All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur’s business in the transfer market over the last couple of years has been seriously impressive, helping the club end the 17-year wait for any form of silverware.

Attention has been turned to investing in younger talents, buying them at bargain prices and allowing them to develop and improve to reach their full potential in North London.

The likes of Pape Sarr and Lucas Bergvall are just two examples, with the pair featuring in a combined tally of 100 outings between them despite their tender ages.

Both have shown the rewards their current recruitment focus could yield if done correctly, with Thomas Frank needing to continue such a trend ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

However, they’ve also spent big in the past, as seen by Mohammed Kudus’ £55m transfer from West Ham United this window, with other big-money additions also being lined up.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for Morgan Gibbs-White

Two weeks ago, Spurs triggered the £60m release clause in Morgan Gibbs-White’s contract at Nottingham Forest, with a deal expected to progress after such a move.

However, that switch swiftly ground to a halt after Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis raised an issue with the transfer, claiming that the Lilywhites made an illegal approach for his signature.

No one even knew that the England international had an option in his current deal, entering talks with the player and his agent without the approval of his current employers.

It had subsequently been reported that the 25-year-old remained keen on a move to North London this summer, although the latest developments appear to suggest otherwise.

Having travelled with the Forest squad on their pre-season tour of Portugal, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man has since quashed any speculation after penning a new deal with the Tricky Trees.

The playmaker has committed his future to City Ground until 2028, with journalist Fabrizio Romano outlining that a move to Spurs is now “off”.

The Spurs player who’s already worth more than Gibbs-White

With Gibbs-White undoubtedly one of the hierarchy’s main targets this summer, other options will likely be drawn up as a result of his decision to stay put in Nottingham.

However, trust should be placed in the recruitment team to make the right call, something which they’ve done as seen by their recent success rate in the market.

As previously mentioned, with the likes of Bergvall and Sarr, the club have got it right in previous times, just like they have with winger Brennan Johnson, who’s excelled at the club in recent months.

The Welsh international arrived in a £47.5m deal from Forest back in the summer of 2023, with such a price tag appearing a huge chunk given he’d only had one prior year of top-flight experience.

However, a couple of years on from his transfer, it appears to be a shrewd piece of business, racking up a total of 23 goals within his 85 appearances for the club.

18 of which came in the most recent campaign, subsequently proving all of his doubters wrong after he was forced to deactivate his social media accounts following abuse from supporters for his lack of impact.

The 24-year-old is also responsible for one of the biggest moments in the club’s recent history, scoring the winner in the Europa League final – topping off a dream campaign for the youngster.

As a result of his rise in the last few months, Johnson, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by international teammate Aaron Ramsey, is now valued at a staggering €75m (£66m) by CIES Football Observatory.

His subsequent value is higher than that of Gibbs-White, who’s deemed to be worth £60m due to his release clause, showcasing the phenomenal rise he’s endured during his time at the Lilywhites.

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

Dominic Solanke

£65m

Bournemouth

2024

Tanguy Ndombele

£62.8m

Lyon

2019

Richarlison

£60m

Everton

2022

Mohammed Kudus

£55m

West Ham

2025

Brennan Johnson

£47.5m

Nottingham Forest

2023

Micky van de Ven

£43m

Wolfsburg

2023

Cristian Romero

£42.5m

Atalanta

2021

Davinson Sanchez

£42m

Ajax

2017

If he can continue his incredible form into the 2025/26 campaign, he will be a key player in Frank’s quest to lead the side up the Premier League table.

The prospect of Johnson linking up with Gibbs-White once again after their time at the City Ground was certainly an exciting one, although the former teammates will remain foes against next season.

Bigger talent than Gibbs-White: Spurs open first talks to sign £70m CM

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making a move for another young Premier League talent this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 24, 2025

It’s been an interesting transfer window for West Ham United so far this summer.

The club have not gone out and splashed loads of cash for Graham Potter, but they’ve made a few clever additions to the team that could really help them climb the Premier League table next year.

For example, Jean-Clair Todibo and Kyle Walker-Peters should seriously improve the defensive unit, and El Hadji Malick Diouf enjoyed a stellar campaign with Slavia Prague last season.

Moreover, while Callum Wilson isn’t the most exciting of transfers, it is another smart one, and the club could get plenty out of him if they sign another Englishman they’ve already been linked with this summer.

Why Callum Wilson is a smart signing

Now, as we’ve already said, there is no denying the fact that at the moment, Wilson is most certainly not an exciting signing, and is unlikely one that’s going to shift too many shirts.

Transfer Focus

However, it does feel like a smart move, especially as he’s joined for free, is set to be earning a heavily incentivised salary – which is wise given his injury record – and has only agreed to a year, so if things do go wrong, he won’t be a long-term drain on resources.

