All posts by n8rngtd.top

Last season, Liverpool won the Premier League. And they are acting like it. We haven’t even reached July, but FSG have already signed Bayer Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong as well as Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.

It’s a time of great excitement for those of a Reds persuasion. However, Arne Slot’s squad aren’t without their foibles.

Falling in the Champions League’s last 16 against eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain was a bitter pill to swallow, and that frustrating result was followed by defeat against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final.

PSG deserved their victory and the Magpies did too. It was one stretch too far for the Merseysiders, who had already exceeded expectations to take a commanding lead that was indeed defended in England’s top flight.

Depth proved Liverpool’s issue. Slot was loath to enforce rotation last term, and the trickling-out of some of the side’s fringe players – like Jarell Quansah, with Harvey Elliott and Darwin Nunez soon to follow – illustrated that.

Quansah is signing for Bayer Leverkusen, and with Ibrahima Konate’s future uncertain as Real Madrid lurk (again), Liverpool need a new centre-back.

Liverpool chasing new centre-back

There’s one man who stands above other Liverpool defensive targets right now: Marc Guehi. The Crystal Palace defender is just one year away from free agency, and FSG are starting to circle.

Though Tottenham Hotspur saw a £70m bid rejected for the England international only last January, Palace chairman Steve Parish will know that time is running out if he wishes to recuperate some funds from his prized defensive asset.

Some reports suggest Liverpool are closing in on Guehi’s signature, but in all likelihood, there will be something of a pause in the Anfield offices now that the bulk of the club’s summer activity has been sealed pronto.

It would be wise, then, for sporting director Richard Hughes to closely assess the market for potential alternatives. If reports are to be believed, such a player has been identified.

Liverpool identify Guehi alternative

According to Caught Offside, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite has been earmarked by Richard Hughes and Co as a potential option in central defence, though this would be a contentious move indeed.

Not that Liverpool would care if they got the job done. Branthwaite, 22, is also attracting interest from Chelsea and Manchester United after revealing a desire to move clubs in March after being overlooked by Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel.

Everton believe their star defender is one of the most talented in the business, and as such have slapped a £70m price tag on his name.

What Jarrad Branthwaite would bring to Liverpool

While Guehi’s contract situation would likely see him prove a more cost-efficient solution for Liverpool, Branthwaite is an incredibly fearsome protector, and he’s left-footed besides.

Returning from a successful loan spell with PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2023, Branthwaite has since become a star member at Everton, playing 65 matches in the Premier League, winning the club’s Players’ Player of the Season for 2023/24.

It might seem ludicrous to think that Liverpool and Everton would do business on the transfer front, but the Hill Dickinson Stadium side are interested in Ben Doak, who is valued at £30m.

Tough-tackling and shrewdly talented on the technical front, the 6 foot 5 star is bound to earn himself a move to a club competing in the Champions League sooner or later, and Liverpool could do a lot worse, especially as Slot’s first-class coaching would prove the perfect way to develop Branthwaite’s ball-playing game.

That said, it’s not all that bad as it is. Indeed, looking at Branthwaite’s metrics in the top flight last season when contrasted with Guehi’s, you begin to see that maybe moving for the Everton man wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.

As you can see, Branthwaite is more accurate in the duel than his positional peer while also producing a shedload more clearances on average. He’s far less mobile, but a 60% dribble success rate does point toward a latent ball-carrying ability that could be hammered into shape over at Anfield.

It’s important to remember that Branthwaite operates in a system which actively dampens ball-playing expansiveness, and that, even so, he has maintained a decent degree of passing success, almost as accurate on the ball as Guehi, if less progressive with his distribution.

And anyway, the hulking Blues star is just a phenomenal defender, strong as an ox and sturdy as steel. Talent scout Jacek Kulig has even gone as far as to declare him “an absolute monster” for the Toffees.

Could Branthwaite make the leap? The gulf on Merseyside is chasmic, after all.

Well, though it’s difficult to pull meaningful passing data from his Everton efforts last term, for Sean Dyche and David Moyes both employ counter-attacking and somewhat pragmatic styles, he still finished the year ranked among the top 20% of centre-backs for assists and the top 13% for switches, as per FBref, almost indicating a Virgil van Dijk-like approach to passing.

Hailed as an “incredible” part of Everton’s team by reporter Joe Thomas, Liverpool would certainly ruffle a few feathers if they got this one over the line in the coming months.

But if the Eagles play hardball and efforts to sign Guehi prove fruitless, this Englishman might just be the perfect alternative. And who knows, maybe he’d even prove the better signing.

