conditions: DY Patil Stadium gears up to host its first ODIThis will be the first-ever ODI at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The stadium has hosted 14 Vijay Hazare (List A) games in the last three years. The average first-innings score has been 252 with teams chasing winning nine games. Dew is expected to play a role at the ground.The forecast is clear for the entire day, with temperatures set to hit a high of 36 degrees. On the eve of the match, Bangladesh’s Khatun said she expects it to be a “sporting wicket with batters and bowlers expected to benefit from it”. Sri Lanka coach Ratnayake echoed her views.Stats and triviaChamari Athapaththu is one run away from 4000 ODI runs and four wickets away from 50 ODI wicketsFargana Hoque is 79 runs away from 2000 ODI runsSri Lanka wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani will play her 50th ODI match on Monday.

“Had the call gone our way, there was every chance the outcome of the match could have been different,” Fahima Khatun said

S Sudarshanan07-Oct-2025

Shorna Akter’s catching attempt wasn’t deemed good enough•Getty Images

Third umpire Gayathri Venugopalan’s decision to reprieve Heather Knight against Bangladesh came under the scanner after England escaped to a four-wicket win in their women’s World Cup 2025 match in Guwahati.In the 15th over of England’s chase of 179, Knight chipped legspinner Fahima Khatun to the covers, where Shorna Akter dived to her right and seemed to have taken a low catch. Knight started walking, but the on-field umpires referred it to the TV umpire, who felt that the fielder did not have her fingers under the ball and ruled it not out. Knight was on 13 at that point. She went on to finish unbeaten on 79 off 111 balls, taking her side home with 23 balls to spare.”At first look, I thought it was out,” Knight said after the match. “I thought it carried and thought it was a fair catch and walked off. But the TV umpire decided otherwise. I certainly had a bit of luck today. But probably with the year I have had, I deserved a little bit of luck. I tried to ride it and really make it count.”Related

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Knight scraps to help England overcome Bangladesh scare

The tricky bit about these non-dismissals was that the TV umpire gave her ruling while saying the replays available to her were “inconclusive”. In the first instance, of the caught behind, an on-field decision of out was overturned on “inconclusive” evidence, which might have gone against Bangladesh. In case of the “catch” in the covers, too, replays seemed to suggest that the fielder had her fingers under the ball, but the on-field umpires hadn’t really given the batter out to start with.But so convinced was Knight of the legality of the catch that she had reached the boundary line before walking all the way back.Fahima, who finished with 3 for 16 from her ten overs, certainly felt the catch-that-wasn’t affected the final result.”It was a disappointing decision for us,” she said. “Every player in our team felt it was a clear dismissal. The decision was overturned after being given out, which was disappointing. We all know how crucial that wicket was. Had the call gone our way, there was every chance the outcome of the match could have been different.”This was one of the three reprieves for Knight, who was batting for the first time in international cricket since her return from a hamstring injury. She was ruled out caught behind on the first ball she faced. But a review saved her, after replays showed that Marufa Akter’s inswinging delivery had missed her inside edge and brushed the front pad instead. The impact, as it turned out to be, was well outside the line of off too. Then, in the seventh over, she was given lbw but used the DRS successfully once again. Ball-tracking showed that this time, the ball would have bounced over the stumps.”It was the first time I was out three times in an innings and had them overturned, that’s for sure,” Knight said. “It was a case of refocusing. I knew I didn’t hit the ball, and it was tricky conditions as well. It was swinging quite a lot, [which] can make it tricky for the umpires as well. But that’s the joy of DRS, isn’t it? It’s great to have that in place.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers have made contact to sign a £30m star for Rob Edwards, and the Old Gold feel he “fits the profile perfectly” at Molineux.

Wolves transfer rumours after Edwards appointment

Fosun and Wolves are ready to back Edwards in the January transfer window as they look to climb up the Premier League table and out of the relegation zone in 2026.

However, before the Old Gold can make any new additions, they’ll have to navigate eight top flight fixtures, starting this weekend at home to Crystal Palace.

By the time the winter market opens, the Premier League season will be 50% complete, and with Wolves currently nine points away from safety, Edwards is facing a tough test.

It looks as if Wolves want to bolster all over the pitch following their poor start to the season as well.