With that said, while the financial side of things appears to be well-thought-out, there is plenty of upside in the 33-year-old’s actual ability as well, as we’ve seen over the years that a fit Wilson can be a menace for defenders and a reasonably reliable scorer of goals.

For example, in the 7647 minutes he played for Newcastle United, the former Bournemouth ace managed to score 49 goals and provide 11 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 127.45 minutes, which is not a bad record at all.

Moreover, in 244 minutes for England, he’s scored two goals and provided one assist, which works out to an average of a goal involvement every 81.33 minutes, which, again, is probably better than most would’ve expected.

In all, Wilson isn’t going to be leading the line for West Ham next season, but he could be a useful option off the bench, and if the club want to get the most out of him, they should go ahead and sign another player they’ve been linked with this summer: Harvey Elliott.

Why West Ham should sign Harvey Elliott

It looks more and more likely that Elliott will be leaving Liverpool this summer, and while there are several clubs out for his signaure, some better placed than West Ham, the Irons have already been linked with him earlier this summer, and while it could cost as much as £50m, they should be looking to bring him in.

There are two key reasons why Potter and Co should be all over the Englishman, and that is the fact that he looks like someone who could develop into a star player, but he’s also someone who’s already good enough to make a difference.

Moreover, he could help the manager get more out of Wilson from the word go next season.

For example, despite being just 21 years old for most of last season, and being relegated to a bench role for most of the campaign, the “outrageous” ace, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, was still able to rack up a brilliant tally of five goals and three assists in 822 minutes of action that saw him constantly moving between attacking midfield and right-wing.

That means the former Fulham gem averaged a goal involvement every 102.75 minutes for Arne Slot’s side, despite having a real run of starts at any point in the campaign.

Appearances

28

Starts

21

Minutes

1828′

Goals

14

Assists

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.71

Minutes per Goal Involvement

91.4′

Moreover, his record for the England U21s is nothing short of exemplary, as in 28 appearances, totalling 1828 minutes, the dynamic talent has scored 14 goals and provided six assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.4 games, or every 91.4 minutes.

Now, just imagine what he’d be capable of producing at the London Stadium if Potter gave him a regular chance to start games, either in midfield or off the right, he’d surely kick on and either help boost his teammates’ assist tallies, or in the case of Wilson, help provide him with plenty of goalscoring chances.

Ultimately, it might be a difficult transfer to pull off, but Elliott looks like someone who could be a future star, and therefore, West Ham should be looking to sign him, especially as he’d be a brilliant teammate for the former Newcastle star.

Manchester United are issuing the perfect response to a 2024/25 campaign that left everything to be desired.

Though INEOS’ efforts to bring in new signings proved protracted at the start, there has been an impetus on strengthening with genuine quality, the frontline revamped through deals for Premier League stars Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, followed by the £74m acquisition of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, one of the most talented young strikers in Europe.

Ruben Amorim was dealt a tough hand when leaving his high-flying Sporting Lisbon project and taking over an Old Trafford side in disrepair, but he’s weathered the storm and has hunkered down, reshaping the team, stamping his mark on the squad.

Man Utd confident they will sign PL star

Technical director Jason Wilcox remains hard at work. Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been slated to replace the beleaguered Andre Onana between the sticks, while talks continue over the sales of several first-team drifters, chief of which being Alejandro Garnacho, who is expected to join Chelsea before the end of the window.

However, it’s clear that Amorim is also hoping to sign a dynamic number 6 before the end of the month, viewing a robust profile in the role as being perfect to take his side to the next level and leave a significant impression on the Premier League, pushing United back into the ascendancy of European football.

According to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, via TEAMtalk, Manchester United are growing in confidence as they chase a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba.

The all-action midfielder, 21, has previously been reported by Fabrizio Romano to be the focus of new talks between the Premier League rivals, though the Seagulls don’t want to sell and will make any bid extremely difficult, pricing their star at £104m.

Transfer Focus

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

Baleba, however, is attracted by the thought of joining the Old Trafford side and Amorim is intent on bringing players who want to fight for the badge.

What Carlos Baleba would bring to Man Utd

One of Man United’s most fatal flaws throughout the post-Fergie era has been signing established ‘superstars’, who perhaps have the headline name but have been there and done that, and thus don’t have the fire in their belly that the club need.

Baleba is the perfect profile to buck that trend, and what’s more, so are the already-made deals completed over the past few months. Whisper it quietly, but something feels different about the Red Devils this time.

Brighton have a knack for identifying and developing midfielders. Their talent ID is superlative and mistake-free. And with Baleba eager to switch the sandy south coast for Manchester’s bustling streets, INEOS and Amorim have a glorious opportunity to take this Man United team into their next phase.