He'd be Wirtz 2.0: Liverpool stand a "chance" of signing the "next Mbappe"

Liverpool believe they have a good chance to sign a star who would be a Florian Wirtz repeat.

1

By
Dan Emery

Jun 26, 2025

Chelsea transfer chiefs are in the market for new attackers whilst Enzo Maresca’s men tackle their Club World Cup campaign, with the Blues looking to provide their manager with extra firepower ahead of a crucial second season for him.

Tottenham hold talks to sign £65m star, but his club prefer he joins Chelsea

Spurs are set for a transfer tussle with their London rivals.

6

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 20, 2025

Maresca won his first piece of silverware by smashing Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final, and before that, he guided Chelsea to a top five Premier League finish which gifted them a spot in next season’s Champions League draw.

The Italian’s first season in the Chelsea dugout was an undoubted success, and he could still add to their celebrations with a potential Club World Cup triumph in America.

Winning the CWC could bring a seismic financial windfall of nearly £100 million to Cobham’s coffers, so despite the tournament’s controversy, it is little surprise that sides taking part are serious about performing well.

A portion of their final earnings from the CWC could be put towards Chelsea’s recruitment drive, and it is widely believed that they’re prioritising the signing of a new winger in particular.

Chelsea are back in talks to sign Borussia Dortmund forward Jamie Gittens as their top target for this position, despite having as many as three bids rejected for the Englishman before the pre-CWC transfer deadline (Florian Plettenberg).

As negotiations re-open for the Englishman, there are suggestions that Chelsea could even bring in two wingers this summer, especially if they end up selling Noni Madueke, which is seen as a real possibility (Simon Phillips).

Jadon Sancho’s return to Man United and news of Mykhailo Mudryk’s potential four-year ban for allegedly violating anti-doping rules has exacerbated Maresca’s need for a new forward, while Chelsea also remain on the hunt for a second striker after Liam Delap.

Chelsea hold talks over Brighton star Joao Pedro

One man who’s on Chelsea radar, and can play out wide, in attacking midfield or up front, comes in the form of Brighton star Joao Pedro.

The Brazil international bagged 10 goals and seven assists for Fabian Hurzeler’s side across all competitions last term, prompting rumoured interest from Chelsea and Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

According to Standard Sport, Chelsea have held talks over Pedro, and those conversations are continuing behind-the-scenes as BlueCo look to reinforce Maresca’s squad with further attacking additions.

This follows a report from talkSPORT that Newcastle are fearful of a Chelsea move for the 23-year-old, with there being concerns inside St. James’ Park that they could hijack their deal.

The sticking point will likely be Pedro’s £70 million valuation, but according to ex-Premier League chief scout Mick Brown recently, the player has spoken to friends about potentially joining Chelsea this summer, so there could be a willingness on the player’s side.

“I hear he’s spoken to people around him about a move, and he would be interested in Chelsea,” Brown told Football Insider.

“He wants to make a step up from Brighton as they’re going to miss out on European football again. It’s just a case of whether they decide he’s the right man for the job.”

Aston Villa have lofty ambitions for next season, despite missing out on the Champions League.

Unai Emery’s project is still very much ongoing, and the next step is for him to lead the club to their first major trophy in nearly 30 years.

The Europa League might be their best shot, especially as winning it will secure a spot in the 2026/27 Champions League.

In order to do this, he will have to sign a few high-profile players while also complying with PSR regulations in the process.

With this in mind, it looks as though the club are chasing a move for a current Barcelona player.

Aston Villa chasing swoop for Barcelona sensation

While it might be slightly more difficult to lure the type of players Emery wants at the club this summer, it isn’t stopping the Spaniard from trying.

Reports in Spain (as per Sport Witness) claim that Villa are battling it out with Chelsea and PSG to sign Barcelona starlet Fermin Lopez.

The report goes on to state that Villa and the French giants have made contact with Lopez and are showing the most interest.

Chelsea could be set to make an offer worth €75m (£63m) in the near future to secure his signature, meaning Emery will have to act swiftly to get his man.

Why Aston Villa must sign Lopez

There are so many talented players at the La Liga side now. Lopez joins a list which includes Pedri, Gavi, Pau Cubarsí and, of course, Lamine Yamal.

Well, of those players, it is Yamal he is most similar to. When compared with positionally similar players in LaLiga this term, FBref suggest that the generational wonderkid and Ballon d’Or contender is the fourth most similar player to Lopez.

While the latter might play a more central role compared to Yamal, who operates on the right wing, the duo have shared similar statistics in La Liga last season.

