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While KKR will be bolstered by Narine’s return, MI have a 9-2 record against them at the Wankhede

Vishal Dikshit30-Mar-20251:48

Rapid Fire Review – Serious concerns for Mumbai?

Big picture – MI seek first win on homecomingWhether you are in Mumbai city or the Mumbai Indians (MI) dressing room, it has started getting hot. While the temperatures in Mumbai have hit 35°C, MI must be feeling uneasy about their position on the points table: tenth.MI have traditionally been slow starters in the IPL, having not won their opening game since 2012, and scraping through to the playoffs at the last minute at times, including in 2023. While they could draw confidence from their 2023 campaign – they were without Jasprit Bumrah even then – they have plenty of other kinks to iron out this time as they prepare to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday.In captain Hardik Pandya’s own words, MI’s top order hasn’t come to the party yet, with totals of 155 for 9 and 160 for 6 in two games so far. Against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday, they committed numerous fielding errors and probably made a mistake with their batting order too. As they finally get home after two away games, they have had only one day’s break.Related

Sunil Narine fit to play against Mumbai Indians on Monday

Manjrekar: 'Things are slipping away' for Rohit Sharma

KKR coach bats for home teams getting favourable conditions

In the absence of Bumrah, who would have been primarily their death bowler, MI’s new-ball specialists – Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar – have largely been ineffective, with just one wicket between them in the powerplay. Lack of runs from the senior batters – especially Rohit Sharma – is hurting them too. The sooner MI fix those issues, the better it will be as two of their next three games are again away from home.KKR, meanwhile, don’t have that many issues to worry about. They adjusted very well on the slow track of Guwahati even without Sunil Narine, who was unwell for that game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) but is now 100% fit. Different batters chipped in against RR and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and be it spin department or pace, KKR’s bowling looks a lot more potent and well-rounded than MI’s. They have not even had to bowl Andre Russell yet, who was their joint-second-highest wicket-taker in the victorious campaign last season.Will Mitchell Santner miss out if MI include Reece Topley?•Mumbai IndiansTeam news and likely XIIsMI left out Will Jacks and recent-debutant Vignesh Puthur against GT to bring in Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Hardik. They might bring in the tall left-arm quick Reece Topley for the red-soil surface at home, which aids pace and bounce. Topley’s ability to bowl yorkers will give MI another option in the death overs on a ground with small boundaries. Including him could mean leaving out either Mujeeb or Mitchell Santner.Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Robin Minz, 7 Naman Dhir, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Mitchell Santner/Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Trent Boult, 11 S Raju, 12 Reece TopleyNarine will slot right back in for KKR, which means leaving Moeen Ali out despite him bagging 2 for 23 against RR.Kolkata Knight Riders (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Spencer Johnson, 10 Vaibhav Arora, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Harshit RanaBig questionShould Hardik bat ahead of Robin Minz? When Hardik returned to action in Ahmedabad, the captain sent the inexperienced Minz above himself when MI needed a stiff 100 off 51 balls on a tricky pitch. Hardik himself may want to shoulder more responsibility going forward to not leave as much work for Minz.In the spotlight – Rohit Sharma and Angkrish RaghuvanshiRohit Sharma bagged a duck against CSK, and lasted just four balls to score 8 against GT when an inducker from Mohammed Siraj castled him. While many batters may not have had an answer to that Siraj delivery, Rohit’s dismissal against CSK – a flick to midwicket – brought back memories of similar dismissals that plagued him in the Tests against New Zealand and Australia, and in the Ranji Trophy before he got back into runs in ODIs. Despite a century against England at home and a 76 in the Champions Trophy final, Rohit looks far from the batter that used to take down bowlers after having his eye in, in the IPL. Now, back to his home ground where he has played for nearly 20 years, MI will bank on Rohit to give them the start they missed in the first two matches.Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored quick runs in the middle order•AFP/Getty ImagesAlso returning home is Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who moved from Delhi to Mumbai at the age of 11. He has, however, played only one game at the senior level at the Wankhede – in last year’s IPL – when he scored 13 off six balls against MI. But he has had two good IPL seasons, and with his tall frame and sound technique, he will hope to get some runs in the city that has adopted him.Pitch and conditionsThis is the first game at the Wankhede this IPL, and the ground is expected to see humidity and a decent sea breeze coming in from Marine Drive. Even though the dew isn’t expected to play a big role, the teams might still play it safe and bowl first. With short boundaries awaiting the crowd that is likely to make the game a sellout, they should be ready for some catching practice.Key stats Boult and Chahar with the new ball against KKR’s top order could make for a delicious contest. Boult has dismissed Ajinkya Rahane three times in six IPL innings (strike rate 97), Narine four times in four T20s (strike rate 135), and Quinton de Kock six times in nine T20s (strike rate 114). Chahar has also removed de Kock four times (strike rate 117.50), Rahane four times in four IPL innings (strike rate 91.30), and Narine twice in four T20s but while leaking at 209.09. The Wankhede is also a home ground for KKR’s new captain Rahane, who averages 40 there in the IPL against MI, with three half-centuries from ten innings. Rahane scored his fastest IPL half-century, off 19 balls, at the Wankhede two years ago when he was with CSK. MI dominate KKR in the head-to-head rivalry at this ground, with a 9-2 record. However, KKR have won five of the last six matches against MI.Venkatesh Iyer’s lowest score against MI is 42. He averages 72.40 against them in six matches, with a century and three half-centuries, while striking at 165.29. Rohit has been dismissed by Narine ten times in all T20s. No bowler has dismissed a batter more times, which is level with Dwayne Bravo getting Kieron Pollard, who are in the KKR and MI dressing rooms, respectively. Suryakumar Yadav is only 20 away from 8000 runs in T20s.Next three fixturesAfter their first home game at Wankhede, Mumbai fly out to Lucknow to play Lucknow Super Giants, then come back to host RCB before going to Delhi to play Delhi Capitals.KKR will return home from the west coast for two home fixtures – against Sunrisers Hyderabad and LSG – before going down south to play CSK.Quotes”There should not be a concern [about the batting]… and it’s [at an] early stage. But at the same point of time, I think batters have to come to the party. And yeah, hopefully they come soon.”
“More than anything, I’m focused on how well our team played in the last game. Mumbai Indians haven’t been performing at that level, which gives us another advantage to put pressure on them.”