The 21-year-old powerhouse is a holding midfielder with bags of energy and an attacking flair, lending itself to an influential position in Fabian Hurtzler’s Seagulls team.

And considering the player’s “colossal” performances so far in the Premier League, as have been noted by Brighton reporter Aden-Jay Wood, he could revolutionise United’s midfield, maybe even turning out to be their own version of Manchester City sensation Rodri.

Rodri’s is a name that we all know. The Spain international is one of the greatest players of his generation and has won the full gamut at the Etihad Stadium, scoring 26 goals and supplying 32 assists across 265 matches in all competitions.

But he started somewhere, and that first campaign in the Premier League proved tricky, with City losing their Premier League title to Liverpool.

Rodri still made an exciting impression, though, and it’s curious to note that Baleba for Brighton last season ranked up quite nicely against that version of the Iberian midfielder.

Matches (starts)

35 (29)

34 (31)

Goals

3

3

Assists

2

1

Touches*

83.3

54.0

Accurate passes

68.4 (93%)

33.6 (88%)

Big chances created

3

3

Key passes*

1.0

0.6

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

8.25

6.66

Tackles + interceptions*

2.1

3.7

Duels (won)*

4.9 (55%)

5.9 (55%)

Rodri might be a Ballon d’Or-winning superstar, but when he first arrived on English shores and got to work under Pep Guardiola’s wing, he had much to learn, and it’s promising to note that Baleba in his youthful period is on the same level as the Spaniard’s one-time iteration.

FBref recorded that the Cameroonian midfielder ranks among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90 too, thus illustrating his capacity to slide forward and progress play for his team.

Though it would take much time and effort to build Baleba up to a position where he could be considered the finest midfielder in the Premier League, one of the best in the world, he certainly has the potential to be just that.

There’s plenty of rocky terrain still to traverse before Man United crest this mountain, which has loomed before them for so long, but it’s not unjust to suggest that things are changing, and that the signings being made have the potential to drive an exciting new era.

Were Baleba to join, Amorim’s midfield would be revolutionised, with a centrepiece carrying all the potential to emulate Rodri and become an all-powerful presence in a Manchester midfield.

Man Utd's new Carrick: INEOS set to make bid for £100m + star this week

Manchester United look ready to splash the cash on a player who possesses shades of Michael Carrick’s assured game.

1 ByKelan Sarson Aug 11, 2025

When it rains, it pours, and that is certainly the case for Arsenal Football Club.

Fans were still coming to terms with the news that the incredible Eberechi Eze is almost certainly set to join Tottenham Hotspur when David Ornstein revealed that Kai Havertz has suffered a knee injury and could be out for months.

The news does help to explain the recent improvement of Leandro Trossard’s contract, but even with the Belgian on better terms, the German’s absence is a massive blow.

Fortunately, reports have linked the club with an international game-changer who could be the perfect solution to Mikel Arteta’s latest headache.

Arsenal target perfect Havertz replacement

It has been an interesting summer of business for Arsenal this year.

Transfer Focus

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

While the club have certainly improved the bench and made a couple of first-team additions in Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi, there is a strong sentiment among the fans that they are still short in attacking areas.

This has only been intensified following the news that Havertz could be out for a significant period.

However, in good news, the North Londoners now appear to be eyeing a move for someone who could come in and cover for the German international.

At least that is according to a recent report from Graeme Bailey, who has claimed Arsenal are in the picture for Ademola Lookman.

In fact, Bailey has revealed that following the collapse of his move to Inter Milan, the Nigerian international’s camp have been in talks with several teams, including the Gunners.

Moreover, with a reported price tag of around £43m, it might not be too difficult a deal to get over the line, and given Lookman’s immense ability, he’d be the perfect solution to this Havertz problem.

Why Lookman would be an excellent solution to Havertz's injury

The first major positive to signing Lookman this summer is the fact that he can play anywhere across the frontline.

For example, while he spent much of last season playing up top, or as a second striker, he’s totally comfortable playing off either wing and has even spent some time in attacking midfield before.

This would be hugely important in this team, as he’d be able to play second fiddle to Gyokeres up top, while also then providing genuine competition with every other attacker in the squad, making sure they don’t fall below a certain standard and then replacing them if they do.

That brings us to the second reason the former Everton flop would be an exceptional signing for the Gunners: his output.

Since moving to the Serie A side in August 2022, the “world-class” attacker, as dubbed by the BBC’s John Bennett, has scored a brilliant 52 goals and provided 25 assists in 118 appearances, totalling 7538 minutes.

Appearances

33

45

40

Minutes

1858′

2809′

2871′

Goals

15

17

20

Assists

8

10

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.69

0.60

0.67

Minutes per Goal Involvement

80.78′

104.03′

106.33

That means the Wandsworth-born game-changer has averaged a goal involvement every 1.53 games or every 97.89 minutes on the continent, which is an outrageous rate of return.

