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Can Rangers start their Europa League campaign with a victory at Ibrox?

For those who don’t believe the Europa League to be the highest-quality competition around, well, on this occasion, they’d be right, given that Rangers sit second bottom of the Scottish Premiership, while visitors Genk are third bottom of the Jupiler Pro League.

Russell Martin is yet to oversee a league victory in five attempts, but did at least lead his side through to the League Cup semi-finals at the weekend, as the Gers defeated Hibernian 2-0 at home.

Key to that success was Nicolas Raskin, heading home the opening goal, back in the team following a two-match exile, which was both baffling and mystifying, considering he was, by some distance, the club’s best player last season.

If the Light Blues are going to make a winning start in the Europa League, Raskin will be a central figure once again, but Martin must also start his “creative” summer signing in attack.

Djeidi Gassama's start to life at Rangers

The unquestionable star of Rangers’ Champions League qualifying campaign during the summer was Djeidi Gassama.

After arriving from Sheffield Wednesday for £2.2m, the Frenchman announced himself by scoring home and away against Panathinaikos, doubling their advantage at Ibrox, before lashing home the clincher in Athens eight nights later.

In the following round, Gassama scored twice during a 3-0 demolition of Viktoria Plzeň in Glasgow which remains, by a landslide, the club’s best performance of the season.

Manager Martin said that the winger “really excites us”, labelling him a difference maker, while Nick McPheat of BBC Sport highlighted his excellent dribbling and goal-scoring statistics, concluding that he adds an extra dimension to Rangers’ attack.

So, while Gassama is yet to get off the mark in a domestic setting, a return to European competition could help to bring the best out of him, but who should start alongside him across the forward line against Genk?

Rangers' creative attacking star

Rangers signed a total of 13 new players during the summer, but the £3m paid to secure the signature of Oliver Antman could prove to be the best business of the lot.

The 25-year-old was outstanding at Go Ahead Eagles last season, scoring six goals and registering 16 assists across all competitions, helping them win the KNVB Beker, defeating AZ Alkmaar in the final on penalties at De Kuip, securing the club’s first major silverware since 1933.

The table below documents Antman’s impressive output in the Eredivisie.

Antman – 24/25 Eredivisie

Statistics

Antman

Eredivisie rank

Goals

6

38th

Assists

15

1st

Expected assists

9.1

1st

Big chances created

16

1st

Key passes

50

10th

Shot-creating actions

96

13th

Goal-creating actions

19

4th

Progressive carries

96

10th

Touches in the box

125

11th

Stats via Sofascore and FBref

As the table notes, Antman ranked first for assists, expected assists and big chances created in the Eredivisie last season, impressively doing so for the team that finished seventh in one of the most unbalanced leagues in Europe.

Well, just 24 hours after he arrived, Rangers supporters got a taste of what was to come, with Antman providing this assist, part of a free-flowing team goal, for Gassama during the aforementioned 3-0 annihilation of Viktoria Plzeň.

The Finnish international actually registered two assists on debut in that game, but is yet to notch either a goal nor an assist subsequently, left on the bench for all three matches in September so far, with Martin favouring Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore.

Nevertheless, his quality is unquestionable, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelling Antman a “creative winger”, while his numbers at Go Ahead Eagles, as well as at international level, scoring seven goals for Finland to date, speak for themselves.

Thus, we have already seen Gassama and Antman link up well on the European stage this season so, alongside new striker Bojan Miovski, that is surely Rangers’ best front three, one that is capable of defeating a struggling Genk on Thursday.

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Acknowledging the hurt their fans must be feeling, Hussey suggested this was the time “where you really find out who are your true supporters”

Deivarayan Muthu11-Apr-20252:05

Is this the worst CSK have ever looked in the IPL?

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are hurting after losing five games in a row for the first time in an IPL season, but they are “not putting the white flag up” just yet. That was batting coach Mike Hussey’s reaction soon after CSK were blown away by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their IPL 2025 match at Chepauk on Friday.”Well, this one hurts a lot. I mean, it really does,” Hussey said at his post-match press conference. “The players are hurting, and the support staff are hurting. And, as I said earlier, the fans, I’m sure, are hurting with this one as well. This is a time where you really find out who are your true supporters.”We’re certainly not putting the white flag up just yet. You only have to get in to scrape into that fourth [and final playoffs] place. And in a big, long tournament like the IPL, it is about momentum. Now, certainly the momentum is not with us at the moment whatsoever. We haven’t been playing good cricket consistently. We definitely acknowledge that, put our hands up, and say that is a fact at the moment. But that’s not to say things can’t turn around and can’t turn around quickly.”Related