According to FBref, the duo recorded similar metrics, including shot-creating actions (4.10 vs 5.92) per 90, goal-creating actions (0.50 vs 0.91), successful take-on percentage (45.5% vs 50.9%) and shots on target percentage (36.6% vs 31.9%) per 90 in La Liga for Barcelona.

On that evidence, they are both creative players who love to get at their marker/

His former manager at the Catalan club described Lopez as having the “whole package” and judging by his statistics and performances last term, this assessment is bang on the money.

Alongside his 11 goal contributions, Lopez also created eight big chances in the top flight, along with averaging one key pass per game.

Considering he started just 12 league games, averaging only 45 minutes per match, these are impressive statistics indeed.

Should he make the move to Villa, he would certainly secure more gametime in the starting XI than he was afforded under Hansi Flick last season.

Will he want to drop and play in the Europa League, however? Or is the long-term project at Villa enough to entice the youngster?

The next few weeks could be interesting indeed, and given he offered similar statistics to those of Yamal last season, he would make for an excellent signing.

"Sensational" GK emerges as Aston Villa's top target to replace Martinez

The Villans have identified a 25-year-old goalkeeper as their first-choice option to replace Emiliano Martinez this summer.

By
Dominic Lund

Jun 9, 2025

Liverpool are not willing to rest on their laurels after they won the Premier League in Arne Slot’s first season at Anfield in the 2024/25 campaign.

The Reds have already swooped to make their first signing of the summer transfer window by bringing Jeremie Frimpong to the club from Bayer Leverkusen.

He has come in to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has signed for Real Madrid on a permanent basis, and will compete with Conor Bradley for a spot at right-back next term.

The Netherlands international delivered five goals and nine assists in all competitions for Leverkusen this season, which suggests that the full-back could provide plenty of quality in the final third for the Reds.

Frimpong, however, may not be the only attacking dynamo to make the switch from Germany, and Leverkusen specifically, as Liverpool are continuing to work on a deal to sign Florian Wirtz in the coming weeks.

Why Florian Wirtz could be a big signing for Liverpool

Fabrizio Romano recently reported that the club are ‘advancing’ to sign the Germany international, with a medical already being planned for the attacking midfielder.

Journalist Paul Joyce also recently claimed that the Reds have made an offer worth up to £113m for the 22-year-old sensation, which illustrates the kind of money Liverpool will need to spend to get this deal over the line.

It is not a surprise to see that price tag over the Leverkusen star’s head, though, because he has been in fantastic form for the German side over the past two seasons.

Wirtz scored 21 goals and provided 23 assists in the Bundesliga in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined, which shows that he can offer quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from an attacking midfield position.

His form in the German top-flight this season suggests that he could be an incredibly exciting addition to the squad for Slot, due to his form at the top end of the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, Wirtz hit double figures for both goals and assists in the Bundesliga for Leverkusen, overperforming against his xG.

Meanwhile, none of Liverpool’s central or attacking midfielders managed more than six goals or six assists in the Premier League, which suggests that the German star would be a big upgrade on what Slot currently has at his disposal.

The Premier League champions, however, are now reportedly lining up a move to bring in a star who would be an even bigger signing than Wirtz.

Liverpool set to bid for Premier League star

According to a report in Spain, Liverpool are eyeing up a move to bring Alexander Isak to Anfield from Newcastle United in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Reds are set to make a bid worth up to £101m for the Sweden international. £84m would be up front and the rest would come in performance-based add-ons.

Transfer Focus

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

It also reveals that Liverpool have been keeping tabs on Newcastle’s attempts to pin Isak down to a new contract, and that they are ready to pounce if the striker does not commit his future to St. James’ Park.

The outlet adds that the Reds want to move swiftly with a deal for the former Borussia Dortmund attacker, hence why they are planning to make a mega bid for his services.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not an offer of £101m would be enough to tempt Newcastle into cashing in on their star striker, or if the player would be open to ditching his team in favour of a move to Anfield.

Why Isak would be a bigger signing than Wirtz

Isak would be a bigger signing than Wirtz for Liverpool for a number of reasons, despite potentially costing less than the German star if they can wrap up a transfer at a fee of £101m.

Firstly, it would be a move that would see the club take away one of their Premier League rivals’ top players, weakening their direct competition, rather than going abroad to snap up a talent like Wirtz. This would make him a statement signing for the Reds, because it would illustrate their pull by being able to sign such a player from a rival.

Secondly, and this ties in with the first point, Isak is a proven Premier League performer who would be able to come in and hit the ground running as a player who does not need any time to adapt to the division.