Birmingham City suffered a shock defeat to Port Vale in the League Cup on Tuesday night. The Valiants are currently sitting 41 places below Birmingham in the league pyramid, and post-match, Chris Davies tried to explain the result, via the club’s official channels.

“I think overall, we just didn’t find our normal rhythm to our game that we are so used to seeing – especially at home. Ultimately, we’ve gone behind to a set-piece, which can happen, but we just couldn’t find enough of our normal fluidity to create pressure and chances.”

The Birmingham boss thought that his side’s lack of attacking threat was a bigger concern than the goal they conceded: “Our connections, our passes, we weren’t as quick onto the ball as we normally are. A little bit of our intensity wasn’t there; they broke away a few times and got up the pitch. We just couldn’t find those chances.”

The Blues only managed an xG of 0.33 and didn’t register a shot on goal despite having 70% possession. Following the defeat, Birmingham have entered the race for an attacking talent who may help them avoid a repeat of their League Cup embarrassment in the Championship.

Birmingham turn to Celtic for new forward

Birmingham City are the latest club to enter the race for Yang Hyunjun as they “approach” Celtic to discuss a permanent deal, via Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph. The 23-year-old currently has three years left on their contract.

The Scottish champions have received a number of inquiries about the South Korean so far this window from clubs including Legia Warsaw, Gent and Norwich City, and when Norwich came in for the winger, it was reported that he indicated to Celtic his desire to explore a move away from the club

Warsaw inquired about Yang in early July, and they have since signed Sparta Prague winger Ermal Krasniqi on loan. Sky Sports have also reported that Gent are out of the race for Yang. Like Warsaw, Norwich have also signed an alternate winger since their Celtic inquiry with Senegal’s Papa Amadou Diallo.