Moreover, with a match-winning hat-trick against Xabi Alonso’s then-unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 Europa League final, there would be no need to worry about how he’d fare in the biggest games and on the biggest stages.

Ultimately, even without Havertz’s injury, Lookman would be an excellent signing for Arsenal, but in light of German’s setback, it feels like a necessity.

Arsenal could help Saka hit Salah levels with late bid for £100m "machine"

The incredible international would help Saka reach Salah levels at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 20, 2025

Manchester United are now accelerating a deal to sign a “magnificent” midfielder, who has been identified as one of their priority targets ahead of the transfer deadline, according to a report.

Man Utd looking to sign midfielder after pulling plug on Baleba

Carlos Baleba emerged as one of Ruben Amorim’s top targets in central midfield, but Man United have now pulled the plug on a deal, given that it was set to be an extremely costly operation, and Brighton & Hove Albion are very reluctant to sell.

It is a shame that Baleba now seemingly won’t be heading to Old Trafford this summer, given that the 21-year-old is at a good age to be a long-term replacement for Casemiro, and received high praise from Alan Shearer last season.

Speaking after Baleba impressed against Manchester City, Shearer said: “He was absolutely wonderful. He changed the tempo and performance on the front foot and defensively. They got the three points which they deserved.”

That said, there are still a number of other potential options on the shortlist, with INEOS believed to be particularly big fans of Adam Wharton.

Target

Current club

Potential price tag

Adam Wharton

Crystal Palace

£40m+

Eduardo Camavinga

Real Madrid

£69m

Morten Hjulmand

Sporting CP

£68m

Angelo Stiller

VfB Stuttgart

£50m

However, according to a report from Spain, a different midfielder has now emerged as Man United’s priority target ahead of the transfer deadline, namely Sevilla’s Lucien Agoume, who is set to be available for the affordable fee of €25m to €35m (£22m – £30m).

Crucially, Agoume is said to be interested in a move to the Premier League, and United are now accelerating the deal, to ensure they secure his signature before another big European club enters the race.

The 23-year-old is emerging as the ideal addition to Amorim’s midfield, as his physicality and tactical awareness mean he should be able to adapt to life in the Premier League comfortably.

New Pogba: INEOS offered bargain deal to sign "world-class" CM for Man Utd

Manchester United could finally end their midfielder pursuit with a player just like Paul Pogba.

2 ByEthan Lamb Aug 21, 2025 "Magnificent" Agoume could be ideal Baleba alternative

Former Sevilla boss Enrique Sanchez Flores has hailed the central midfielder in the past, describing him as “magnificent”, and there is every indication the Cameroon-born maestro could be an ideal alternative option to Baleba.

Most notably, the Sevilla star has outperformed the Brighton youngster across a range of key defensive metrics over the course of the past year.

Average per 90

Lucien Agoume

Carlos Baleba

Tackles

2.90

2.64

Interceptions

1.83

1.62

Clearances

1.96

1.48

Aerials won

1.66

1.29

Importantly, a deal for the 13-time France U21 international also wouldn’t break the bank, at around £30m, while there were suggestions that Brighton were looking to receive £115m for Baleba.

Should Man United pursue a move for Agoume, rather than the Brighton star, they should have money left over to strengthen other areas of the squad, and Amorim may be keen to sign a new goalkeeper, with Altay Bayindir receiving widespread criticism after the Arsenal defeat.

Liverpool have had some extraordinary players throughout their history, but who are the most underrated Reds individuals of the Premier League era?

So many players have become legends at Anfield, from Kenny Dalglish to Steven Gerrard in the past, to present icons Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

While Liverpool fans love a club legend, they also admire those players who go under the radar, not always receiving the acclaim they deserve.

Here are our choices for the Reds’ 10 most underrated footballers in the Premier League.

10. Didi Hamann

Didi Hamann was a superb and consistent midfielder for Liverpool in the 2000s, not least because of his game-changing cameo in the 2005 Champions League final.

The German was introduced at half-time when the Reds were 3-0 down to AC Milan, bringing more balance to the team and helping inspire one of the greatest comebacks in the history of football.

Hamann was an unflappable figure who never did anything too spectacular, but he was a shield in front of the defence and possessed underrated quality on the ball. He was also the last player to score at the old Wembley, coming in a 1-0 win for Germany over England.

9. Fabio Aurelio

Had it not been for injuries, Fabio Aurelio could be seen as Liverpool’s best left-back in the Premier League era, perhaps barring Andy Robertson.

The Brazilian had a wonderful left foot, as displayed when he scored an inch-perfect free-kick in the 4-1 win away to Manchester United back in 2009, and there was an intelligence about him that stood out, too.