A loan-to-buy bid for Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas is thought to be in the pipeline, whereas an offer is also in for Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia.

Domestically, Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips and Everton winger Dwight McNeil are two more 2026 targets, and another Etihad Stadium first-team player is on the radar at Molineux.

Wolves make contact for James Trafford

According to reports from TEAMtalk, Wolves and Fosun have made their first move to sign Man City goalkeeper James Trafford.

After returning to the club in the summer, Trafford has already dropped down the pecking order following the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma, arguably the best goalkeeper in world football.

City are open to a loan-with-obligation or permanent exit in January for Trafford, valuing him up to £30m.

Wolves are firmly in the race to sign the Englishman and have even made contact, with one source from Molineux telling TEAMtalk:

However, unfortunately for Wolves and Edwards, Trafford isn’t so keen on a move the Midlands. He appears to prefer a transfer to Newcastle United instead, with the source adding:

“James wants guarantees of game time, but above all he wants to play for a club pushing upwards, not one looking over its shoulder.”

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He’s been likened to the Gunners star at dead ball scenarios.

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Nov 19, 2025

Wolves are clearly after a new first choice shot-stopper with Sam Johnstone and Jose Sa, who are both 32 years of age, sharing the Premier League load so far. Johnstone has made seven appearances, conceding 14 goals, whereas Sa has turned out four times, letting in 11 goals.

But with Trafford preferring a move to St James’ Park where European football is on offer, perhaps Wolves may go for Mandas.

Wolves now in advanced talks to sign maestro who could be Edwards' first signing

Aston Villa's Europa League clash with Young Boys was disrupted by ugly scenes on Thursday night at Villa Park. Donyell Malen was hit on the head by an object thrown from the crowd after scoring his side's opening goal of the match, while the game had to be halted for several minutes just before half-time after violence broke out in the stands among the away supporters.

Getty Images SportUgly scenes at Villa Park

Malen headed Aston Villa into the lead on 27 minutes but was pelted with missiles from the crowd as he celebrated his goal. One of objects hit Malen on the head and appeared to have caused a cut. The Dutch star bagged another goal just before half-time which brought more ugly scenes and caused the game to be stopped for several minutes as trouble broke out in the away end. Television footage showed seats being ripped up and fans clashing with police. Young Boys captain Loris Benito was seen running over to the stands to plead with fans to behave, with the game eventually restarting after a five-minute delay.

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Malen in great form for Villa

Malen's goals continue his fine form for Aston Villa. He now has six goals so far this season for Unai Emery's side, three of those have come in the Europa League and the other three in the Premier League. Emery had hailed Malen before the game, telling reporters: "Everything he's achieving now you can see it before in the training session. He is helping the team in the structure we have, tactically to do our tasks. He is very important for us."

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Getty Images SportAston Villa enjoying Europa League life

Aston Villa have certainly been enjoying life in the Europa League this season. Emery's side came into Thursday's game having won three of their four matches in the tournament so far. After taking on Young Boys, Villa wrap up their group phase with fixtures against Basel, Fenerbahce and RB Salzburg.

They meet United in Qualifier 1, while Qalandars and Kings face off in the Eliminator

Danyal Rasool20-May-2025PSL 2025 is nearing an end, having completed the group stages in Rawalpindi following a brief suspension two weeks ago. The game between Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi was an effective knockout – the most consequential of the four group games since the league’s resumption. The tournament now moves to Lahore, where it will stay till the final on May 25. Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United kickstart the playoffs with Qualifier 1, while arch-rivals Qalandars and Karachi Kings face off in the Eliminator. ESPNcricinfo looks at how each team’s campaign has unfolded, and what it tells us about the season’s denouement.