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Before Friday, CSK had never lost three successive games in Chennai in an IPL season, but Hussey has backed their leaders to navigate the team through the unfamiliar terrain.”I just know Stephen Fleming, obviously, he is a great coach,” Hussey said. “And MS Dhoni… he’s been a great captain for a long time as well. Ruturaj [Gaikwad] is still going to be around the team. I think they’ll really try and bring this team as tight and as close together.”They will make sure there’s no fractures, make sure we’re still sticking tight because I’m sure we’re going to cop plenty of criticism from the outside and, look, we deserve it. We haven’t performed as well as we would have liked so far in the tournament. But from an inside, internal side of things, we’ve got to stick really tight.”CSK have cycled through 18 players this season, including all their overseas players, but are still searching for a winning combination. On Friday, they hit a new low by struggling to 103 for 9 in 20 overs, their lowest IPL total at Chepauk. Even before KKR began their chase, parts of the stadium began to empty out. Hussey hoped CSK would be able to change the mood of the fans and give them some joy.”The fans we have for the Chennai Super Kings have been absolutely phenomenal ever since day one, really,” Hussey said. “We hope they continue to keep turning out and supporting us. And I know the guys will be really hurting from this and will want to turn it around for the fans as much as for the dressing room and for each other as well, but more for the fans. Because they have stuck tight with us for a lot of the good times. And we hope they stick with us now when things haven’t quite gone to plan just yet.””The guys will be really hurting from this and will want to turn it around for the fans as much as for the dressing room and for each other”•Associated Press

Hussey disagreed with the suggestion that some of CSK’s Indian players were past their prime, and hoped to bring the best out of them in the upcoming games. He pointed out that a number of players had previously enjoyed late-career T20 revivals at CSK.”I don’t agree with that,” he said. “You know, we’ve had players in the twilight of their career come and play at CSK in the past. I think of Shane Watson. I think of Ajinkya Rahane. And they’ve performed really well for CSK. So I still think that the players that we’ve got still have some good cricket in front of them and can still offer us a lot. So, I don’t necessarily agree that, you know, they’re beyond their best. I still think we can find their best and see some great performances from them.”Despite considerably low output from Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda, CSK have preferred them over IPL rookies such as Delhi’s Vansh Bedi and Tamil Nadu’s C Andre Siddarth. While Hussey acknowledged that CSK had some talented youngsters on the bench, he said the team management wouldn’t fast-track them into the team until they were ready for the challenge.”With regards to blooding youngsters, we want to pick guys when they’re ready to perform as well,” Hussey said. “We’ve got some very good players that are waiting for their chance. No question about that. But sometimes I think when teams give up the ghost and think, ‘oh well, we can’t win the tournament anymore; well, we’ll just try the youngsters now’. We’re still here to try and progress in the tournament as far as we can.”

Ipswich Town have had a torrid start to life in the Championship following last season’s Premier League relegation. Kieran McKenna’s side currently sit 18th in the Championship and were knocked out of the first round of the League Cup following the loss of a number of star players.

Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap both secured their Premier League futures with moves to Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, respectively. So far this window, Ipswich have actually made a profit of over £50 million.

They have brought in some players such as Kasey McAteer and Azor Matusiwa on permanent deals, Ashley Young on a free transfer and Chuba Akpom on loan. However, these signings are yet to bring McKenna’s side a win.

While there is still time left in the transfer window, Ipswich are pushing to bring in another signing to help reinforce them defensively.

Ipswich close to finalising Furlong

Ipswich Town are close to signing a deal with West Bromwich Albion for Darnell Furlong. The deal for the defender will initially cost the Tractor Boys £3.5 million.

The agreement also includes a unique clause that means Ipswich will be required to pay West Brom a further £500,000 if they secure promotion. However, given their start to the season, this clause currently looks unlikely to be achieved. West Brom are set to make an impressive profit on Furlong as he only cost them just over £1.4 million when he joined from QPR back in 2019.

Ipswich have recently worked with Furlongs agency, New Era Global Sports Management Limited, as they represent Corbin Mthunzi, who joined their academy from Brighton in April.