John Arne Riise often received more acclaim, due to his penchant for scoring long-range stunners, but Aurelio was the more competent player overall, and he was sadly robbed of playing time too often because of fitness issues.

8. Steve Finnan

There was nothing flamboyant about Steve Finnan, but what a safe pair of hands he proved to be after joining Liverpool from Fulham in 2003.

The former Republic of Ireland international was rarely below a seven-out-of-10 in his performance level, combining solid defensive work with sporadic overlapping quality in the attacking third. He may have been sacrificed for Hamann in the aforementioned Champions League final, but his reliability was vital en route to glory that season.

7. Yossi Benayoun

Yossi Benayoun played for Liverpool at a time when Gerrard and Fernando Torres were purring alongside one another, so it’s only natural that he didn’t earn as many column inches.

That said, he was an influential figure in his own right, possessing trickery in tight areas and providing a good level of end product from his wide or attacking midfield role.

Most famously, Benayoun scored the only goal of the game away to Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2009, as well as a vital last-gasp winner at Fulham in the same year, and 47 goal contributions in 134 appearances is a good return for the Reds.

6. Jordan Henderson

Few players have divided opinion at Liverpool more in the past 30 years than Jordan Henderson, but what he achieved at the club now speaks for itself.

Never the most gifted of footballers, Henderson got every ounce out of his ability, but most importantly, he grew into a wonderful captain who skippered the Reds to Champions League and Premier League glory.

The Englishman was a better technician than he was given credit for, and his industry and ability to cover endless ground made him a vital player for Liverpool during both the Brendan Rodgers and Jürgen Klopp years.

5. Dirk Kuyt

Barring Gerrard, has there been a better big-game player for Liverpool in the Premier League than Dirk Kuyt?

Like Henderson, the Dutchman wasn’t always the most aesthetically-pleasing player, but his ability to pop up in key moments was invaluable, and he was a hugely intelligent footballer in a tactical sense.

Kuyt scored a late winning penalty at Everton, as well as goals against the likes of United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Inter Milan down the years, and he excelled on the right wing after being changed from a striker by Rafa Benitez, netting 71 times in 285 matches.

4. Alexis Mac Allister

Of the current crop of Liverpool players, Alexis Mac Allister is the most underrated, even though he is still rated highly by many Reds supporters.

The Argentine World Cup winner has been a magnificent signing since arriving in the summer of 2023, knitting everything together in midfield, and his brilliance is arguably noticed more when he isn’t playing.

Mac Allister is elite in possession, works his socks off out of it and possesses a winning mentality, and while he deserves to be regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe, he arguably isn’t.

3. Joel Matip

Joel Matip has a strong argument for being Liverpool’s greatest free transfer in history, having enjoyed eight trophy-laden years at Anfield.

An incredibly likeable player with that rare ability to be funny without trying to be, Matip was bordering on world-class when he was fully fit and not injury-plagued, thriving alongside Van Dijk.

He was Liverpool’s best player in the 2019 Champions League final win over Tottenham, and he was a lovely mix of calm and class, bringing the ball out from the back and getting stuck in defensively when he had to.

2. James Milner

Like Matip, James Milner is among Liverpool’s greatest free pieces of business, becoming one of the most versatile and dependable figures in the club’s recent history.

A perfect professional whose dedication and leadership rubbed off on those around him, Milner wasn’t always a regular starter under Klopp, but he was worth his weight in gold so often.

Nerveless from the penalty spot, capable of shining in four or five positions and highly intelligent, Liverpool’s former vice-captain played a massive role in the Reds’ past success. The fact that he is still playing in the Premier League at the age of 39 speaks volumes about him.

1. Gini Wijnaldum

Picking a No.1 was tough – Liverpool fans will always have their own choice and many above are worthy of topping this list – but we’ve gone for Gini Wijnaldum.

Klopp’s Champions League and Premier League-winning teams were full of players who got constant attention, whether it be Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Salah, Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino, but Wijnaldum was a more unnoticed but vital cog in the machine.

The Dutchman never stopped running in midfield, had superb positional sense and was so difficult to shrug off the ball, and he was a huge reason for that Liverpool team being so dominant.

Then there was the famous double against Barcelona at Anfield in 2019, allowing Wijnaldum his moment in the sun, but more often than not, he was underrated beyond belief.

Glasgow Rangers centre-forward Bojan Miovski has not had an ideal start to life at Ibrox after starting his first two matches in the Scottish Premiership for the club.

The Macedonia international was an exciting signing from Girona during the summer transfer window because of his impressive form for Aberdeen in Scotland prior to his spell in Spain.

As you can see in the graphic above, the left-footed forward racked up 32 goals in two seasons in the Premiership with the Dons, which shows that the Light Blues signed a player who is proven in the division.