Quetta Gladiators

There was a sliding-doors moment for Gladiators two weeks into the tournament. They had played just three games due to a quirk of the scheduling, having lost two convincingly, and were on track to make it three losses in four against Kings. Kings needed 66 runs off the remaining 69 balls with nine wickets in hand when the Gladiators bowlers somehow found a second wind. Gladiators eventually pulled out a five-run win, which forced the Kings captain David Warner to remark that his side had handed the opposition the game.Catalysed, Gladiators have become an unstoppable behemoth since. They won all their remaining completed matches, finishing three points clear of the field at the top of the table. Abrar Ahmed has been arguably the best legspinner this season, second on the wickets charts with an economy rate under 7.50. Mohammad Amir and Khurram Shahzad have each made match-winning contributions, while Faheem Ashraf has rediscovered some of his better all-round form.At the top, captain Saud Shakeel opening the batting is arguably a point of weakness, but there is significant power hitting among Gladiators’ ranks elsewhere. Finn Allen and Rilee Rossouw will return for the playoffs, while local players Hasan Nawaz and Khawaja Nafay can inflict damage in their own right. With two bites at a spot in the final, Gladiators look well-poised for a first final since they won their only title six years ago.United’s Sahibzada Farhan and Alex Hales form arguably the best opening combination this PSL•PCB

Islamabad United

Maybe what separates United’s genius from their madness is just hindsight. The defending champions were heavily criticised for throwing away their momentum after they appeared to be running away with the league after winning their first five matches. They then rested five players for the sixth game, and duly got pounded by Qalandars. That lightning in a bottle they had captured suddenly gone, United lost four on the bounce, and were in slight danger of missing out on the playoffs altogether.The break, though, has done them good. The old United was back in its full pomp in a dismantling of Kings that saw them claim a place in the qualifier alongside Gladiators. In this kind of form, there is perhaps no side that can truly live with United.Alex Hales showed himself to be the perfect replacement with Colin Munro no longer available, and alongside Sahibzada Farhan, forms arguably the best opening combination in the league. Shadab Khan is having another excellent all-round season, while no bowler with as many wickets as Imad Wasim is nearly as economical as his 7.06. With Ben Dwarshuis, Tymal Mills and Salman Irshad as the frontline quicks, United’s weakness perhaps lies in the absence of a truly premium fast bowler, but they have plenty of cover elsewhere to compensate. United are a team that can blow hot and cold, though Monday, when they thumped 251 batting first against Kings, suggests, ominously for the league, that there will be more of the former than the latter.Kings captain David Warner has taken to the PSL with surprising enthusiasm, while James Vince is the second-highest run-scorer this season•PCB

Karachi Kings

Kings missed out on each of the last three playoffs, so there’s progress already. It has been something of a stop-start season as Kings alternated between wins and losses for the first six games, before doing just enough to secure passage to the playoffs ahead of the league’s temporary suspension. The hammering at United’s hands, though, was a reminder of the gap that exists between Kings’ average performances and the very best at the top of the league.Kings have never truly managed to build up a head of steam this season, and just as they strung three wins together, they found themselves railroaded into the Eliminator by United. Their top three is as imposing as any in the league, with Warner, who has taken to the PSL and this Kings project, with surprising enthusiasm. Tim Seifert and James Vince, the second-highest run-scorer this season, flank him. Mohammad Nabi is the most economical spinner, while Abbas Afridi is the highest wicket-taker, and Hasan Ali is not far behind, even if they have tended to be expensive.It is Kings’ domestic core in the middle order, though, that may expose a soft underbelly. Khushdil Shah has exploded into life from time to time, but there is an air of vulnerability beyond the top three which Kings haven’t quite shaken off. It is what led to that infamous collapse against Gladiators early in the season, and, on Monday against United, Kings lost seven wickets for 34 runs – they went from 80 for 1 to 114 for 8 – to seal their fate.Fakhar Zaman has a strike rate of 155.04 in PSL 2025

Lahore Qalandars

Qalandars came within one match of exiting in the first round for the seventh time in ten years, but produced a clutch performance in a rain-shortened game to ward off that fate. Much like Kings, Qalandars’ season has waxed and waned. Consistency has proved elusive, but enough individuals in their squad have come up with performances when points on the board were needed.Qalandars remain heavily dependent on the timeless Fakhar Zaman, the third-highest run-scorer in the league; he has a superior strike rate to the top two. After an uncertain start, his opening partner Mohammad Naeem’s flashes of brilliance give Qalandars firepower up top without needing to turn to overseas players. Rounding off the domestic top three is Abdullah Shafique, who also ranks among the top eight for runs. Throw in a strike rate of 147.15, and flying powerplay starts are almost guaranteed.Qalandars’ major worry lies at the other end. Their charge to successive PSL titles came courtesy of a world-class bowling attack in Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan and Rashid Khan. They still have three of those four, but none has proved remotely as effective. Haris’ economy is a staggering 10.66, the highest of all specialist bowlers in the tournament.Qalandars have also been most affected by player departures. Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza, all key contributors at various stages, will not be available during the playoffs, and though the Qalandars have drafted in Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Shakib al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, it remains to be seen whether those shoes have been filled.

