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West Ham could finally unearth another talent like Dimitri Payet if a move for a former Premier League player materialises.

The news of recent reports linking West Ham to former Real Madrid man James Rodriguez will surely excite many Hammers fans as they aim to finally get a player who can dazzle like Payet once did.

Although the mercurial Frenchman was only at West Ham for 18 months, he was a fan favourite and gathered plenty of praise for his abilities, with former teammate Winston Reid describing him as a “special player” and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who would argue against that.

The truth is, the team hasn’t had a player like him since Payet departed in rather acrimonious circumstances and left a sour taste in the West Ham faithful.

GSB’s apparent pursuit of Rodriguez in that regard makes a lot of sense, especially when you consider the fact that he is still only 30 years of age and clearly still has too much talent to be fading away into anonymity.

The Colombian earns £200k-per-week at Al-Rayyan SC and even though journalist Pete O’Rourke labelled him a “luxury”, he also believes that Rodriguez wouldn’t be the right fit to “buy into Moyes ethos” and that’s a fair comment.

However, when you consider his stats when he was playing at Everton under Carlo Ancelotti, he scored six goals and notched nine assists in just 26 matches across all competitions.

On his day, the player can be one of the finest in Europe and with West Ham relying too much on goals from their wingers, with Said Benrahma (11) and Jarrod Bowen (16) making heavy contributions, then it’s fair to say Moyes needs someone to come in and take the burden off them.

With Rodriguez’s market value currently sitting at £13.5m, whoever gets the chance to secure his services will surely be getting a bargain.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Said: West Ham set to move for 22 y/o “hurricane”, he won’t cost a penny…

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly now looking to secure a bumper new deal for Alex Lowry as early as next week.

The Lowdown: Offer rejected

Lowry actually rejected an initial contract offer from the Ibrox faithful back in February, as his current deal expires in 2023.

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It has been reported that Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Manchester City are interested in signing Lowry in the summer, should contract talks continue to stall, but recent news has been more positive, with Alan Hutton delighted to hear Lowry could now stay put.

The Latest: Breakthrough

As per The Scottish Sun, there seems to have been a breakthrough in talks, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team are now hoping to tie Lowry down to a new deal next week.

More discussions have been pencilled in with his representatives, as the club are desperate to keep him and fend off interest from the English top flight.

However, Lowry and his camp would prefer to wait until later in the month before making their final decision.

The Verdict: More good news

After reaching the UEFA Europa League final with a 3-1 win at home to RB Leipzig on Thursday night, it seems as if more good news has emerged with regards to Lowry’s contract.

A player who has made four senior appearances for the Teddy Bears this season at just 18 years of age, Lowry is highly thought of at the club, as former boss Graeme Murty even went as far as to call him ‘remarkable‘.

Nonetheless, it is important that the Light Blues keep their young talents as they look to build for the future, hopefully adding a Europa League trophy to their legacy.

In other news, find out which ‘absolute legend’ Andrew Dickson hailed against Leipzig here!

Journalist Tony Banks of The Daily Express has now shared an update on Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in West Ham United star Tomas Soucek.

The Lowdown: Conte eyes midfield moves…

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte, gearing up for a major summer overhaul, reportedly has fresh midfield additions on the agenda.

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The Telegraph claim that he is eyeing two signings for the position with links emerging to the likes of Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Christian Eriksen (Brentford) and Sporting Lisbon star Joao Palhinha recently.

Lilywhites transfer chief Fabio Paratici could turn to both abroad and the Premier League to appease Conte’s wish with Irons mainstay Soucek also a target.

The Latest: Banks makes Soucek claim…

Now, The Daily Express and journalist Banks have shared an update on Tottenham’s links to the Czech Republic international.

The north Londoners, and by extension Paratici, could ‘launch a move to sign’ Soucek this summer with Conte personally being a ‘big fan’.

This comes as West Ham set the price tag, which is believed to be around £40 million, as Juventus also keep close tabs on the colossal 6 foot 4 midfielder.

The Verdict: Make the move?

There are certainly worse options to add serious steel to Conte’s midfield than Soucek, as evident by how much faith Hammers boss David Moyes has in the player.

According to WhoScored, only Declan Rice and Lukasz Fabianski have played more top flight minutes than the 27-year-old, with Soucek also averaging their third-highest match rating per 90 domestically.

Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan has also raved over Soucek recently, calling him a ‘tremendous’ and aggressive player who can ‘do everything’ (Football Insider).

However, with the former Slavia Prague star becoming an untouchable for Spurs’ cross-town rivals, it will be a difficult deal to pull off.

In other news: Tottenham expected to move for ‘phenomenal’ £101m star after Conte request, find out more here.

This weekend is arguably the biggest in Thomas Frank’s tenure as Tottenham Hotspur manager, when he leads his side out against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

The Dane has yet to get his first taste of the North London Derby, but he will be looking to get one over Mikel Arteta and secure bragging rights for the Lilywhites faithful.

Such a fixture is huge for supporters, with the meeting between the two clubs one of the first dates they look for upon fixture release day, before a ball is kicked.

However, it’s been a game that the white side of North London have often come out on the losing side away from home – subsequently winning just one of their last 32 encounters.

If Frank’s side are to write themselves into the history books, they will desperately need to keep one player quiet throughout the clash at the Emirates.

The threat Bukayo Saka poses to Spurs this weekend

Bukayo Saka may ply his trade for Arsenal, but he’s cemented himself as one of the Premier League’s most threatening attackers over the last couple of years.

The Englishman has managed to register over 20 combined goals and assists in all competitions in each of the last three years – often providing the difference in such a fixture.

He’s often popped up with the goods in attacking areas, as seen by his record against the Lilywhites since his senior debut back in the 2020/21 campaign.

Saka has featured on ten occasions against Spurs throughout his professional career, racking up a total of five goals – subsequently finding the net in 50% of his outings in such a clash.

He’s also popped up with various assists in the North London Derby, with his corner to Gabriel securing the Gunners all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last campaign.

It’s evident that the winger possesses serious quality, often coming alive on Derby Day, with Frank and his squad desperately needing to silence him on Sunday afternoon.

However, he too could unleash his own version of the Englishman at the Emirates, with the Lilywhites star potentially able to inflict serious trouble on Arteta’s men.

The Spurs star who’s becoming their answer to Saka

Players such as Saka don’t come around very often, and when they do, they cost a pretty penny – many of which undoubtedly cost a small fortune in the modern-day.

Whilst Spurs are unlikely to pay over the odds for top-level talents, they have invested heavily into the frontline over recent years – as seen by their deal to land Brennan Johnson.

The hierarchy forked out a reported £47.5m for the Welshman’s signature back in the summer of 2023, with the attacker showcasing his talents in North London last campaign.

He registered a total of 18 goals across all competitions last season, the highest of any player in the squad, often starring off the right-hand side of the club’s attack.

However, he’s fallen down the pecking order in recent months, which has resulted in various options being considered within the forward line in the capital.

Mathys Tel joined the Lilywhites on a permanent basis during the summer window, with the Frenchman costing a total of £27m from German side Bayern Munich.

The 20-year-old is capable of operating off the left-hand side or even as a centre-forward, with Frank able to rely upon the youngster in a variety of different positions.

When operating on the left, he’s able to cut inside and onto his favoured foot – something which Saka has made a name for himself for in England’s top-flight.

His similarities to the Englishman are also reflected in his shot on target accuracy, with Tel matching the winger with his tally of placing 33% of his efforts between the posts.

The Frenchman has previously impressed in his professional career, but has transferred his skills over to the Premier League, as seen by his tally of two goals in the league this season.

Games played

8

Goals scored

2

Shot on target accuracy

33%

Pass accuracy

73%

Dribble success

50%

Long ball success

83%

Aerials won

1.2

Mins per goal

124.5

Tel’s efforts in attacking areas have led to huge praise from numerous outlets, with Bayern Chairman Herbert Hainer labelling him “one of the biggest talents in Europe”.

However, he will need consistent first-team minutes to reach the heights many have touted him to, with Frank needing to trust him in the near future to reap the rewards.

He’s shown that he’s capable of producing the goods in attacking areas, potentially able to provide the difference in the clash against the Gunners on Sunday.

Tel has proven he’s able to be the club’s answer to Saka, but it remains to be seen if the manager will show faith in him to allow the youngster to continue on his upward trajectory.