Miovski scored 16 goals in each of his two seasons in the league for Aberdeen, per Sofascore, but he has not had the best start to life at Ibrox in his appearances against Celtic and Hearts.

The Rangers striker failed to score a goal or create a chance for his teammates, per Sofascore, in the two matches, despite starting both of them as the main number nine.

However, the blame could go back to the manager, Russell Martin, who appears to be heading towards an exit from Ibrox if results continue to frustrate the fan base.

Why Russell Martin is on thin ice at Rangers

Rangers have suffered their worst start to a league season in 47 years with four draws and one defeat in their opening five matches in the Premiership, losing 2-0 to Hearts at Ibrox in the most recent game.

The Light Blues also failed to make the league phase of the Champions League after they were hammered 9-1 by Club Brugge on aggregate in the play-off round.

As you can see in the post above, some supporters reacted angrily to that loss to Brugge, placing a banner that called for the manager’s dismissal at Ibrox.

Whilst they have not yet decided to part ways with the head coach, the Rangers board are listening to the frustrations of the supporters because reporter Keith Jackson has revealed that there is work going on behind the scenes to identify a possible replacement in the dugout.

Speaking on the Daily Record’s Hotline Live, Jackson said: “I understand that phone calls are being made, back-channelling is going on, and Rangers are currently speaking to and sounding out potential alternatives should they decide they can no longer back Russell Martin.

“It sounds to me very much like they are looking to put something in place in case they are forced into taking action this weekend when Rangers play Hibs in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.”

Celtic (11)

8.6

2.5

Hibernian (9)

8.7

3.7

Hearts (9)

8.2

5.2

Motherwell (8)

8.1

6.3

Rangers (7)

5.6

5.4

As you can see in the table above, Rangers have not been good enough in possession in the first five matches of the season, as they have not created anywhere near as much, in terms of xG, as the best sides in the division.

This may be why Miovski has struggled to perform in his first two outings, because he is in a team that has not been coached well from an attacking perspective, and that is why the Gers should sack Martin to appoint a manager who they reportedly wanted in the summer.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Rangers were reportedly in pole position to land free agent manager Marco Rose in the summer before they decided to go for Russell Martin. Now, they should fire the former Scotland international to finally appoint the German tactician.

Why Marco Rose would be perfect for Bojan Miovski

The 49-year-old head coach has been out of work since his departure from RB Leipzig in March. This means that the Light Blues would not have to pay any compensation to bring him to Ibrox to replace Martin.

As well as being an attractive target from a financial perspective, Rose would be an attractive managerial appointment for Rangers because he could ignite Miovski’s Ibrox career with his formation and attacking style of play.

The German boss, who was hailed as “outstanding” by Marco Reus, typically favours a 4-4-2 formation and this means that Youssef Chermiti could play alongside the Macedonia international and take some of the pressure off the left-footed star from a physical perspective.

Miovski won two of his 11 duels against Hearts and three of his ten duels against Celtic, per Sofascore, which shows that he has struggled with the task of being the lone centre-forward. This is why having another striker alongside him to take some attention away from the centre-backs could free him up to focus on getting into the box to score goals.

Rose, who won two titles during his time with RB Salzburg in Austria, has a rich history of working with and getting the best out of elite centre-forwards throughout his managerial career.

Manus Dabbur

103

66

Lois Openda

81

40

Benjamin Sesko

78

35

Fredrik Gulbrandsen

90

30

Erling Haaland

35

30

Marcus Thuram

79

25

Alassane Plea

72

22

Christopher Nkunku

28

17

As you can see in the table above, the former Leipzig manager has worked with some of the best strikers in Europe, helping them all to record impressive goal returns.

These statistics show that strikers thrive in Rose’s system, which includes two number nines, and this suggests that he could get the best out of Miovski and £10m summer signing Chermiti at Ibrox.

Rangers, as shown in the clip above, have been on the wrong end of Miovski’s quality at the top end of the pitch in the Premiership, which means that they know what he is capable of at that level.

Martin’s offensively stagnant team is not getting the best out of the former Aberdeen star, or any of the other players given the dreadful results, which is why Rose should be considered as a replacement for him in the coming weeks.

Once worth £30m, Rangers flop now looks like he's worth less than Tavernier

This Glasgow Rangers flop who was once valued at £30m now looks worth even less than James Tavernier.

ByDan Emery Sep 17, 2025

As Jackson said, Kevin Thelwell may have to consider his options if Rangers are knocked out of the League Cup by Hibernian this weekend. If they decide to part ways with Martin, Rose should be the man they move for.

Manchester United have been going through somewhat of a crisis over the last couple of years, with the club constantly falling way below the high expectations they’ve set for themselves.