There were a number of records made in Headingley as England scripted another memorable win

Sampath Bandarupalli24-Jun-2025371 – The target England chased down at Headingley. It is the second-highest fourth-innings chase for England in Test cricket and the second-biggest by any team against India. The highest was when England chased down 378 against India in 2022 at Edgbaston.ESPNcricinfo Ltd350 – The runs England needed to score at the start of the fifth day’s play. Only one team has successfully chased a higher total on the last scheduled day of a Test match – 404 by Australia against England on day five of the 1948 Headingley Test.1 – India became the first team to lose a Test match after scoring five individual centuries. Only once before has a team lost a Test with four hundreds – Australia against England in Melbourne in 1928.835 – Runs that India aggregated in the Headingley Test, the fourth-highest to end up on the losing side. The previous highest for India in a losing cause was 759 against Australia in 2014 in Adelaide.ESPNcricinfo Ltd3 – Number of Test matches with 350-plus totals in all four innings. The previous two such instances came in the Ashes – in 1921 in Adelaide and in 1948 in Headingley.1673 – Runs aggregated by England and India at Headingley, the highest for any Test match between the two sides. The previous highest was 1614 runs in Manchester in 1990, which ended in a draw. The 1673 runs are also the fifth-highest aggregate for any Test match not to end in a draw.5 – Number of successful 300-plus chases in the fourth innings at Headingley. The only other venue with more than two successful 300-plus chases is Durban’s Kingsmead with three.ESPNcricinfo Ltd149 – Ben Duckett’s score is the highest by any batter in the fourth innings of a Test match against India, bettering Joe Root’s 142* at Edgbaston in 2022.Duckett’s 149 is also the second-highest score by an England opener in the fourth innings, behind Mike Atherton’s 185* against South Africa in 1995.188 – The opening partnership between Duckett and Zak Crawley is the fifth-highest in the fourth innings of a Test match. It is also the second-highest for England, behind the 203 by Atherton and Graham Gooch against Australia in 1991.12 – Batters to have ended on the losing side despite scoring hundreds in both innings of a Test match, Rishabh Pant joining the list after the Headingley Test. The last of the previous eleven was Brendan Taylor against Bangladesh in 2018.

Arsenal have now reportedly joined Liverpool in the race to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace, as contract talks continue to drag on between the striker and the South London club.

The Gunners return from the international break looking to get back to winning ways after entering it off the back of a dramatic 2-2 draw against Sunderland and it doesn’t get much bigger than the North London derby. Up against rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Mikel Arteta’s side will be aiming to prove their title credentials once again and at least maintain their four-point lead at the top.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the derby, Arteta reiterated just how big a rivalry it is, saying: “It’s just different. it’s a big city, but it’s a big rivalry; it’s a part of London that we want to conquer, and they want to do the same.

“There’s been a lot of shifts as well over the years, we’ve been more dominant and it’s just beautiful, especially when we play at home in front of our people, we know what it means to them.

“The energy that they’re going to bring, the energy that the team is going to bring in every single action, it’s just a privilege to play those kind of games. We cannot wait to get to Sunday.”

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It marks the beginning of a crucial week for Arsenal, who have the small task of playing host to Bayern Munich just days after the Tottenham clash before then travelling to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Three points from three in such a run would highlight just how serious the Gunners are about winning major honours.

In their current run, it would also be difficult for many players to turn Arsenal down and that may even be the case for Palace star Mateta.

Arsenal join race to sign Mateta

According to Caught Offside, Arsenal have now joined the race to sign Mateta from Crystal Palace in what could be their second major signing from the Eagles following their recent move for Eberechi Eze.

The Frenchman is set to become a free agent in 2027 and with contract talks yet to reach a resolution, the South London club may be forced to cash in sooner or later – allowing the Gunners to make their move.

A player who’s already been on the scoresheet at the Emirates in the past, Mateta could yet get the chance to wheel away in celebration every week in North London. Such a move would certainly be well-earned, too. From initial struggles, the 28-year-old has become one of the best strikers in the Premier League.