This indicates that Birmingham’s rivals for Yang may be out of the race, allowing them a free run at the forward.

Suitors moved away from Yang, but that shouldn't dissuade Birmingham

While the Huddersfield game has illustrated Birmingham’s need to sign another attacker, the fact that numerous teams have inquired about Yang and gone in a different direction may raise concerns for some Birmingham fans.

Sky Sports went into detail about Gent’s decision not to sign Yang, saying: “The Belgian club’s head of recruitment and director of football both wanted to sign the South Korea international. However, it’s understood the manager, Ivan Leko, ultimately blocked the move as he wanted a left-footer with a better goals and assists record.”

Last season, Yang got 11 goal involvements in 34 appearances, which, while a decent return, isn’t an exceptional feat. What makes Yang’s record more impressive is that in the league, his 23 appearances lasted an average of 42 minutes, which indicates that when given the chance to play, he makes the most of it.

Despite his limited opportunities, Yang’s work ethic has been praised by Celtic’s Arne Engels, who, when asked about him, described Yang as “unbelievable”.

This indicates that Yang has the positive attitude and work ethic that will help in Birmingham’s promotion push, and his goal involvement will likely increase when he is given more opportunities to play.

Liverpool won the Premier League last season, and quite remarkably at that.

Over the past decade, the Reds have gone from bad to good to great to incredible, and it’s through the defining presumption of their brilliance under Jurgen Klopp that they have been expected to compete for the biggest honours each year.

But that changed when Arne Slot arrived last summer. This relative unknown had stepped into big old boots and was expected to drift away like flotsam. He couldn’t replace Klopp: didn’t Liverpool want Xabi Alonso, anyway?

Doubt is one of the first conditions any manager is forced to deal with in the Premier League, both from outside and within, but Slot knuckled down and thrived across his maiden year as the Anfield head coach, not just winning the top-flight title but blowing the competition out of the water.

And he did it with minimal transfer investment, which is quite a thing. However, that’s all changed this summer, and FSG are still keen on bolstering Slot’s squad before the market deadline in under two weeks.

Why Liverpool need a left winger

Should Liverpool complete a statement deal for Isak this summer, the impressive Hugo Ekitike would have a tough time starting invariably from number nine.

Both strikers are men of mobility, and some would say Ekitike’s pace and dynamism lend themselves to a role on the wing. But that is not his natural berth.

In this respect, Liverpool could do with some more depth to even out any wrinkles in Slot’s title-winning team; it’s a new season, and now Liverpool are title challengers just like the rest.

Slot must not ride the coattails of his own previous success, and must instead propose to FSG a plan to complete the Merseyside frontline, even with Federico Chiesa and the Reds in harmony over a role at Anfield across the year for the Italian.

Isak’s stature and track record within the European game demand his signature being a priority, but Liverpool need a left winger all the same, with Cody Gakpo the only senior option operating naturally from the berth.

Rio Ngumoha looks like a fantastic talent, but overburdening him this year could run counter to the hopes of him reaching his ceiling. If the stars align, sporting director Richard Hughes must sign an alternative.

Liverpool ready late bid for new winger

According to Anfield Watch, Liverpool remain interested in signing Lyon winger Malick Fofana this summer, having opened a line of communication with the French club when selling Tyler Morton to them at the start of August.

In fact, it’s felt that FSG’s desire to sign a left winger is separate from the bid for Isak, and that Liverpool are ‘ready’ to strike a late deal for Fofana, having scouted him across the transfer window.

Valued at around £43m, Fofana’s signature would be attainable following the sales of forwards like Diaz and Darwin Nunez, and he would arrive primed to rival Gakpo for a starting spot on the left flank.

Transfer Focus

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

What Malick Fofana would bring to Liverpool

Gakpo proved on Friday evening that he’s more than just a goalscorer. Not that he needed to prove anything following a year of meteoric progress in Slot’s Liverpool system.