Spurs must sell "one of the worst signings in PL history" to fund Semenyo

Tottenham Hotspur must sell one player if they are to land Antoine Semenyo in January.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 20, 2025

Manchester City fell by the wayside last season. An upswing in form toward the end of the campaign saw Pep Guardiola’s side salvage Champions League football.

It was a great shock for the four-in-a-row Premier League champions, and some even clamoured for Guardiola to step down. But the legendary manager has picked his outfit back up, refashioning them into title challengers once again.

Kevin De Bruyne left at the end of his contract, but the likes of Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have joined winter recruits such as Omar Marmoush in defining a new age at the Etihad.

Man City’s tactical brand has changed, and no mistake. While an averseness to dribbling was never an accurate description of Pep’s vision, there’s no doubt a fresh emphasis has been placed on his side’s dribbling.

Pep's dribbling renaissance at Man City

Often has Guardiola been criticised for numbing the pulse of his ball carriers, Jack Grealish being a case in point. While it’s true that the sum of the Spaniard’s system is greater than its individual parts, it is a machine of many different dimensions, and fleet-footed brilliance has always been a part of that.

In the past, wingers such as Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane played instrumental roles in establishing City’s early meteoric success, the bedrock of a dynasty that rivals any across English football history.

Sane, in particular, was an incredible dribbler with searing speed, especially before an ACL injury suffered in 2019, which forced the German to reinvent himself somewhat.

Praised by Guardiola for his athleticism and “incredible quality”, Sane, now at Bayern Munich, is fondly remembered by the Sky Blues, with that particular brand of electric-paced dribbling hard to replicate.

Signing stars like Rayan Ait-Nouri and Cherki this summer underscores Pep’s desire for a faster brand of dribbling in his Citizen side once again.

Sane might be a one-of-a-kind type of attacker, but there are similar variations with skillsets perfect for Guardiola’s teachings. Pep knows his stuff, and he might have found not just a belated superstar replacement, but someone who might actually be even better than the former City winger.

Man City's ball-carrying superstar

There’s only one man in question here: Jeremy Doku. The Belgian winger has been in fine fettle indeed across the opening weeks of the campaign, with talent scout Jacek Kulig noting he has “taken his game to a whole new level”.

Man City signed the dynamic wideman from French club Rennes for about £55m in 2023, but his first two terms in the Premier League have been characterised by an ebb and flow in the final third, scoring three times each year.

However, creativity has always been one of the 23-year-old’s strongest suits, and he’s married that with a new level of completeness and gusto with has borne dividends across these early weeks.

Three assists from six Premier League matches is good going, but Doku’s skill and explosiveness on the ball have been things to behold; now, there’s a new confidence and clarity about his performances.

It probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise that Doku ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 (data courtesy of FBref), but he’s also in the top percentile for shot-creating actions, underlining his effectiveness when entering the danger area.

And this season, he leads the way in the Premier League, more accurate when progressing the ball than his attacking rivals.

Jeremy Doku

54.5%

4.3

Mohammed Kudus

48.0%

4.1

Estavao

47.8%

4.0

Noah Okafor

43.5%

3.9

Rico Henry

77.8%

3.7

Might City have one of the finest dribblers in Europe? Undoubtedly. In fact, pundit Adrian Clarke has even gone as far as to claim that Doku is “one of the best dribblers in Premier League history”.

Valued at around £58m by Football Transfers, Manchester City haven’t quite got bang for their buck from a financial standpoint yet, but Doku is only 23, remember, and is showing all the signs of incremental growth which has not yet reached full bloom.

He’s the real deal, and if he maintains this level, he might even eclipse Sane and the like as the best dribbler across the entire Guardiola era at Manchester City.

Better than Haaland: Man City must regret selling "the best player in PL"

Manchester City let this top talent slip through their fingers.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 3, 2025

Chelsea’s summer transfer window once again made headlines, combining record spending with significant sales.

After finishing fourth in the Premier League last season, winning the Europa Conference League, and lifting the Club World Cup by beating PSG 3-0 in the summer final, the Blues are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2023.

The club continued to invest heavily, bringing in João Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Jorrel Hato, and Liam Delap, among others, for huge fees.

At the same time, Chelsea balanced the books by offloading players such as Christopher Nkunku, João Félix, and notably, Noni Madueke.

Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s youthful squad has shown promise but also inconsistency.

Two wins against Fulham and West Ham have been tempered by draws with Crystal Palace and Brentford, a reflection of a side still searching for rhythm.

Their return to the Champions League offered a reality check about the demands of competing at Europe’s highest level. While Madueke thrived for Arsenal, a Blues winger struggled.

Noni Madueke: From Chelsea to Arsenal

Madueke was once seen as a cornerstone of Chelsea’s rebuild.

The 23-year-old right-winger scored 20 goals and registered nine assists in 92 appearances during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Explosive when on form, he could change games with pace, dribbling, and direct running.

However, his Chelsea career was defined as much by frustration as by highlights.

The club decided to sell him to Arsenal for £52m this summer, a transfer that drew an immediate backlash from Gunners supporters.

More than 5,000 fans signed a petition under the hashtag #NoToMadueke, questioning the move.

Arsenal pressed ahead regardless, handing Madueke a full 90 minutes on his Champions League debut against Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday.

Statistically, Madueke has always been a player who offers high involvement in forward play.

Last season, he averaged 6.81 progressive carries per 90 minutes, a measure of how often he drives the ball upfield.

He also attempted a high volume of shots, posting 1.33 shots on target per 90 minutes with an accuracy rate of 37.5%.

Chalkboard

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

These numbers highlight both his intent and his end product – a winger eager to make things happen, though not always efficient. One Chelsea winger is like that now.

Chelsea's new Noni Madueke

Chelsea’s 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener showed just how raw this youthful team remains.

Defensive errors – including Trevoh Chalobah’s own goal after Michael Olise’s cross and a clumsy Moises Caicedo foul that gifted Harry Kane a penalty – set the tone for a tough night.

In attack, Pedro Neto was handed the role of left-winger in Maresca’s 4-2-3-1.

It proved a difficult evening. Neto was replaced in the 68th minute after a performance that earned him a 5.8 match rating.

His individual numbers reflected the struggle:

Touches

25

Accurate Passes

11/14 (79%)

Crosses

1 (0 accurate)

Dribble Attempts

4 (2 successful)

Grounds Duels

7 (2 won)

Possession Lost

9 (2 won)

Neto’s inconsistency mirrored some of the very frustrations Chelsea fans once voiced about Madueke.

He can explode with pace and creativity, but also drift out of games, as he did in Munich.

Across last season, Neto managed 35 matches with ten goal involvements – identical to Madueke’s tally in 32 appearances.

While Neto averaged fewer progressive carries (5.00 per 90) and shots on target (0.67 per 90 at a 28.8% accuracy), he outperformed Madueke in progressive passing distance, covering an average of 96 metres per 90 minutes compared to Madueke’s 82.0.

The data illustrate why Chelsea’s decision to sell Madueke and entrust Neto with a similar role has sparked debate.

Both wingers bring pace and unpredictability, both contribute to chance creation, and both are capable of flashes of brilliance. But the numbers confirm their limitations as well.

Madueke’s higher output in progressive carries and shots suggests a winger more inclined to take risks and force opportunities.

Neto, on the other hand, contributes more in ball progression through passing, reflected in his superior progressive passing distance.

Each offers something slightly different, yet neither has consistently delivered match-winning influence.

When comparing shot creation, the two players are virtually inseparable. Madueke averaged 3.50 shot-creating actions per 90, while Neto produced 3.57.

This parity shows that both are involved in their teams’ attacking buildup, even if their execution varies.

Madueke’s numbers underline why Arsenal were willing to pay a premium despite fan scepticism.

His willingness to carry the ball forward and threaten goalkeepers with regular attempts makes him a high-upside option.

Neto’s profile fits Chelsea’s philosophy under Maresca – linking play, stretching the pitch, and helping transition through midfield – but his display against Bayern revealed how much more is needed to reach Champions League standard.

For Chelsea, the swap of Madueke for Neto feels less like a fresh direction and more like a gamble on a winger with a strikingly similar profile: exciting, unpredictable, and still searching for the consistency required to define matches at the highest level.