Whereas Wirtz has never played domestic football outside of Germany and, therefore, there are still some doubts over how his game will translate to the Premier League, simply because he has yet to prove himself at that level.

Isak, as shown in the clip above, has also already proven his quality against Liverpool with a terrific goal in the League Cup final at Wembley back in March, leading to Slot describing him as an “unbelievable threat”.

As you can see in the table above, the Swedish marksman enjoyed a sensational season with the Magpies in the Premier League, as he was directly involved in 29 goals, nine more than Wirtz was involved in for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

Luis Diaz was Liverpool’s top-scoring striker option in the top-flight for Slot with a return of 13 goals, which suggests that Isak would come in as a huge upgrade for the club in the number nine position.

Overall, Isak would be an even bigger signing than Wirtz for Liverpool because of the statement it would send out, signing him from a Premier League rival, the proven quality that he would provide, and the upgrade that he would be for the team.

It now remains to be seen, though, whether or not they can convince Newcastle to part ways with the 25-year-old centre-forward after they wrap up a move for the Leverkusen star.

Better than Huijsen: Liverpool target £50m Gabriel & Saliba "hybrid"

Liverpool are in the market for a new centre-back this summer.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 7, 2025

With the season finally coming to a close, Tottenham Hotspur have a monumental summer ahead of them.

For example, alongside potentially replacing Ange Postecoglou, Daniel Levy and Co must go big in the transfer window to ensure the team don’t endure another Premier League campaign like this one.

On top of making sure they keep their own stars like Cristian Romero, the North Londoners need to bring in new ones to help them climb up the table and make a good account of themselves in the Champions League.

Fortunately, reports have recently linked the club to an attacker who could help them do just that, an attacker who’d be a massive upgrade on Son Heung-min.

Tottenham transfer news

Before we get to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other brilliant players who have been linked with a move to Spurs in recent weeks, like Leroy Sané and Xavi Simons.

Transfer Focus

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

The former’s contract with Bayern Munich expires at the end of this month and would therefore be a free signing, which could end up being an incredible deal, as in just 2377 minutes of football across 45 appearances this season, the German international scored 13 goals and provided six assists.

Simons, on the other hand, would cost the club around £67m, but even then, it would be hard to argue that’s not a fair fee, as the Flying Dutchman managed to score 11 goals and provide eight assists in 33 appearances this season.

Yet, there is another, even more impressive winger being linked with Tottenham: Bradley Barcola.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Spurs are among several Premier League clubs who are incredibly interested in the Paris Saint-Germain phenomenon.

In fact, the story has claimed that the Lilywhites, Arsenal and Manchester City have already sent scouts to watch the French international.

However, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, as while PSG do not want to sell the 22-year-old, they do value him at up to €120m, which is about £101m.

With that said, given Barcola’s immense ability and potential, this may be a deal worth breaking the bank on, especially as he’d be the perfect Son upgrade.

How Barcola compares to Son

While Barcola can and has played in other positions in the past, it’s abundantly clear that his preferred and best role is leftwing.

Therefore, depending on what else happens in the summer transfer window, one of his main competitors for game time at Spurs next season, were he to sign for them, would be Son Heung-min.

With that said, who comes out on top when we compare them? Well, from a raw output perspective, it’s a rather one-sided affair.

For example, the incredible Lyon-born ace, who’s “one of the best LW’s in Europe,” according to analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 21 goals and provided 19 assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3643 minutes this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.45 games, or every 91.07 minutes.

In contrast, the North Londoners captain scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in 46 appearances, totalling 3189 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every other game, or one every 138.65 minutes.

Okay, what about their underlying numbers from this season? Which attacker comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s the “devastating” star, as he was described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, who once again emerges victorious here, and by quite some margin at that.

For example, while there are a few metrics in which the South Korean superstar is able to hold his own and actually come out ahead, it’s the UCL winner who does far better in the vast majority of relevant areas.

Ultimately, while Son has been an incredible player for Spurs for so long, Barcola is simply the better winger in practically every way, and therefore, Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

Signed by Conte: Spurs' big-money flop has become the club's new Soldado

The talented Spurs star hasn’t been able to make it work in London.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 30, 2025

After Pep Guardiola revealed the news that Kyle Walker will not be at the Club World Cup as he prepares to leave the club this summer, Manchester City have reportedly made one particular target their no.1 priority.