But the Dutchman has his detractors, with some clamouring for a new winger like Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, whose future is up in the air and who has been linked with a move to Liverpool across the summer.

However, Rodrygo would cost something in the region of £86m, and he’d expect to start every week. In a rising prospect like Fofana, Slot would not find that problem at his desk, but rather, would be able to work with an exciting talent who could operate in flux with Gakpo.

Fofana, 20, has enjoyed a rip-roaring start to life in French football, joining Lyon from Genk when he was only 18. Last season, he scored 11 goals and supplied six more assists across 41 matches in all competitions, of which only 23 were starts.

Hailed for his “explosive” style of play by analyst Ben Mattinson, Fofana ranks among the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe over the past year for goals scored and the top 3% for progressive carries per 90, with such data presented by FBref.

Looking at this data, we can see in Fofana a talented player looking to blend his high-speed running with a natural eye for goal, and in this way, he shares some of Gakpo’s strengths but could actually end up outstripping the Netherlands star.

Matches (starts)

29 (16)

35 (23)

Goals

5

10

Assists

4

4

Shots (on target)*

1.1 (0.5)

1.6 (0.7)

Big chances missed

4

6

Pass completion

84%

84%

Big chances created

6

11

Key passes*

0.9

1.1

Dribbles*

0.8

0.9

Tackles*

1.1

0.8

Duels won*

2.9

3.1

Though Gakpo is currently more clinical and more effective, it’s promising to note that the fleet-footed Fofana has already shown signs of prolific shooting and that he is equally crisp and effective on the ball.

Given the need for depth at Liverpool this season and beyond, should Slot hope to not just defend his Premier League title but claim further silverware too, adding a player like Fofana for a shrewd figure could be a fantastic move.

He would arrive on Merseyside without the weight of expectation that certain other transfer targets would bring, but the Lyon winger could still add much to the Redmen cause, and might even nail down a starting berth on the left wing in the coming years.

Wirtz will love him: Liverpool chasing "world-class" £86m Isak alternative

Liverpool have earmarked this European superstar as a potential signing before the end of the window.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 19, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Em um jogo que se provou perigoso e ofereceu oportunidades aos dois lados para saírem com a vitória, o Internacional se deu melhor e bateu o Goiás no Beira-Rio por 1 a 0, em duelo válido pela terceira rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. E Carlos de Pena, que decidiu o confronto com um belo chute da entrada da área, admitiu que costuma treinar este tipo de finalização e já foi para a bola com a intenção de buscar o gol.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasInternacionalVÍDEO: Veja os melhores lances e o golaço que deu a vitória ao Internacional sobre o GoiásInternacional30/04/2023InternacionalCom golaço de De Pena, Internacional vence o Goiás pelo BrasileirãoInternacional30/04/2023

+É na terça! Veja os times e regras para o sorteio das oitavas da Copa do Brasil 2023

– A bola sobrou. Eu tinha em mente chutar. Às vezes entra, às vezes não. No outro dia, a bola passou perto da trave, mas hoje significou a vitória. São mais três pontos e estamos nas primeiras posições da tabela.

+Em casa, Santos supera Internacional e fica mais próximo de classificação no Brasileirão Feminino

De Pena ainda fez questão de reconhecer que a equipe ficou devendo no meio de semana, na Copa do Brasil, apesar da classificação. Depois de vencer o CSA por 2 a 1 em casa, o Colorado foi derrotado pelo mesmo placar como visitante e precisou decidir a vaga nos pênaltis, com vitória por 7 a 6.

continua após a publicidade

+Delegação do Inter alega que foi agredida por torcedores do CSA

O volante uruguaio destacou que o resultado sobre o Goiás também serve como uma resposta para os torcedores, que esperavam esquecer o sofrimento da partida de Alagoas com uma vitória no Beira-Rio.