Maresca must drop Chelsea dud who was as bad as Chalobah vs Bayern

Chelsea lost to Bayern Munich in their first Champions League game of the season.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 18, 2025

Chelsea are now through to the Club World Cup final after brushing aside Fluminense with ease 2-0 in New Jersey.

After just about getting the better of Brazilian outfit Palmeiras 2-1 in the last round, Enzo Maresca’s Blues managed to progress through to the final stage by beating yet another South American side, as either Real Madrid or Paris St. Germain now await the West Londoners for a chance at pre-season glory.

João Pedro would steal most of the headlines from the straightforward win by popping up with both of Chelsea’s goals on the day, as the brand-new attacker looks to instantly settle into his new environment after leaving Brighton and Hove Albion behind.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025 Joao Pedro's performance in numbers

After clearly impressing Maresca with a lively 26-minute run-out against Palmeiras, the Italian would hand the exciting 23-year-old attacker the first-team reins as Chelsea’s main man up top against Fluminense.

It was an inspired decision from the former Leicester City boss to axe Liam Delap in favour of starting the fresh number 20, with Pedro only needing an hour to score a brace to hand his new employers an uncomplicated passage through to the Club World Cup final.

It was a confident and assured performance from a star who will want to make that sole striker spot his own ahead of the new Premier League season getting underway, with Pedro firing home a clinical 30 goals across his last two seasons at the Seagulls, before Chelsea came calling.

Based on Nicolas Jackson’s selfish miss in the second half, which sent Cole Palmer into a frenzy, he could well make that up-for-grabs position on the pitch his own very soon.

But, he wasn’t the only standout performer as Chelsea’s Brazilian opponents were dealt with comfortably, with this fellow attacker for the Blues sticking out once more, as some now even herald him as Chelsea’s finest player of the entire Club World Cup tournament.

The 8/10 star turning into Maresca's "best player"

Of course, those with connections to Stamford Bridge will be rightly enthused by Pedro’s flashes of excellence.

But, there have been other key individuals for Chelsea across the whole span of the tournament who have stood out even more than the much-talked-about South American, with Pedro Neto definitely fitting into this bracket.

Across his five games in the United States heat, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger has tallied up a crucial three goals, with his goal against LAFC in the middle of last month getting Maresca’s men up and running in the competition.

Whilst he didn’t collect another memorable strike against Fluminense, it wasn’t through lack of trying, with the tireless attacker seeing his only effort of the game be blocked, away from just shining as a vibrant and slick option down the Blues’ left flank when running forward with pace to burn.

Minutes played

68

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Shots

1

Touches

34

Accurate passes

18/18 (100%)

Successful dribbles

4/6

Total duels won

5/8

Amazingly, Neto would complete four successful dribbles across his standout 68-minute spell, with his surges up the field constantly allowing for openings to happen, with Neto also accurately completing every single pass that came his way when feeding the likes of Pedro to shine.

Whilst the former Brighton striker did snatch most of the plaudits come the full-time whistle, Neto wasn’t short of admirers himself either, with journalist Zach Lowy taking to X to declare the Portuguese entertainer as Chelsea’s “best attacker” this tournament and “arguably their best player” full stop.

That is quite the call to make, but it was backed up by The Standard’s Sam Tabuteau post-match, who also declared him ‘Chelsea’s best performer’ in America, amidst a high 8/10 rating for his efforts against Fluminense.

It will be intriguing to see if Neto can kick on after all this pre-season praise when Premier League football returns to West London, with the Club World Cup trophy also perhaps making the trip back to England very soon if all goes to plan.

Bigger star than Estevao: Chelsea hold talks over signing £78m "superstar"

With Estêvão Willian set to arrive from Palmeiras, could Chelsea actually sign a bigger talent by snapping up a “gifted” superstar worth £78m?

ByBen Gray Jul 8, 2025

Unfortunately for Chelsea, they missed the boat on signing Jamie Gittens before the Club World Cup. The mini transfer window, which took place before the new look competition begins late this week, shut last Tuesday. The West Londoners only brought in Liam Delap and Mamadou Sarr in that initial window.

Gittens was a huge target for the Blues, with Enzo Maresca’s side set to ‘insist again’ according to Fabrizio Romano, who explains ‘the player wants the move’ at some stage this summer. The two parties have already agreed on personal terms ahead of the proposed move.