Kyle Walker set to leave Man City

Following a loan spell at Milan, Walker is set to leave Manchester City on a permanent basis this summer. The veteran defender looks set to bow out as one of the best defenders to play for the Citizens and will forever have his part cemented in their history books. After eight successful years, however, he’s set to bring his Manchester City career to an end.

Guardiola confirmed the news that the defender will not be at the Club World Cup, with Fabrizio Romano then revealing that he is on course to depart Manchester City in the coming months.

Man City now eyeing shock chance to sign £84 million Arsenal contract rebel

This would certainly steal headlines…

By
Tom Cunningham

May 23, 2025

Walker’s exit should come as little shock. For all of his impressive work in Manchester, the England international was beginning to fall away from his best form before his loan spell away at AC Milan. Often at the centre of moments to forget for Guardiola’s side, a departure always seemed inevitable.

By the time his exit is confirmed, however, fans around The Etihad won’t remember Walker for this season’s defensive blunders. Instead, they will remember a right-back who became a mainstay in one of, if not the most successful side in Premier League history.

Replacing such a player should be among City’s priorities this summer in a task that certainly won’t be easy. Without Walker, Guardiola has been forced to turn towards some surprising options at right-back, including the likes of Matheus Nunes and the impressive Nico O’Reilly.

If the Spaniard wants to take his side back to Premier League glory after a season away, he will know more than anyone how important it is that City welcome a right-back this summer.

Man City prioritising Livramento move

According to Romano, Manchester City are now prioritising a move to sign Tino Livramento from Newcastle United this summer and have made the right-back their No 1 target.

The former Chelsea youngster has impressed at St James’ Park ever since arriving, but nailed his place down in Eddie Howe’s side ahead of Kieran Trippier once and for all this season. Now, he could be on his way to The Etihad if City get their way.

At 22 years old, Livarmento’s best years are yet to come and may well come under Guardiola as has been the case for several stars over the years. As Walker prepares to leave, the Newcastle man, who Howe described as “excellent” in April, should be seen as the perfect heir to his Manchester City throne.

Clearing £75,000 a week from their wage bill whilst welcoming a player who could spearhead a new era at The Etihad would, in many ways, represent an ideal way for Manchester City to commence their summer spending.

It would be fair to say that prior to last night, this had been Tottenham Hotspur’s worst season for a generation.

However, now that Ange Posteocoglou’s side have secured a place in the Europa League final, there is a chance to make history.

One of the stars of both legs was Dominic Solanke, who scored a crucial penalty in the first game and then slotted home the opener last night.

The Englishman has come in for some criticism since joining the club, but with his goal tally starting to rise, it feels like he’s justifying his club-record fee.

Yet, even still, Daniel Levy and Co may regret selling a former academy gem who’s outscoring him and another of the club’s transfer targets.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Spurs' striker search

With the domestic season going the way it has this year, Spurs have understandably been linked with a number of exciting strikers in recent weeks, from LOSC Lille’s Jonathan David to Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Tim Kleindienst.

However, one of the more exciting and just as realistic targets the North Londoners have been linked with has been Liam Delap.

According to reports from earlier this week, the club have been considering a move for the Ipswich Town star, who has a release clause worth £30m in his contract now that the Tractor Boys have been relegated.

While that certainly isn’t cheap, it would probably represent good value in the current market, as the Lilywhites would be getting a young, Premier League-proven striker who’s homegrown and has arguably been one of the Suffolk sides’ best players.

For example, even though he’s been playing for the third-worst team in the competition, the Winchester-born marksman has managed to rack up a decent tally of 12 goals and two assists in 37 appearances, of which 34 have come in the Premier League.

Yet, as with Solanke, the former Manchester City prospect is being outscored by a forward sold by Levy and Co.

The former Spurs gem sold by Levy

So, while the player in question joined a club abroad, he’s actually faced Tottenham three times this season, coming out on the losing side each and every time.

We are, of course, talking about Troy Parrott, who is a product of Hotspur Way and even has four Spurs appearances to his name, but he currently plays his trade in the Netherlands for AZ Alkmaar.

The Irish international joined the Dutch outfit last summer for a fee of around £6.7m after a stellar 23/24 campaign on loan with Excelsior Rotterdam, in which he scored 17 goals and provided five assists in just 32 games.

This season has been just as successful for the “phenomenal” forward, as dubbed by former manager Ryan Lowe, aside from the games against the Lilywhites, that is.

For example, in 45 appearances, totalling 3411 minutes, the 23-year-old dynamo has scored 20 goals and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 136.44 minutes.