+VÍDEO: Veja os melhores lances e o golaço que deu a vitória ao Internacional sobre o Goiás

– Foi um gol muito importante para mim, porque significou a vitória. Tivemos uma classificação sofrida na Copa do Brasil, precisávamos confirmar. Às vezes sofremos demais, mas é o futebol. Os três pontos em casa eram muito importantes. Fico muito feliz pelo gol, claro.

continua após a publicidade

A vitória deixou o Internacional na quarta colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro, com sete pontos conquistados em três jogos — mesmo somatório de Fortaleza e Palmeiras. No próximo domingo, a equipe viaja ao Morumbi para enfrentar o São Paulo, pela quarta rodada da competição, a partir das 16h (de Brasília).

There are a number of players within the Glasgow Rangers squad at Ibrox who are facing uncertain futures at the club during the summer transfer window.

The likes of Nicolas Raskin, Mohamed Diomande, Hamza Igamane, and Cyriel Dessers have been linked with moves away from the club, as European sides are looking to snap them up.

However, at the time of writing, the Scottish Premiership giants have not accepted any bids from teams for any of their star performers this summer.

One player who does look set to be on his way out of Ibrox, though, is central defender Robin Propper, after FC Twente and Rangers agreed a fee for the defender, who is now negotiating an exit with the club.

There are also players in the squad who have not been linked with moves away, yet they may still be playing for their long-term future under Russell Martin during pre-season.

Oscar Cortes’ 18-month loan deal finally turned into a permanent transfer, for a reported fee of £4m, this summer, but it remains to be seen if he has a future at Ibrox.

Why Oscar Cortes may not have a future at Ibrox

The Colombian forward first arrived in Glasgow on loan from French side Lens in the January transfer window in 2024, and spent 18 months on loan at the club before his permanent transfer became official at the start of July.

However, injury issues have plagued his career in Scotland to date. Cortes has only played 16 times in competitive games for the Light Blues so far, including just 11 appearances in the entire 2024/25 campaign.

This means that Martin cannot rely on the winger to be available on a regular basis for the Gers moving forward, until the 21-year-old gem proves that he can avoid injuries for a prolonged period of time.

For now, there is no guarantee that he can be relied upon as a starter because he has only been available for 16 games in the last 18 months, which is simply not enough.

24/25 Premiership	Oscar Cortes
Appearances	10
Starts	4
Goals	0
Big chances created	0
Key passes per game	0.4
Assists	0
Dribbles completed per game	0.6
Stats via Sofascore

As concerning is the fact that his performances on the pitch have also left a lot to be desired, as you can see in the table above, as he did not deliver any goal contributions in the Premiership last season.

Cortes was given opportunities when fit and available, as shown by the fact that he started 40% of his appearances despite his injury issues, but did not repay the faith shown in him with quality performances.

This is why the former Lens man, who can play on the left or the right flank, may not have a long-term future at Ibrox unless he can turn his career around by keeping fit and delivering quality displays on the pitch.

A fresh report linking Rangers with interest in another right-sided attacker does not spell good news for Cortes, though, as the club could land an upgrade on him.

Martin pushing Rangers to sign Premier League winger

According to Football Insider, Glasgow Rangers are interested in a potential swoop to bring Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to Ibrox from Crystal Palace this summer.

The report claims that Martin is the driving force behind the club’s eagerness to secure a deal with the Premier League side for the 22-year-old attacker, as he would like to work with the gem next season.

Transfer Focus

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

Martin tried and failed to sign him on loan from Palace during his time in charge of both Swansea and Southampton in the English Championship, which shows that Rak-Sakyi has been a long-term target for the former Norwich defender.

Football Insider adds that Rangers would like to bolster their options in the wide areas, particularly after Vaclav Cerny returned to Wolfsburg after his loan spell at the club, and that they are keen to bring the Eagles youngster, who is valued at up to £10m, in on loan for next season.

It now remains to be seen whether Martin will finally get his wish at the third time of asking, or if he will fail in his pursuit of a deal for Rak-Sakyi once again in his managerial career.

Why Rak-Sakyi would be an upgrade on Cortes

The 22-year-old English winger would arrive at Ibrox as a big upgrade on Cortes if the club can strike a deal with the Premier League side to sign him on loan.