"One of the best full-backs of the Championship"

With Furlong, Ipswich will have a capable defender on their hands who ranked highly among his peers in the second tier last season. In the 2024/25 campaign, Furlong ranked in the top 3% of players for both aerial duels and ground duels won.

A unique area in which Furlong shines is winning fouls. Furlong won 72 free kicks last season, putting him in the top 3% of similar players. These fouls were often won in his own defensive third and are the result of his nous when dealing with pressing opposition players.

These achievements are part of the reason that Furlong has left positive impressions on coaches he’s worked with in the past. Valencia boss Carlos Corberen, who managed Furlong for two years as West Brom boss, was full of praise for the full-back when he was his manager:

Based on these defensive stats and his former manager’s praise for him, Ipswich might be about to recruit the catalyst that can kick-start their season and get them climbing up the table.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Newcastle United have made fresh contact with a club over the signing of a new striker this summer.

Newcastle see Wissa bid rejected

The Magpies remain adamant that Alexander Isak is going nowhere before the end of the transfer window, but that hasn’t stopped them from pursuing others strikers, following the exit of Callum Wilson.

Wissa has been one of Newcastle’s leading transfer targets in recent months, but earlier this week, they saw a £35m bid for the 28-year-old rejected by Brentford, with a deal potentially rising to £40m.

The west Londoners are holding out for nearer £60m for their striker, not wanting to lose him on the cheap after selling Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United, but it remains to be seen if the Magpies will be willing to pay that much for him.

Should Wissa become unattainable for Newcastle, it is vital that alternatives are looked at, especially as Isak still isn’t certain to stay at the club. Now, a promising update has dropped regarding another potential signing.

Newcastle make contact to sign Nicolas Jackson

Writing on X, Romano claimed that Newcastle have made fresh efforts to sign Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson this summer, making a call to the Blues in the past few days.

Jackson isn’t necessarily the Premier League’s most ruthless attacking player, but he would have plenty to offer Newcastle, and more importantly, unlike Brentford, Chelsea are planning to sell the player.

Chelsea

81

30

12

Villarreal

48

13

6

Villarreal B

27

7

8

CD Mirandes

17

1

1

In fact, former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch believes he is an underrated player who merits more “respect” than he is given currently.

“I think he has been unbelievable. I looked at the stats from last year, and if you take penalties out of it, he’s ahead of Mo Salah. There’s only [Erling] Haaland that’s above him. So many technical players with ability, and that have scored a lot of goals – he’s right up there [with them]. He probably needs a little bit more respect.”

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At 24, Jackson is a younger alternative to Wissa, giving him more time to improve further, and while only one of them is needed if Isak stays, bringing in both could be ideal if the Swede ends up moving to Liverpool late in the window.

Glasgow Rangers dropped points for the second time in as many Scottish Premiership matches with a 1-1 draw at Ibrox against Dundee on Saturday.

The Light Blues were held to a 1-1 draw by Motherwell on the opening day of the league campaign, and now have two points to show after two games and are already four points off the top of the table.

Russell Martin will not be happy with the way his team have started the season, and may want more signings to bolster his squad before the end of the summer transfer window to ensure that they are in the best place to kick on and get more points on the board.

Rangers closing in on new defender

The Light Blues are putting plenty of work in behind the scenes to add to the manager’s options across the park, and are reportedly on course to bring in a new defender.

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According to Rangers Review, as relayed by IbroxNews, the Scottish giants are closing in on a deal to sign Real Betis centre-back Nobel Mendy for a fee of £2m.

The report claims that the 20-year-old defender, who typically plays on the left side of the defence, has his heart set on a move to Ibrox, which now appears to be coming to fruition.

It adds that the left-footed defender is poised to put pen to paper on a four-year contract at Ibrox, with an option to extend by a further year, and that his arrival will mean that Ben Davies, Clinton Nsiala, and Leon King are all free to move on.

Why Mendy could be a good signing for Rangers

The Real Betis youngster, who spent most of last season with the B team, could be a shrewd addition to the squad as a talented young player who needs regular game time, much like when the club plucked Mikel Arteta away from Barcelona B.

Back in 2002, the Light Blues signed the Spanish midfielder from Barcelona B after he failed to make a single first-team appearance for the Catalan giants, although he did have two loan spells at PSG.

Arteta failed to make the breakthrough in the first-team in Spain, but then went on to score 14 goals in 65 games for Rangers. He also won the domestic treble in his first year at the club, per Transfermarkt.