For comparison’s sake, Solanke has managed to score 15 goals and provide eight assists in 42 appearances, totalling 3221 minutes this term, which comes out to a slightly worse average of a goal involvement every 1.82 games, or every 140.04 minutes.

Now, to be clear, we are not suggesting that the Dublin-born poacher would outscore the former Bournemouth star in the Premier League, but it does raise a question about how he might have fared as Postecoglou’s second-choice striker, as Richarlison’s hardly done much when he’s played.

Ultimately, hindsight is a wonderful thing, and selling Parrott to AZ was probably the right thing to do for his career, but we can’t help wondering how he would have fared in North London this season.

Forget Porro: 9/10 star with 96% passing is looking like Spurs' best player

It was a sensational performance from the Spurs star.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 9, 2025

Glasgow Rangers will be on the lookout for a new manager this summer after Barry Ferguson’s time as the interim head coach comes to an end.

The Scottish boss came in to replace Philippe Clement on a short-term basis and has the job until the end of the 2025/26 campaign, when a decision will be made on the holder of the position on a long-term basis.

Ferguson has not done too much to further his claim to take the job on permanently after a fairly unimpressive collection of results in the Europa League and the Scottish Premiership so far.

His side failed to score in three of their four Europa League outings, eventually getting knocked out by Athletic Bilbao, and the Scottish manager has only won three of his seven top-flight games in charge, most recently drawing 2-2 with St Mirren.

The Light Blues may, therefore, have to look further afield to find their manager for next season and beyond, because Ferguson does not look up to the task of returning Rangers to their former glory on the evidence of his interim period in charge.

In fact, a fresh report on the club’s search for a new head coach suggests that the club are looking at other options to come in and replace the former Scotland international in the Ibrox dugout.

Rangers considering moves for two managerial candidates

According to TEAMtalk, the Scottish giants have whittled their shortlist of managerial candidates down to two in their search for a new tactician.

The report claims that former RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose has emerged as a contender for the job, as the Gers hierarchy are said to be thinking about him for the job.

It states that the pending takeover will put the club in a better financial situation, and that they are looking for an exciting managerial appointment to take the team in the right direction.

Rose is said to have been sounded out about the job and that he is open to taking on a new role next season, having left his position at RB Leipzig in March.

Manager Focus

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The German head coach, however, is not the only manager on the shortlist. TEAMtalk adds that the Light Blues are seriously considering a swoop for former Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard.

It states that the English manager, who left Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq in January, would be interested in a return to Glasgow to manage the team for a second time.

In fact, TEAMtalk reports that many managers see the job as an attractive prospect because of the potential to win domestic trophies, as well as the prospect of Champions League or Europa League football, which Gerrard has not had since his first spell in Scotland.

With all of this in mind, the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell, who is set to take up the position of sporting director this summer, must move to bring the Liverpool legend back to Ibrox ahead of a swoop for Rose.

Why Steven Gerrard would be better for Rangers than Marco Rose

The German boss is, certainly, a strong candidate for the job because he has achieved relative success in both Austria with RB Salzburg and Germany with RB Leipzig.

Rose won two titles in two seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga before making his way to his home country with Borussia Monchengladbach, with whom he finished fourth and eighth before joining Borussia Dortmund and finishing second in the 2021/22 campaign.

The 48-year-old boss then joined Leipzig and finished third and fourth in his first two seasons, before leaving the club in sixth place in the division this season.

This suggests that Rose, despite winning the German Cup in the 2022/23 campaign, regressed during his time at Monchengladbach and Leipzig, as their respective league positions dropped the longer he stayed.

Rangers must, now, swoop for Gerrard instead because he would be an even better appointment than the German head coach, as he is a proven quantity at Ibrox and in Scottish football.

The 4-3-3 boss joined the Light Blues in the summer of 2018 and led the club to second-placed finishes in the Premiership in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, before winning the league title in his third year in Glasgow.

Gerrard’s team, incredibly, went unbeaten in the 2020/21 campaign in the top-flight, winning 32 matches and drawing six, to beat Celtic to the title.

It was a remarkable accomplishment by the manager, whose reputation was described as “amazing” by former England defender Glen Johnson, who won the league title for Rangers for the first time in ten years.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, and Philippe Clement have all attempted to replicate the success that Gerrard had at Ibrox, but failed and were all relieved of their duties without winning the league title.

The former Liverpool midfielder’s experience and success at Ibrox are exactly why he would be an even better appointment than Rose, because he knows what it takes to win the Premiership and has proven that he can put together a team to do exactly that.