Rak-Sakyi’s availability, first and foremost, would make him an upgrade on the Colombian. The former England U21 international played 36 times for Sheffield United in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, which means that he played 21 more games than the Rangers flop managed.

This suggests that the Palace attacker is far more likely to be available for Martin to select on a week-to-week basis next season, as he does not have as bad of a recent injury history as the ex-Lens flanker.

Rak-Sakyi, once dubbed “remarkable” by Roy Hodgson, would also join Rangers as an upgrade on Cortes because of the quality that he can provide whilst playing on the right wing, cutting in on his left foot to provide a big threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for his side.

24/25 Championship per 90	Jesurun Rak-Sakyi	Percentile rank vs wingers
xG	0.32	Top 13%
Goals	0.36	Top 11%
xA	0.18	Top 22%
Assists	0.10	Bottom 46%
Chances created	1.51	Top 31%
Dribbles completed	2.44	Top 7%
Touches in the opposition box	7.69	Top 2%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the £10m-rated star ranked incredibly highly in a host of key attacking metrics in the Championship last season, although he was unfortunate to rank lowly for assists given how many high-quality chances he created.

Rak-Sakyi scored seven goals and provided two assists in 22 starts in the division for Sheffield United, which is nine more goal contributions than the zero Cortes produced for Rangers in his ten outings in the Premiership.

Therefore, Rangers could land a big upgrade on their £4m winger by signing the Palace winger this summer, both because of his potential to be available with greater regularity and because of the quality that he can offer at the top end of the pitch.

Raskin repeat: Rangers racing to sign £9m "set-piece specialist" at Ibrox

Rangers are reportedly interested in a deal for a star who could be their next Nicolas Raskin.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 14, 2025

Glasgow Rangers officially kicked off the 2025/26 campaign by playing their first pre-season friendly in front of supporters at Ibrox against Club Brugge on Sunday.

The Light Blues found themselves 2-0 down at half-time, having conceded twice in the opening 12 minutes, but second-half goals from Mohamed Diomande and Findlay Curtis ensured that they avoided defeat.

Russell Martin was without some of his summer signings to choose from, though, as the likes of Thelo Aasgaard and Joe Rothwell, for example, watched on from the sidelines.

The former Scotland international did get to see Emmanuel Fernandez and Max Aarons out on the pitch for the first time, as the Scottish giants ramp up their preparations for their Champions League qualifying clash with Panathinaikos.

Martin will surely be hoping to get Aasgaard up to speed as quickly as possible in the next couple of weeks, because the former Luton attacking midfielder has the potential to be an exciting addition to the team.

Why Thelo Aasgaard is an exciting signing for Rangers

The Gers recently snapped up the 23-year-old attacker on a four-year contract after agreeing a reported fee of £3.5m to sign him from the English League One outfit.

Aasgaard left the Hatters just six months after he signed for the club from Wigan Athletic, as they were relegated from the Championship last season, which activated a relegation release clause in his contract at Kennilworth Road.

Rangers took advantage of that to bring him to Ibrox this summer, and they will now be hoping that he plays a key role on the pitch for Martin for many years to come.

Whilst some supporters may not want to hear this, Aasgaard is similar in style to Todd Cantwell. He is another attacking midfielder who can also play out wide and thrive as a roaming number ten who can carry the ball and dribble past players, rather than being outstanding as a goalscorer or a creator.

Goals

0.12

Top 24%

Progressive carries

1.61

Top 26%

Take-ons attempted

2.74

Top 12%

Successful take-ons

1.31

Top 9%

Touches in opposition penalty box

2.62

Top 14%

Fouls won

1.96

Top 11%

As you can see in the table above, the Liverpool-born midfielder thrives with the ball at his feet in the middle of the park, picking it up in pockets of space that allow him to then drive forward into the box, taking players on or winning fouls.

He only produced two goals and one assist in his 17 Championship outings for Luton, though, and Martin may want him to improve his output in the final third at Ibrox.