This shows that the Spaniard, who moved to Real Sociedad in 2004 before going on to play for Everton and Arsenal most notably, was a big success with what he achieved at Ibrox despite arriving as a player from a B team in Spain.

Appearances

2

13

Starts

1

12

Pass accuracy

87%

85%

Ball recoveries per game

3.5

7.9

Clearances per game

4.5

2.0

Duel success rate

100%

41%

As you can see in the table above, Mendy spent the majority of last season with Real Betis B, starting just one match in LaLiga, which shows that he did not quite make the grade there.

His failure to make a breakthrough as a regular starter for Real Betis does not mean that he is a bad player, though, as evidenced by the success that Arteta had at Ibrox after his move from Barcelona B.

Writer and analyst Kai Watson described Mendy as a “powerful” player with “athletic” qualities, similar to Nasser Djiga, which makes it seem like the Gers are signing a mobile and combative young central defender.

However, it is hard to make predictions on how he will perform for the Gers because, as aforementioned, the majority of his performances have come at B team level, and it remains to be seen how he will adapt to senior football at Ibrox.

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The Light Blues can, though, look to the masterclass that they once played by snapping Arteta up when he failed to make the grade in LaLiga, and know that they may have found their next version of the current Arsenal manager in Mendy, who is another young talent with the potential to develop and enjoy success in Glasgow.

England opener hoping to build on ODI form after Antigua half-century

Cameron Ponsonby04-Nov-2024Phil Salt will keep wicket for England’s T20I series against the West Indies, despite the return of Jos Buttler to the team.White-ball captain Buttler has kept in 106 of his past 108 T20 internationals, fielding only in the two matches that took place in Trinidad during England’s previous tour of the Caribbean in December 2023.”It’s not something I’ve done a lot for England recently,” Salt said in Barbados ahead of the third ODI. “But I enjoy keeping. I feel like that’s where I offer most to the side.”Salt has kept in 13 of his 59 games for England across formats and has been given the gloves in this current ODI series ahead of Jordan Cox, who will fill in for Test keeper Jamie Smith for the upcoming series in New Zealand.Related

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Buttler has been out for several months with a calf strain. Had he been fit to play the T20 series against Australia in September, Salt would have kept wicket with Buttler keen to experiment with captaining from different positions on the field.At the time, Buttler said: “I was going to give up the gloves and commit to being at mid-off and see how that felt. If it will help me with my captaincy it is something I am open to.”Buttler arrived in the Caribbean on Sunday and trained at Kensington Oval on Monday. He is not available for selection for the deciding ODI on Wednesday and will resume captaincy duties ahead of the five-match T20I series that starts on Saturday, making his first appearance since England’s defeat in the T20 World Cup semi-final in June. Essex wicketkeeper-batter Michael Pepper, originally only selected for the ODI squad, has been added to the T20 squad and will remain with the group for the rest of the tour.Of whether his move to keep is a long-term decision, Salt said: “We’ve not had that chat about anything going forward. I’m just glad to be doing it at the moment.”Salt made scores of 18 and 59 in the first two ODIs, with his half-century helping to set up England’s chase of 329 to tie the series in the second Antigua game.After England had been bowled out for 209 in the first match, captain Liam Livingstone had criticised the performance, saying that the team needed to “bat smarter”.Salt made his first ODI half-century in over a year in Antigua•Getty ImagesWhereas Salt has found his feet in T20 cricket, his ODI returns haven’t been as consistent. In his last ten ODIs, he averages 24.30 with only one half-century. A habit of being dismissed in the powerplay limited his output – remarkably, his innings in Antigua on Saturday was the first time he had batted past the tenth over since June 2022.”When anybody’s at their best they’re aggressive and smart,” he said. “They go hand in hand – they have to if you’re going to have any success in white-ball cricket.”I know I could have got more runs. I think for myself it’s how do I drop the strike rate and pump the average… prolonging my innings and extending partnerships. Those are two of the most important things in 50-over cricket.”The ODI series against Australia in September was Salt’s first experience of 50-over cricket since the tour of the Caribbean in December last year. With the Hundred being played at the same time as the One-Day Cup during the English summer, many of England’s new white-ball generation have little List A experience, with Salt explaining the difficulty of re-adapting to the tempo required.”I don’t think there’s many players in this team that you could go through and go ‘oh they’re doing a great job right now’. That’s the reality of it because we’ve not played a lot of 50-over cricket.”I’d love something like a domestic 50-over competition. I’d love the opportunity to play in that so you can get the rhythm and it’s not always stop-start. But that’s what we’ve got. As a player you’ve got to adapt.”