Ruben Amorim’s side ended the previous campaign in a measly 15th in the Premier League, subsequently registering the lowest-ever finish in such a competition since its formation in 1992.

The main issue with his side is the lack of solidity in the middle of the midfield, with the 40-year-old yet to establish his best partnership in such an area of the pitch.

The likes of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo are all on the books, but the manager still hasn’t figured out which duo are best suited to his 3-4-2-1 system.

However, such an area has previously been one of the Red Devils’ strongest, with Sir Alex Ferguson previously able to rely on one of the best talents England’s top-flight has ever seen.

Paul Scholes time at Manchester United

Paul Scholes was a part of the Class of ‘92 squad, which saw a plethora of academy stars making the jump into the first team and help Ferguson win his 13 Premier League titles in Manchester.

Very few people could’ve imagined the impact he would’ve made in the first-team squad, subsequently going on to register over 700 appearances for his boyhood club across all competitions.

The vast majority of his appearances for the Red Devils came in England’s top-flight, being a part of 11 of the club’s top-division title triumphs – the second most in their history behind Ryan Giggs.

He spent a total of 19 and a half years as a first-team player for United, spending his entire career with the Red Devils before retiring in the summer of 2013.

Scholes would end his career with a total of 27 trophies won at Old Trafford, further highlighting the success that he achieved during his stint as a professional.

However, the club thought they had their next version of the Englishman a couple of years ago, but ultimately, he was offloaded on the cheap by former boss Erik ten Hag.

The former United star who was labelled the new Scholes

During the Ten Hag era as United manager, the Dutchman spent over £600m on new additions to help push the club back in the right direction after years of failures on the pitch.

The likes of Casemiro and Raphael Varane were both brought in from Real Madrid, offering the side the needed top-level experience if the club were to get back to their former glory.

The latter of the duo left on a free transfer in the summer of 2024, with the Brazilian still unable to prevent his discipline from spilling over, subsequently picking up four red cards in the last three years.

Donny van de Beek was another player who joined the Red Devils in an attempt to take the club up the table, joining in a £35m deal with £5m in add-ons back in the summer of 2020.

However, like many of the additions in recent years, he would fail to hit the heights many thought he would, subsequently registering a total of 62 appearances over a four-year period at Old Trafford.

He was labelled as “the new Scholes” by compatriot Edwin van der Sar at the time of his transfer, but it’s safe to say that the Dutchman struggled to put a run together in England.

Van de Beek only made over 20 appearances once in his four seasons in Manchester, with injuries also playing their part in disrupting his progress and nailing down his place in the starting eleven.

Transfer Fee

£35m

Appearances

62

Cost per appearance

£564k

Minutes played

2,151

Cost per minute

£16.2k

Goals

2

Cost per goal

£17.5m

Assists

2

Cost per assist

£17.5m

Goal involvements

4

Cost per goal involvement

£8.75m

While he did pop up with multiple goals, his impressive moments were too and far between, subsequently seeing him falling down the pecking order in recent years.

He made just two appearances in 2023/24 before being sold by Ten Hag in the summer of 2024, joining LaLiga side Girona for a reported €500k (£435k).

However, the decision to offload him may have been the right one, especially after the 28-year-old limped off with an Achilles injury in the clash with Athletic Club on Tuesday night.

It’s a real shame that his move to England didn’t work out, especially after the hierarchy forked out a mammoth sum to prise him away from

Ajax back in 2020.

The praise in the early stages of his time at United gave reasons for the supporters to be optimistic, but unfortunately, they’re still hunting for the player to fill the boots of Scholes at Old Trafford.

Huge Amorim upgrade: Man Utd keen on appointing "incredible" PL manager

Manchester United have set their sights on appointing one manager who has exceeded all expectations.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 25, 2025

Celtic confirmed their place in the last four of the League Cup on Sunday afternoon with a comfortable 4-0 win over Partick Thistle away from home.

The Hoops strolled to a victory that was never in any serious doubt throughout the 90 minutes, thanks to goals from Hyun-jun Yang, Liam Scales, Sebastian Tounekti, and Luke McCowan.

After a promising debut against Kilmarnock last time out, creating four chances (per Sofascore), Tounekti caught the eye once again with his performance on the left flank.

Why Sebastian Tounekti is already a star player for Celtic

Brendan Rodgers handed the Tunisia international another start after his bow in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, and was rewarded with an impressive display.

Tounekti was a constant threat down the left side, particularly in the first half, and Premier Sports pundit Michael Stewart described him as the “danger man” for Celtic, because he “unsettles” defenders.

He was heavily involved in the opening goal for the Hoops with his excellent pass in behind for Benjamin Nygren to cross to the far post for Yang, as shown in the clip below.