As you can see in the table above, Gerrard only lost one of his last 50 Premiership matches in charge of Rangers, leaving the club at the top of the table after 12 matches in the 2021/22 campaign when he left to join Aston Villa.

The Gers have lost seven of their 34 games in the league in the current season, which illustrates just how impressive that record across 50 outings was, and they clearly need a manager who can bring a winning mentality back to Glasgow.

Therefore, bringing Gerrard back to Ibrox in the hope that he can recapture the spark that he had in his first spell at the club could be a brilliant move for the 49ers and Thelwell to make.

The out-of-work tactician could bring the feel-good factor back to Ibrox, more so than Rose, who has no experience in Scotland or prior connection with the fanbase, and it is a move that seems to make a lot of sense on paper.

Rangers must axe £3m flop who has missed more games than Lawrence

Kevin Thelwell has a big job on his hands at Rangers

By
Ross Kilvington

Apr 27, 2025

It’s been a rough ride for the Lilywhites this year. The end of the 2024/25 campaign is just one month away, but despite the pain that Tottenham Hotspur have endured, there may yet be light at the end of the tunnel.

Ange Postecoglou made a big claim in the early stage of the season, suggesting silverware may be on the way. Well, even though Spurs are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League with just a few years of the term left to play, they have one foot in the Europa League final.

Despite his polarising time at the helm, Postecoglou may yet leave an unforgettable legacy down N17.

Postecoglou's Spurs legacy

Tottenham have fallen by the wayside this season, of that there is no doubt. However, they could yet pick themselves back up, with Ange’s attacking philosophy looking to dig its claws back in ahead of the penultimate hurdle in the Europa League.

He’s received a lot of stick for his team’s issues across the term, but Postecoglou’s reign has unfortunately been characterised by persistent injuries.

Even so, he’s managed to create a semblance of offensive quality that was vacant in the years preceding his tenure, those post-Mauricio Pochettino years when things went awry and Tottenham regressed away from their staple flair and fearlessness in the final third.

And it’s remarkable that he’s achieved this. Long gone are the days of Harry Kane, who joined Bayern Munich in an £86m deal two years ago. The Three Lions skipper became Tottenham’s record goalscorer when netting against Manchester City in February 2023, scoring 280 goals across 435 appearances.

His partnership with Dele Alli and Heung-min Son was truly a thing to behold, but Son, now skipper, is the only one still kicking around down N17.

Dele might have endured his share of off-field issues in recent years but he will always be remembered for his prodigious start to life in the Premier League, scoring 37 goals and supplying 27 assists across his first three top-flight campaigns alone.

Son, meanwhile, has long been regarded as a “world-class” forward, as has been said here by former boss Jose Mourinho, with his 127 goals in England’s top flight placing him joint 16th in the all-time scoring charts.

Dele and Kane’s brilliance felt irreplaceable, and Son’s influence and longevity in the Englishg capital too, but Postecoglou’s formula appears to have found a new generation of forwards capable of collecting the torch from their Tottenham predecessors.

Postecoglou took on quite a weight when replacing Antonio Conte, but he’s succeeded in restoring Spurs’ attacking quality, their flair. In fact, he’s even moulded the Londoners’ frontline back into top shape, with three current stars looking like the next version of the iconic trio.

Spurs' new attacking superstars

Though this has been a campaign fraught with peril, Postecoglou has still managed to keep his attacking identity somewhat intact, with the 16th-placed Premier League side still among the division’s top goalscorers.

This is largely down to Dejan Kulusevski, whose energy and creativity have been an invaluable source of respite for a sinking ship. However, he’s not done it alone; Brennan Johnson has hit 16 goal contributions in the Premier League alone, despite only starting 23 times throughout an injury-affected year.

Then there’s Dominic Solanke, Kane’s belated replacement as the focal frontman. Injuries have been the crux of Tottenham’s struggle this year, and their club-record signing has very much been a victim of the blows. Even so, he’s been a worthy presence at number nine, notching 22 goal involvements across just 34 starts.

The trio, whose combined wages total some £270k per week, have definitely staked their claim for central roles over the coming years, be that under Postecoglou’s wing or in a different manager’s system.

Having each registered over 20 goal involvements across all competitions, they’ve proven their attacking credentials, with Son and James Maddison also hitting that mark.

But Son is indeed approaching his twilight in the Premier League, and Ange and co will be well aware that Tottenham need a new attacking lifeforce, one which could revive the feeling that the South Korean provided when alongside Dele and Kane.

Of course, these were attacking superstars capable of firing their way to lofty hauls every year, actually becoming the first trio to hit 20 goals each in a campaign back in the 2016/17 year, when the Pochettino era was in its heyday from an attacking standpoint.