India
Despite the loss in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, India stay in a healthy position at the top of the table. For them to get enough points to seal their place in the WTC final regardless of other results, they need at least four wins and one draw (52 points) in their remaining seven Tests, which will give them 65.79 percentage points. South Africa can get up to 69.44 if they win each of their remaining six Tests, but Australia can only reach 62.28 with four wins and one draw (assuming they lose two to India and draw one, and win the other four Tests).If India get fewer than 52 points, then there is a possibility of them not being in the top two. For instance, if they win four Tests (48 points, 64.04%), then it’s possible for Australia and South Africa to overtake them. Sri Lanka can finish with more than 67% too, but wins for them will be at the expense of points for both Australia and South Africa. That will work in India’s favour as Australia and South Africa could then both finish below India. New Zealand can finish as high as 64.29% if they win each of their five remaining Tests.Australia
Currently in second place at 62.5%, Australia can finish on a maximum of 76.32 if they win each of their remaining seven Tests. The two teams against whom they play their remaining series, India and Sri Lanka, are also strong contenders for the final, so wins against them will doubly help Australia’s cause. Five wins will lift their percentage to 65.79, but India and South Africa can still go past them. Things will be clearer by the time they start the series against India, though, as the visitors would have finished their three home Tests against New Zealand.South Africa
South Africa’s victory against Bangladesh in the Mirpur Test has kept them in the race for a top-two finish. If they win each of their five remaining Tests they will finish with 69.44%, which will surely be enough for qualification, as only one out of India or Australia can go past that number. Four wins and a draw will leave them with 63.89, which will still keep them in contention, while four wins and a defeat will lower the percentage marginally to 61.11, which will still give them a chance if other results go their way. The second Test against Bangladesh, ahead of four home Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan later this year, is shaping up as a crucial fixture.Sri Lanka
With a full 24 points gained from their last two Tests, Sri Lanka have made a strong push towards a top-two finish in this WTC cycle. Their four remaining Tests are against two opponents who are also contenders for the final. If they win each of those matches and take home 48 more points (keep in mind over-rate deductions are always a threat), they will finish on 69.23% and assure themselves of a place in the final regardless of other results. If they lose one and win three they will end up at 61.54, which will still leave them with a chance of qualifying, depending on other results.Australia would have a clearer picture of qualification ahead of the home Tests against India•AFP/Getty Images

New Zealand
New Zealand can still finish with a percentage as high as 64.29 if they win all five remaining Tests, but that remains a tough ask despite their victory in the first Test against India in Bengaluru. Even if they win three of those five Tests and lose two, they will finish at only 50%.England
After winning and losing their first two Tests in Pakistan, England can no longer finish with more than 60 percentage points. For them to qualify with that score, they will need several other results to work in their favour.Bangladesh
The two defeats in India and now one at home to South Africa have hurt Bangladesh badly – from 45.83% they have dropped to 30.56. Even if they win each of their three remaining Tests, it is unlikely to be enough for a place in the top two.Pakistan
Pakistan’s win against England in Multan has pushed their percentage points above 20, but they can’t get above 60 even if they win all their remaining matches in this cycle.West Indies
West Indies have already played four series and have only scored 20 points out of 108. Even if they win their last four Tests, they can only finish on 43.59%.

Glasgow Rangers continued their preparations for the 2025/26 campaign with a behind-closed-doors friendly clash at St. George’s Park on Saturday.

The Light Blues were held to a 1-1 draw, as Danilo scored the only goal for the Ibrox side.

There is still plenty of work left to be done before Rangers face their Champions League qualifiers later this month, not least on the transfer front.

Sheffield Wednesday winger Djeidi Gassama looks set to be the next player through the door. When asked about the forward’s arrival, Russell Martin said: “We’re waiting on their end to be sorted but we fully expect Gass to be our player hopefully fairly, very, very soon. We need to try and strengthen as many areas as possible.”

The 21-year-old attacker, who predominantly plays on the left flank, appears to be on the verge of joining the likes of Thelo Aasgaard, Nasser Djiga, Joe Rothwell, Emmanuel Fernandez, Max Aarons, and Lyall Cameron at Ibrox.