It is his ball-carrying and willingness to take players on, though, that could make him an exciting signing for the club, who are now eyeing up a forward who would be even more exciting than Aasgaard.

Rangers eyeing Premier League winger

According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are one of the clubs in the race to secure a deal for Crystal Palace youngster Jesurun Rak-Sakyi this summer.

The report claims that the Light Blues are ‘chasing’ a move to sign the left-footed star, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Sheffield United in the Championship.

Transfer Focus

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

It reveals that Palace are ready to demand a fee of around £10m to allow the right winger to move on from Selhurst Park before the end of the summer transfer window.

Rangers, however, would prefer to land the talented young forward on a season-long loan, rather than to splash the cash out to sign him permanently, but they would be willing to do a permanent deal if the asking price is reduced.

It now remains to be seen whether or not the Scottish giants can convince the Eagles to allow the dynamo to leave on loan, which may depend on whether or not any other teams are prepared to meet their £10m valuation for a permanent deal.

Why Rangers should sign Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

Vaclav Cerny returning to Wolfsburg at the end of last season, after his loan spell at Ibrox came to an end, left a hole in the team in the right wing position.

This means that Rak-Sakyi could slot straight into the starting XI as Martin’s right winger to replace the Czechia international, and his form for Sheffield United suggests that he has the potential to make an immediate impact.

Whilst Aasgaard is an exciting player in his own right, due to his technical ability, the Crystal Palace youngster would be even more exciting for supporters because he also has the ability to deliver goals and assists to get fans out of their seats.

The 22-year-old whiz, who produced 15 goals and eight assists in League One for Charlton in the 2022/23 campaign, ended last season with a return of seven goals and two assists in 22 league starts for the Blades.

This shows that he is more likely to make an impact in front of goal than Aasgaard in the Scottish Premiership next season, as the Norway international only managed two goals and one assist in the same division.

xG

0.32

Top 13%

Goals

0.36

Top 11%

xG on target

0.36

Top 9%

xA

0.18

Top 22%

Assists

0.10

Bottom 47%

Successful dribbles

2.44

Top 7%

As you can see in the table above, Rak-Sakyi ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of key attacking statistics, aside from assists, which shows that his teammates let him down with their wasteful finishing.

The left-footed star, once hailed as “remarkable” by Roy Hodgson, is a forward who can provide a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals on a regular basis, whilst also consistently taking on opposition defenders, as shown by his 2.44 successful dribbles per 90.

This suggests that Rak-Sakyi could be an incredibly exciting player for Rangers supporters to watch, because he can combine exciting dribbling skills with quality end product in the final third.

Whereas Aasgaard has the technical and dribbling ability to get around the pitch, but needs to prove that he can deliver the goals and assists to go along with it, which is why the Palace winger could be an even better signing for Martin in the here and now.

Ibrox's Cerny replacement: Rangers eyeing £9m ace who's "difficult to stop"

Rangers are eyeing up a deal for a star who would be a perfect replacement for Vaclav Cerny.

ByDan Emery Jul 7, 2025

The opener made 81, while Rodrigues chipped in with a 15-ball unbeaten 28 to help India out-bat Nepal