The left-sided attacker then showed his quality in front of goal by scoring after a one-two with Kelechi Iheanacho, which is why the forward should be considered a star player for the team already, as he can create, he can dribble, and he can score goals.

Tounekti was far from the only impressive performer on the park for the Scottish giants, though, as Iheanacho showed that he is a player for the fans to be excited about.

Why Celtic fans should be excited about Kelechi Iheanacho

After the disappointment of deadline day, it would be hard to blame any supporter for not being too excited by the arrival of the Nigeria international on a free transfer after Sevilla were willing to terminate his contract.

The left-footed striker only scored four goals in 26 appearances in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, for Middlesbrough and Sevilla combined, which did little to help the lack of excitement around his signing.

However, Iheanacho’s first two performances have shown that he is a player who the supporters should be excited about, after scoring a 96th-minute penalty against Kilmarnock on his debut last weekend.

Minutes

20

Touches

9

Shots

3

Goals

1

Passes completed

3/5

Duels won

0/2

The former Manchester City striker was rewarded with his first start for the club for this clash with Partick Thistle and delivered an impressive centre-forward showing.

Premier Sports commentator Rory Hamilton claimed that Iheanacho and Tounekti are players “to be excited about” moving forward this season, and both players combined for the third goal in the match for Celtic.

As you can see in the clip above, the Celtic striker did brilliantly to flick the ball round the corner to tee the winger up to score, showing great awareness, creativity, and technical ability.

That was not a one-off for Iheanacho in the match. He consistently held the ball up and produced impressive flicks to find teammates making advances towards the opposition’s box.

The 28-year-old star, who was handed a 7/10 player rating by GlasgowWorld, was a fantastic facilitator for his teammates with the creativity and reliability in his hold-up play, against Partick Thistle defenders who wanted to get tight and physical with him.

Iheanacho was as good as Tounekti, as both players showed that they were too good for the opposition to deal with, and supporters must now be excited about what the forward can produce over the course of an entire season if he can stay fit.

Worth more than Tounekti: Celtic are brewing the new Reo Hatate at Parkhead

Celtic have a brilliant midfield star who could be the club’s next Reo Hatate in the middle of the park.

ByDan Emery Sep 16, 2025

Hopefully, Rodgers will select both players in the starting line-up when Celtic kick off their Europa League campaign against Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday night.

Already thinking ahead to next summer, Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly readying their biggest ever move to sign not one, but two Real Madrid stars for Thomas Frank.

Frank praises Tottenham for "massive" win at Leeds

It was far from routine, but Tottenham got over the line at Elland Road to defeat Leeds United courtesy of Mohammed Kudus’ first Premier League goal for the club. The summer signing cut inside before firing home beyond Karl Darlow just before the hour mark, as his side picked up what Frank described as a “massive” win.

Speaking to reporters, the Tottenham boss said in his post-match reaction: “It’s a massive win, honestly, a massive win. I just felt it before the game. Every game we want to win.

“Every game is a big three points, but before today, I just felt, three draws (Bodo/Glimt, Wolves, Brighton), plus the game before the international break, where we haven’t been able to win for a couple of years, for whatever reason.

“Then it’s Leeds away – they hadn’t lost here for over a year. It’s a difficult, difficult away ground, fantastic fans – and our fans, by the way, how good were they? Wow. Thanks so much for that.”

Agbonlahor says Frank should be worried about Tottenham star who gives "zero"

The pundit claims he can’t be relied upon.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 4, 2025

The Dane isn’t wrong in his verdict, either. After winning just one of their last four heading into the Leeds game, Spurs needed to pick themselves back up and get back to winning ways.

Now sitting as high as third in the Premier League and just two points behind leading North London rivals Arsenal, Tottenham have so far given themselves every chance of pulling off an incredible transfer deal next summer.

Tottenham readying £250m+ Valverde and Vinicius moves

It would be the biggest move in their history, but one that they eyed when relieving Daniel Levy of his duties. According to reports in Spain, Tottenham are now readying a €300m (£261m) move to sign Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior next summer in a double deal for two Real Madrid stars.

They would both be transformative signings. The type that could finally bridge the gap from top four hopefuls into conversations for the top honours. Although there remain serious question marks over their ability to attract such stars.

Vinicius, alone, is one of Europe’s top stars. By the time that next summer arrives, he’ll have one year remaining on his Real Madrid deal and a form will be queuing for his signature. Spurs, despite all their efforts, are likely to be closer to the back of the line than the front.

That said, the Brazilian’s long-term future is certainly in question as his contract ticks down. Madrid, however, should do everything to keep hold of a player that former manager Carlos Ancelotti described as “decisive”.

The same, meanwhile, can be said for midfield star Valverde, who earns a staggering £280,000-a-week at the Bernabeu.