What Djeidi Gassama could bring to Rangers

Gassama is far from the finished article and supporters should not expect him to immediately be an incredible talent who is going to produce 20 goals and assists in his first season.

At the age of 21, he has plenty left to learn and plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve, which means that the winger will be a long-term signing for the Gers on a permanent deal from the Owls.

However, that does not mean that Gassama will not be a useful player for Martin to call upon at Ibrox next season, because he produced a decent amount of quality in the final third in the Championship last season.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the French dynamo scored seven goals and provided one assist in 43 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday, who were not competing for promotion from the division.

xG

5.92

Top 16%

Goals

7

Top 14%

Shots on target

23

Top 14%

Chances created

38

Top 23%

xA

2.54

Top 32%

Assists

1

Bottom 27%

Touches in the opposition box

153

Top 6%

As you can see in the table above, he ranked well among his positional peers as a goalscorer and was unfortunate to only have one assist, as his teammates let him down with wasteful finishing.

These statistics suggest that he could be an exciting player for supporters to watch as a winger who constantly gets himself into high-quality goalscoring positions by taking plenty of touches in the opposition’s box.

Gassama will not be the only winger to arrive at Ibrox this summer, though, and the Light Blues are reportedly eyeing a forward who is even better than the Owls sensation.

Rangers battling to sign Premier League forward

According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are one of the teams eyeing up a deal to sign Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers have joined the race to land the left-footed forward, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Sheffield United.

Transfer Focus

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It states that Wolves are looking to reinvest some of the cash that they brought in from the sale of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United, and they have identified the Eagles youngster as a target.

The Scottish Sun reveals that Rangers, who are now battling the Old Gold for the winger, would like to bring the 22-year-old star to Ibrox on a season-long loan, as they are not prepared to pay the £10m asking price for a permanent move.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not Wolves will stump up the £10m required to sign Rak-Sakyi, which means that the Gers are still in the race at this moment in time.

Why Rak-Sakyi is even better than Gassama

The English forward would be an even better signing for Rangers next season than Gassama with the immediate future in mind, as he could hit the ground running as a star for the Light Blues in the coming months.

Rak-Sakyi, who was hailed as “wonderful” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, only started 22 games in the Championship for Sheffield United last term, but racked up seven goals, 3.48 xA, and two assists for the promotion-chasing Blades.

Despite his limited game time, the right-sided winger showed that he can make a big impact in front of goal, which suggests that he could thrive at Ibrox as a regular starter under Martin if he arrives in Glasgow this summer.

The £10m-rated star, who delivered 15 goals and nine assists for Charlton in the 2022/23 campaign, could offer more in the final third than Gassama at the start of next season, as he heavily outperformed the Sheffield Wednesday man in the Championship when on the pitch.

xG

0.18

0.32

Goals

0.21

0.36

xA

0.08

0.18

Assists

0.03

0.10

Chances created

1.14

1.51

Dribbles completed

1.99

2.44

Touches in the opposition box

4.60

7.69

As you can see in the table above, Rak-Sakyi outperformed the French whiz as a scorer, a creator, and as a dribbler in the second tier of English football, in terms of what he offered per 90.

These statistics suggest that the left-footed star is more likely to offer consistent quality in front of goal as a scorer and a creator of goals for Rangers if given regular game time than Gassama is next season, given their respective performances at the same level last term.

Therefore, Rak-Sakyi could be a terrific signing for Rangers to immediately add goals and assists to the team on the right flank ahead of the Champions League qualifiers later this month.

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It is now down to the Gers, though, to convince Palace to send the winger to Ibrox on loan for the season, despite interest from Wolves in a permanent deal for the young attacker.

Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin has a massive task ahead of him, there is no doubt.

His first few interviews since being unveiled as the new Ibrox boss have been positive, and it is clear the former Southampton manager has a distinct style of play.

This is something that the club have lacked under previous managers, including Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Philippe Clement. Those two set up teams well in Europe, but domestically was a different story.

It may well be the opposite in Martin’s case. But given how poor the Gers have been in the Premiership since winning the title in 2021, this could well be a sacrifice many of the supporters are willing to make.

Martin will need every department to click at the start of next season, as a good start is imperative.

He needs his defence to be solid and reliable. A midfield full of players simultaneously able to win the ball back and move it forwards into the final third, and a front three able to get the better of a low block and take their chances.

In that regard, having someone of Alfredo Morelos’ ability would work wonders next season, especially as he would shine in Martin’s system.