PL stats 25/26

Jean-Philippe Mateta

Viktor Gyokeres

Minutes

959

800

Goals

6

4

Assists

0

0

Expected Goals

8.1

4.6

There’s a reason why Palace boss Oliver Glasner has dubbed his star striker “excellent” in the past and the comparison with Gyokeres shows the level that he’s operating at. If Arsenal want to ensure that their goalscoring problems are ended for good, then they should sign the Palace star.

Arsenal hold talks with £71m ex-Man Utd star after post-Old Trafford transformation

Gary Neville thought taking the Valencia job in December 2015 would begin his route to eventually becoming England manager; instead, his four-month stint in Spain drained his confidence, made him ill and put him off coaching for life. Neville's was a shock appointment as the former Manchester United defender took over one of the biggest clubs in La Liga despite having no club coaching experience, little knowledge of Spanish football and no grasp of the language.

It was widely accepted that the ex-England full-back had got the job due to his business relationship with Valencia owner Peter Lim, whose popularity at the Mestalla was already waning one year after buying the club.

Neville, who later admitted he accepted the offer as a favour to Lim after he invested in his businesses, including Salford City, had only retired from playing four years previously. He was at the height of his career as a star pundit on , famed for his no-holds-barred opinions. Thus him being parachuted in as coach of one of the top clubs in Europe, six-time La Liga winners and two-time Champions League finalists, felt like an experiment dreamed up by reality television producers – and it made for gripping, car-crash viewing.

• Getty
  

  'Not a club for apprentices'

  Many past coaches had earned the Valencia job through years of hard work on the touchlines, and so for Neville it was a first job that was too good to turn down. He said at his presentation, which was attended by scores of British journalists: "If I’d have turned down this job, I could have said goodbye to my credibility in football because it’s a massive club and I’m honoured and proud to be here. Sitting on television, talking about coaches for these last few years, the time had come for me to stand up."

  England’s then-director of football Dan Ashworth egged Neville on, telling him it was "the perfect move" to eventually succeed Roy Hodgson as Three Lions' boss, perhaps as soon as the following summer once Euro 2016 was out of the way.

  But before he had begun work, Neville was given a warning by club legend Santi Canizares, who said: "Being a good analyst is not the same as being a good coach. Valencia is not a team for experiments, it’s not a place for a coach to get his apprenticeship. It is one thing to give your opinion and another to get things working on the pitch."

  Canizares was soon proven right. Valencia were beaten 2-0 by Lyon in Neville’s first game in the dugout as they exited the Champions League group stage. Neville demonstrated his lack of experience when he turned his 4-3-3 formation into a 4-2-4 in search of an equaliser, but all he succeeded in doing was cede the midfield to Lyon, who soon scored again.

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• Getty
  

  Embarrassed by Barcelona

  Neville made a worrying start in La Liga too, taking just two points from his first three games. In his fourth, Valencia held Real Madrid to a 2-2 draw, a result which led to Los Blancos sacking Rafa Benitez, but no corner was turned as Los Che went more than two months without winning a league game. 

  There was some respite in the Copa del Rey, though their cup run ended in harrowing fashion as they were slaughtered 7-0 by Barcelona in their semi-final first leg at Camp Nou. Neville's television colleague Jamie Carragher watched that game from the press box, laughing his head off as each goal went in, while on the touchline, Luis Enrique showed no mercy, keeping Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar on the pitch until the end before snubbing Neville’s attempt at a handshake after the game.

  Neville felt the then Barca coach was "sending a message that I didn’t belong" before he then faced a firing squad made up of the Valencia media, several of whom urged Neville to resign during the post-match press conference.

  Fans did the same, chanting 'Gary go now' in the stands of Mestalla, while one individual waited for Neville as he got off the bus after one away game, urging him to go home.

  "I lost my confidence," Neville later recalled. "It got to the point where I didn’t even want to take training sessions – I was handing it over to my coaches. I felt embarrassed doing the sessions in broken English where everything was done through a translator."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Set on fire

  Neville ended a 10-match wait for his first victory in La Liga when his side overcame Espanyol, and they followed that up with victory at Granada and a 10-0 aggregate win over Rapid Vienna in the Europa League. Things were starting to look up, and Neville was feeling hopeful when he took a group of journalists out to lunch in early March.