Now, Postecoglou has found new players capable of breaking such records, and though there’s been plenty to be desired this year, this certainly bodes well for the years ahead.

Three of Tottenham’s brightest stars of the modern age, they may well be reborn through this new batch of talent, one which might just go one further and end this ceaseless wait for silverware.

Better than Johnson: Spurs racing to sign prolific £25m "physical beast"

The sensational international would be perfect for Spurs.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 3, 2025

Will Celtic move one step closer to completing the treble?

On Saturday, the Hoops steamrollered Kilmarnock 5-1 at Parkhead, 4-0 up inside 24 minutes; Reo Hatate bagged a brace, Daizen Maeda tapped home from mere picometres out and then Cameron Carter-Vickers launched an absolute rocket in the top corner, before Anthony Ralston completed the rout in injury time.

This leaves Celtic 15 points clear of Rangers with only 15 points left to play for, and with a goal difference that is 42 superior, thereby able to mathematically secure the title at Tannadice against Dundee United next Saturday.

Before then, Brendan Rodgers’ team will take on St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden on Easter Sunday, certainly not taking the Saints lightly, having been beaten 1-0 by the Premiership’s bottom club at McDiarmid Park just a fortnight ago.

Nevertheless, on course for a sixth domestic treble in nine seasons, having also reached the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in 12 years, this Celtic side is clearly strong, but would they be even better had they been able to keep hold of an “immense” fan favourite?

Alistair Johnston: Celtic's unsung hero

Earlier this week, Celtic launched their player of the year voting, with Alistair Johnston front and centre.

Given that Maeda has scored 31 goals, and counting, across all competitions, the Canadian is unlikely to win the award, but he certainly deserves recognition for his performances.

Johnston is likely to surpass 4,000 club minutes this season, starting 43 of the Hoops’ 50 fixtures to date, including all ten in the Champions League, underlining his importance and consistency too.

Graham Falk of the Scotsman believes he has been one of Celtic’s ‘best performers’ since arriving from Club de Foot Montréal in January 2023, with Jesse Marsch, the Canadian national team manager, claiming the Scottish Premiership is “too much of a breeze” for his star full-back.

Back in November, Johnston was rewarded with a new contract, keeping him in Glasgow until 2029, after which Rodgers praised his “phenomenal work ethic and attitude”.

Ange Postecoglou’s decision to sign the defender – and sell a potential competitor – has certainly proven the correct call for the Hoops…

Celtic's right-back before Alistair Johnston

The reason Johnston arrived straight after the World Cup in Qatar was to replace the outgoing Josip Juranović.

The Croatian joined the Celts from Legia Warsaw for a reported fee of £2.5m when Ange Postecoglou first arrived in the summer of 2021, made just 53 appearances in hoops and was then sold to Union Berlin for up to £10m a mere 18 months later.

During his relatively brief time at Parkhead, Juranović quickly became a fan’s favourite, later describing his time at Celtic as “the best of his life”.

Postecoglou praised the defender for performing “really well… against world-class opponents”, and was disappointed when he ultimately chose to leave, with editor Zach Lowy claiming his World Cup performances were “immense on both sides of the ball”.

Since Juranović moved to Union Berlin just over two years ago, it’s been an up-and-down period for die Eisernen.

The club based in East Berlin were promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time ever in 2019, making it an astonishing achievement that they qualified for the Champions League just four years later, shortly after Juranović’s arrival, having been in the Europa League the year before, and the Conference League the season before that.

However, the following campaign, they only avoided relegation on the final day, thanks to Janik Haberer’s 92nd minute winner against Freiburg at Stadion An der Alten Försterei, and with the Union Berlin 13th right now, it’s been tougher for Juranović.

So, let’s assess how he compares to his Celtic replacement Johnston.

As outlined in the table, Johnston has outperformed Juranović across the last two seasons, albeit the Croatian’s time in Berlin has been blighted by long-term injuries.

Transfermarkt believe Juranović’s current market value is just £3m, having been as high as £10m when he joined Union, underlining that Celtic were right to cash in and strike while the iron is hot.

Indeed, Johnston, by contrast, is now valued at around £9m, ensuring he is three times as valuable as the man he replaced and has now perhaps comfortably surpassed in a Celtic shirt.

Celtic have hit gold on star who's worth even less than Nawrocki & Sinisalo

Celtic have hit the jackpot on this star despite him being worth less than Maik Nawrocki and Viljami Sinisalo.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 18, 2025