That deal will not be the only one Chelsea are working on whilst the Club World Cup goes on. There are other targets the club are trying to sign.

Chelsea’s defensive transfer target

Such is the way of modern football, it is a busy period for Chelsea. Just weeks on from their UEFA Conference League success, they will look to win the Club World Cup and also make signings to strengthen their squad.

Transfer Focus

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

One of those players they are trying to bring in is Jorrel Hato. Romano explained over on YouTube, via GiveMeSport, that Chelsea ‘remain interested’ in signing the Dutchman. They have seemingly had contact with Ajax over a potential deal.

However, they are not the only London-based Premier League side who have made contact. North Londoners Arsenal have been ‘calling to be informed’ about Hato’s situation.

Whichever club it is who wins the race will have to spend a reported £43m on the defender, according to Caught Offside.

Why Hato would be a good signing

Should the Blues bring Hato to Stamford Bridge over the summer, he would be joining the club with a high reputation. Described as a “special talent” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, he is a hugely exciting young player.

A versatile defender, the 19-year-old can play as a centre-back, but did primarily feature as a left-back last season for Ajax. He played 50 games across all competitions, showing attacking nous by grabbing six assists and scoring three times along the way.

In a separate post over on X, Mattinson described Hato, who was born in Rotterdam, as an “exceptional athlete”. That is something that certainly stands out when watching him play, as the video below shows. He is incredibly physical, which has helped him at such an early stage of his career, often allowing him to get the better of attackers.

His numbers going forward are impressive, too. Not only did he register six assists last season, but some of the underlying stats on FBref show just how good he can be in advanced areas.

He is certainly progressive, averaging 3.89 passes into the final third per game, which places him in the top 21% of full-backs from the Eredivisie.

Passes completed

54.11

94th

Pass competition rate

89.4%

99th

Assists

0.21

94th

Passes into final third

3.89

79th

Progressive passes

4.17

64th

Well, perhaps Chelsea fans can get excited about a partnership forming with Hato and Gittens. The Dortmund winger, who is going to the Club World Cup with the Bundesliga side, made some major contributions for his side last term.

In 48 appearances for the German side last season, Gittens managed 12 goals and five assists, featuring as a left-winger in 37 of those games.

One of those goals was a strike away to Real Madrid, in which he became ‘the youngest English player to score’ against Los Blancos, as per TNT Sport.

Just imagine the progression in the final third of Hato combined with the goal threat of Gittens; it could be a match made in heaven for Chelsea. The pair could make each other unplayable, and combine to form a deadly partnership.

On top of his attacking construction, the Blues would be signing a superb young defender. Just as Mattinson pointed out, he is athletic and physical enough to cope with the demands of the Premier League.

For £43m, this could be a bargain for the team on the Blue side of West London. Chelsea would be adding a dynamic young defender who offers lots going forward, and can build an unstoppable partnership with Gittens on that left-hand side.

Better than Garnacho: Chelsea targeting "electric" £49m Gittens alternative

Chelsea are looking to sign a new winger this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 12, 2025

Whoever takes over at Glasgow Rangers as the new permanent manager has a massive job to do.

A summer rebuild is required, which means plenty of ins and outs when the transfer window opens next month.

Ianis Hagi, Leon Balogun and Tom Lawrence all departed Ibrox following the expiration of their contracts, freeing up some of the wage bill.

The Light Blues will also need to sell a few players in order to raise some funds. Could Nedim Bajrami be the first to go?

Latest on Nedim Bajrami's future

According to reports in Albania (as per the Glasgow Times), the midfielder has two options on the table about a summer exit away from Rangers.

A club in Serie A is keen on securing his services, while another is from the Bundesliga. The report goes on to say that it is likely Bajrami will depart the club when the summer transfer window opens.

Having paid £3.4m for him just last summer, the board will be keen on recouping the majority of this fee back, especially as he has three years still left on his contract.

A return of nine goal contributions – five goals and four assists – across 44 matches simply wasn’t good enough, and he often went large spells without producing anything meaningful in the final third.

Whoever arrives as the new manager will see Bajrami as an asset who can afford to be sold to fund future signings.

Ben Davies is another player who must be moved on, especially after enjoying a successful season on loan with Birmingham City.