  But it proved to be a false dawn. Valencia lost five of their next seven games in all competitions, including being knocked out of the Europe by Athletic Club on away goals. The final straw for Lim was a 2-0 defeat in mid-March at home to Celta Vigo, which left Valencia six points above the relegation zone. By contrast, when Neville took over, they were only five points off the Champions League positions. 

  The defeat to Celta came the day after the Las Fallas festivities, when Valencia locals set effigies on fire, and among them was one with Neville’s face attached to it along with the 7-0 scoreline against Barcelona. By the end of the game that followed, the chants of ‘Gary go now’ were deafening, and Neville was swiftly informed by Lim that he was going to be relieved of his duties, although the announcement did not come until 10 days later.

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  Communication problems

  Neville had few allies during his short-lived spell in Spain. "I came out of many press conferences feeling like I’d been given a right grilling," he recalled. "There were no fellow managers putting their arm around me either."

  Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde changed his system three times in one game and Neville had no response: "He toyed with me like I was a little puppet. I could feel it on the touchline. That’s what inexperience feels like."

  Then there was Diego Simeone, whom Neville felt was "strangling me gently, he was almost torturing me in football terms over 90 minutes" as Atletico Madrid stormed to victory at Mestalla.

  Neville approved Valencia hiring the former Liverpool assistant Pako Ayesteran to help him communicate his ideas in February 2016 and insisted that when he left, so would Ayesteran. Goalkeeper Diego Alves did not understand the news when Neville first explained it, believing the coach was resigning and told him not to. As it turned out, Neville was gone a few weeks later, with Ayesteran replacing him.

  "The biggest problem Gary had was not being able to express himself," Ayesteran said later. "It is not the same through a translator: you can’t transmit the same passion, the same emotion." Indeed, Spanish television show poked fun at his communication problems almost weekly. Take his hilarious exchange with the Granada manager Jose Sandoval, who accused Neville of "protesting all game". Neville responded: "No protesta, no protesta. F*ck off."

Ahead of the January transfer window, Rangers have reportedly opened talks to sign Galymzhan Kenzhebek from Kazakhstan side Yelimay.

Danny Rohl is reportedly keen to mark his own stamp at Ibrox and that could yet see a number of fresh faces arrive. Sporting director Kevin Thelwell already confirmed during the international break that Rangers will be busy in the winter window and there’s no doubt that he’s got plenty of making up to do after a disastrous summer.

The former Everton chief also revealed that there could yet be more additions behind the scenes in Glasgow, saying: “It’s an exciting time because we’re starting to look at the way we’re organised from a sporting perspective and say ‘well, what does great look like?’, where we are against that standard, and who can help us reach that standard.

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“We have been talking about making some new appointments and we have made some new appointments. I’m really pleased with the appointment of Jaymes Monte, in particular, a guy from Dundee, previously worked with Hudl, and probably our first ever appointment in that data space.

“He’s going to provide us with a lot of insight in relation to data, not only from a recruitment perspective but also from analysis of opposition, our own game, and then medical, sports science and coaching.”

Organisation behind the scenes would certainly help Rohl’s side on the pitch, but the German also needs fresh faces. On that front, names such as David Watson are already being mentioned.

The Kilmarnock midfielder is one of the best young talents in Scotland and Rangers have already reportedly opened talks to secure his signature as early as the January transfer window. His arrival could be the start of a winter window to watch from all involved at Ibrox, too.

Rangers open talks to sign Kenzhebek

According to reports in Kazakhstan, as relayed by Glasgow Times, Rangers have now opened talks to sign Kenzhebek from Yelimay in the January transfer window. The 22-year-old winger will be out of contract at the start of January, allowing the Gers to swoop in and potentially land a free deal.

Whilst Kenzhebek has only ever played twice outside of his home country, 12 goals and six assists in 36 league games this season suggests that he’s ready to break away courtesy of a move to Scotland.

Praised for his “quality” ball carrying ability by scout Kai Watson, the prospect of signing Kazakhstan should excite Rangers fans. Whilst he’s not the finished product, the potential is certainly there for all to see.

The fact that the Gers can beat Aberdeen and Celtic to his signature should also give them added incentive to get the deal over the line in January.

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