Alfredo Morelos’ Rangers statistics

The Colombian talisman was a scourge for defenders, both domestically and in Europe, across his five years at Ibrox.

Between 2018 and 2023, he played 269 matches for the Light Blues, scoring an impressive tally of 124 goals for the club. Add in another 57 assists, and it is clear that Morelos was not only a clinical finisher, but he was also able to link play with those alongside and behind him.

Not since he departed have Rangers been able to call on a player with these abilities. Sure, Cyriel Dessers may have scored 51 times in just over 100 games, but the Nigerian striker often takes two or three chances to get on the scoresheet.

Morelos refined his game after a productive opening few seasons at Ibrox. Indeed, when the club won the domestic title during 2020/21, Morelos ‘only’ scored 11 league goals.

He played slightly deeper than in previous seasons, linking up with the likes of Ianis Hagi, Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent in order to create chances for them too.

Danilo has shown glimpses of his deep-lying abilities when given a chance, but the Brazilian hasn’t enjoyed a consistent run in the team to make a proper difference.

In Morelos, Rangers had a striker who established himself as a cult icon during his spell at Ibrox.

If Martin wishes to get the fans onside quickly, signing a player who is similar in style and stature to Morelos might be a good start.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2022/23

45

12

7

2021/22

42

18

8

2020/21

44

17

13

2019/20

47

29

9

2018/19

48

30

12

2017/18

43

18

8

He could well have some money to spend this summer thanks to the 49ers investment. This should allow the new manager to bring in several transfer targets, which will bolster the squad.

Could his first signing be a young striker who is ready to take the next step in his career?

Rangers search for a new striker

While Dessers, Danilo and Hamza Igamane are all options for Martin, it is likely one is sold this summer.

Now, according to the Daily Record, Rangers have made Maccabi Tel Aviv centre-forward Dor Turgeman their number one target this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

The youngster could be available for a fee in the region of £4m, and reports from Israel claim that the Glasgow side have already opened talks with the player regarding a move to Scotland.

Getting deals done over the line quickly will be key for Martin, especially as the Gers face a Champions League qualifier in six weeks.

Could Turgeman be a dream first signing? He certainly has all the tools required to succeed in Europe.

Why Rangers must sign Dor Turgeman

Last season, the highest scorer for the club was Dessers with 29 goals across all competitions. The next best tally from a striker was 16 by Igamane. While Danilo could only muster six goals through another injury-ravaged campaign.

Adding in another player who has the ability to score 20 or more goals next season is vital, especially if Martin wishes to challenge for the league title.

On that note, Turgeman would be an ideal signing this summer. The 2024/25 campaign was arguably his breakout for the Israeli side. Across 44 matches, the 21-year-old netted 20 goals and grabbed six assists for his club side.

He was praised by analyst Kai Watson as far back as February 2024, who said: “He’s played mostly as a striker but can definitely do a job on the wing. He’s quick, agile and has brilliant balance when driving with the ball.

“A very exciting player to watch and one that would have fans off of their seats.”

Last season certainly proved exactly what he can do and now is the chance for him to make a move and perform at a club like Rangers.

The club needs players who are willing to fight for every ball and win every duel. His manager, Zarko Lazetić, claimed that Turgeman was a “beast on the pitch”, and this sort of profile fits in with Martin’s style.

Like Morelos, the Israeli striker is capable of dropping deeper and generating chances for his team. Indeed, in the top flight last term, Turgeman created ten big chances for Maccabi, while he also recorded three assists and averaged 0.7 key passes per game.

For a fee of £4m, it is evident that Rangers would be getting a striker who closely resembles Morelos, perhaps without the disciplinary issues.

By selling Dessers in the coming weeks, Martin will be able to clear room for the youngster, who will be hoping to make his mark on Scottish football.

If the new owners and manager are serious about taking Rangers back to the summit of Scottish football, signing Turgeman should be a priority. That’s a certainty.

Rangers' top 15 goalscorers of all time

Rangers have had plenty of natural goalscorers at Ibrox over the last 150 years.

ByRoss Kilvington Dec 26, 2024

Many thought Liverpool would fall by the wayside when Jurgen Klopp left at the end of the 2023/24 season, but this football club has an uncanny ability to remain with its head above the water.

Indeed, Arne Slot defied expectation when arriving and leading the Reds straight to the Premier League title, and has now been rewarded by FSG, who are spending freely in the transfer market.