Why Rangers must sell Ben Davies this summer

Davies spent the entire 2024/25 season on loan at Birmingham and was a key component of the side that secured promotion back to the Championship.

He played 44 times for the club, helping them keep 20 clean sheets in League 1, while also winning an impressive 70% of his total duels and making 6.2 clearances per game.

Accurate passes

67.9

Tackles

1.1

Clearances

6.2

Interceptions

0.5

Total duels won

6.3

Possession lost

9.7

Due to these performances, head coach Chris Davies dubbed the centre-back as “exceptional” and it appears as though they are seeking a permanent transfer for the player.

Back at Ibrox, however, it’s fair to say that he didn’t quite live up to the £4m price tag following his arrival. That much is certain.

When compared to his peers in the 2022/23 Champions League, Davies ranked in the bottom 92% for pass completion percentage (79.6%) and in the bottom 80% for tackles (1.04) per 90.

The following season, he lost possession 12.1 times per game in the Premiership, regularly being outmuscled by opposition strikers. It was clear that the Englishman wasn’t going to be a long-term option at the back for the Light Blues.

Starring out on loan has surely put the £27k-per-week defender in the shop window this summer. Now, all that Rangers need is a club to come in and make a decent offer.

One thing is for certain, especially amid the news that the 49ers Enterprises have completed their takeover of the club. Ben Davies should never play for the Gers again.

Tavernier would love him: Rangers in talks to hire "sought-after" manager

95 days after Philippe Clement’s sacked as Rangers manager, they could finally be closing in on a successor, one who could be a dream for Tavernier.

ByBen Gray May 29, 2025

Manchester United are set for a summer overhaul and plenty of movement is expected in both directions over the next few months, especially in the goalkeeping department.

Man Utd set to make Cunha first summer signing

The Premier League has proven to be an unhappy hunting ground for Ruben Amorim, and it is now abundantly clear that changes will be on the way to restructure his side ahead of next season.

Any notion of a backdoor route to Champions League football via claiming the Europa League was put to bed by Tottenham Hotspur last Wednesday, who prevailed 1-0 in Bilbao courtesy of a scrappy first-half effort from Brennan Johnson.

Andre Onana, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire could all be held culpable for the goal, albeit lapses in concentration in key moments have been a central feature in the Red Devils’ failure to string together consistent results.

Further up the field, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles in the Europa League final indicate that there will be plenty of work done to improve the spine of Amorim’s side.

Matheus Cunha is a prime target to freshen up the forward line and the Brazilian forward is set to make the move to Old Trafford from Wolves in a transfer that is expected to be worth £62.5m. The Red Devils look primed to trigger Cunha’s release clause as he looks likely to become the first summer signing ahead of Amorim’s first full season in charge.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho’s decision to demand a move to Real Madrid has let the cat among the pigeons regarding potential reinforcements.

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Robust in his assessment of what may come this summer, Amorim believes his side will be able to avoid making the same mistakes once the new campaign commences.

He said: “We are going to avoid a lot of mistakes next season. Now is the time we can use all of that suffering to change things in the summer.”

Casting an eye to the window, Amorim could now be set to deliver on his promise by bringing in a high-profile figure between the sticks.

Man Utd well-placed to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez

According to Football Insider, Manchester United are well-placed to sign Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa if they can sell Onana during the summer window.

Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Saudi Pro League clubs are also in the mix to sign the Argentinian stopper, who could be available for between £35 million to £40 million after switching agencies.

Andre Onana vs Emiliano Martinez – who is the better goalkeeper?

Andre Onana – Premier League (before final day)

Saves

90

Save percentage rate

67.2%

Goals conceded

44

Goals prevented

0.53

Clean sheets

9

Emiliano Martinez – Premier League (before final day)

Saves

95

Save percentage rate

67.9%

Goals conceded

45

Goals prevented

0.42

Clean sheets

8

Labelled “brilliant” by Alan Shearer, Martinez has kept 15 clean sheets in 52 appearances across all competitions this campaign, helping the Villans to put on a strong showing across several fronts.

Now, Manchester United have a task on their hands in convincing the former Arsenal man that a move to Old Trafford is the best course of action at this stage of his career. Onana leaving the club will also be crucial to making that notion a reality. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if that possibility will evolve into a done deal.