Although Florian Wirtz will add a fresh and world-class dimension to Slot’s squad, there’s still the sense that more quality and prolificness could be added.

Liverpool’s Frontline in 24/25 (all comps)

Player

Apps

Goals

Assists

Mohamed Salah

52

34

23

Luis Diaz

50

17

8

Cody Gakpo

49

18

7

Diogo Jota

37

9

4

Darwin Nunez

47

7

7

Federico Chiesa

14

2

2

Data via Transfermarkt

Although with Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong signed to bolster the wide defensive positions, the intensity toward securing new stars is set to simmer down.

But Liverpool remain very much primed to pounce if the right opportunity emerges.

Liverpool's wider transfer plans

Sporting director Richard Hughes cut a contentious figure after his first summer transfer window at Liverpool, having only added Federico Chiesa to the newly arrived Slot’s squad.

But he’s since proven his meticulous, calculated nature, having dotted all the i’s and crossed the t’s ahead of the window and since pounced on top targets, reeling them in.

Any further activity will depend on outgoings, reports The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe. This makes sense, for the Reds have forked out more than £200m already this summer.

Darwin Nunez’s expected transfer to Serie A champions Napoli should see a new number nine acquired, while rumours of a new winger hinge on Luis Diaz’s future, with Barcelona and Saudi Arabian suitors interested.

He’s not Sadio Mane, but the Colombian has been immense in a Liverpool shirt, posting 41 goals and 23 assists across 141 appearances in total.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse Liverpool line up new winger

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are interested in signing Belgian winger Malick Fofana and have been boosted in their bid now that Lyon have been relegated from Ligue 1.

However, Newcastle United have also been named as suitors, and have actually established contacts with the 20-year-old’s entourage.

Earlier this year, the player’s former representatives told Africa Foot that playing in the Premier League, namely at Liverpool, would be his “dream”, and it’s something that Hughes and Co can now bring to fruition.

Chelsea are also keen, though appear to be prioritising a deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens.

This could leave Liverpool with a free shot to sign one of Europe’s most exciting prospects, who is valued at £43m, with Lyon’s fate also suggesting his price tag could be whittled down.

Why Liverpool should sign Fofana

Hailed for his “electric” skills by content creator Dev Bajwa, Fofana is bound to move clubs this summer, but where to remains to be seen.

He’s young and raw, but he’s also naturally “explosive”, as has been said by analyst Ben Mattinson, with his sharp bursts of pace something that could pay dividends for Slot’s Liverpool team, especially when the time comes to replace Diaz.

Fofana is Belgian but he is of Guinean descent, and for this reason he has expressed Mane (and Mohamed Salah) as being one of his footballing idols. For this reason, the left winger could prove to be Slot’s own version of Mane, whose career on Merseyside served to guide Anfield back to the forefront of domestic and continental football.

Part of Klopp’s iconic front three at Liverpool, Mane won the whole gamut after signing from Southampton for £34m in 2016, with the German manager declaring him a “world-class” forward and an absolute “machine”, his work rate and tenacity leaving an indelible mark on the game.

Fofana hasn’t reached that point in his career yet, but has the potential to do exactly that, already performing with a hunger for goal and fleet-footed style that is somewhat reminiscent of the Senegalese star.

As per FBref, Fofana ranked among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last year for non-penalty goals scored and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90, emphasising that very point.

So then, you can see how Mane has inspired Fofana’s early-career development, especially as elements of his defensive work rate can be found in the one-cap Belgium international’s skill set too, for he averaged 1.1 tackles + interceptions in Ligue 1 last year, as per Sofascore, also finishing the term having won 54% of his ground battles.

Slot is not Klopp, but then Fofana is not Mane either, and the Dutch tactician could fashion his own version of the former Liverpool superstar, who certainly has stylistic similarities to the Al Nassr forward, now 33.

Even if Liverpool don’t part ways with Diaz, 28, this summer, it might be worth snapping Fofana up as Lyon plummet into the second tier of French football. After all, there are no guarantees that a new out-and-out frontman will be signed, and Diaz operated so admirably in a false nine role across the 2024/25 campaign.

Given that the Colombian could potentially reprise said role, it might be worth adding some competition for Cody Gakpo to jockey with on the left flank.

In any case, given the player’s desire to move to Merseyside and indeed his Mane-esque qualities rising to the fore, it would be a smart move indeed to ward away Premier League competition and snap him up quickly.

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