Srinidhi Ramanujam23-Jul-2024

Shafali Verma blitzed her way to a 26-ball fifty•Getty Images

Shafali Verma’s career-best 81 and a disciplined bowling effort propelled India into the semi-finals of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 with an 82-run win over Nepal. With three wins from three games, India topped Group A. Pakistan, who defeated UAE earlier in the afternoon, were the second team to advance to the knockouts, with two wins out of three.Opting to bat first, the Smriti Mandhana-led India posted 178 for 3 thanks to Shafali’s breezy knock and a solid opening stand with D Hemalatha. It was an uphill task for Nepal, who don’t play under lights and, against an in-form bowling attack, they could only manage 96 for 9 in 20 overs.Shafali blazes away but Hemalatha scratchyWith the semi-final spot almost in the bag, India rested their regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur and allrounder Pooja Vastrakar and gave some game time to S Sajana and Arundhati Reddy. There was also a change at the top of the order, with India promoting Hemalatha to open with Shafali. The openers took their time to assess the conditions and several loose deliveries went unpunished early on. But soon enough Shafali found her feet and accelerated. The same cannot be said of her opening partner on the day.D Hemalatha scored her T20I best of 47 in a 122-run opening stand with Shafali Verma•Getty ImagesAfter an unbeaten 41 against Bangladesh in April in her comeback game, Hemalatha had crossed 30 only once in the next eight innings across ODIs and T20Is before Tuesday. This however was a golden opportunity for Hemalatha to cement her spot in the XI, batting against an Associate team on a slow surface. She did get a few good shots away thanks to a strong bottom hand, but in general struggled to find her timing in a 42-ball 47.Shafali, on the other hand, capitalised on the Nepal bowlers’ struggle to find the right line and length. She used her feet and wrist well to flick, hit straight drives down the ground, slog sweep to deep midwicket and, overall, played with good intent. India finished the powerplay on 50 for 0 and Shafali brought up her tenth T20I fifty in the eighth over, off just 26 balls. At the halfway stage, India were 91 for 0 and looked set to breach the 200-run mark again.India finish strong despite a brief stutterHowever, Nepal’s experienced left-arm spinner Sita Rana Magar pulled things back and removed Hemalatha and Shafali in the 14th and 16th over respectively. Shafali ended her knock with 12 fours and a six, and the duo’s 122-run partnership was the highest opening stand across editions of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup and the second-highest for any wicket.Sita Rana Magar was the pick of the Nepal bowlers•Getty ImagesIndia’s scoring rate slowed down when the new batters came in but Jemimah Rodrigues’ clever batting, which fetched her five fours in her 15-ball 28 not out, helped India get close to 180. Sajana, like Hemalatha, also struggled in her 12-ball stay. Whether India persist with Hemalatha or give more opportunities to Sajana at No. 3 is something to keep an eye on, leading up to the T20 World Cup in October.Reddy grabs her opportunityAn injury to Titas Sadhu opened the door for Reddy to get back with the Indian squad, following impressive performances in domestic cricket and the WPL. In the limited opportunities she has got since her comeback against South Africa last month, Reddy has stepped up to the challenge. Against Nepal, she delivered again, picking up 2 for 28 in her four overs. Having worked on her variations and the ability to swing the ball both ways in the last 12 to 15 months, Reddy struck off her fourth delivery, bowling opener Samjhana Khadka. She went for 11 runs in her second over, but fought back to dismiss Magar for a 22-ball 18 with a delivery that seamed back in to hit the middle stump.Nepal were rocked early in the chase, and never really recovered.

Papua New Guinea captain Assad Vala said that their batters couldn’t adjust to the Providence Stadium pitch against Uganda on Wednesday. PNG were bowled out for 77, their lowest total in T20Is, and eventually suffered their second defeat at the T20 World Cup 2024. in what turned out to be a low-scoring encounter.Hiri Hiri’s 15 was the top score for PNG, while only two others reached double figures. They succumbed to Uganda’s pace bowlers first, and then the spinners took grip of their batting. Vala, who fell in the first over for a duck, felt that there were too many soft dismissals in their innings.”Because it was a new wicket, we didn’t have a target set,” Vala said. “We said to give ourselves a few overs then see how we go from there. As the game progressed, I think we didn’t do that. I think the batters that played today really let ourselves down. We didn’t do as we planned.”We had a lot of soft dismissals. I think anything just over 100 was a good score on that wicket. It was a challenging wicket to bat on. They bowled really well but a lot of soft dismissals from us put them on top. They never gave us any chance to get back into the game. So, credit to them as well.”Alei Nao got the early breakthroughs for Papua New Guinea•ICC via Getty Images

Vala however lauded his bowlers who reduced Uganda to 6 for 3 in the third over. They further slipped to 26 for 5 before Riazat Ali Shah and Juma Miyagi restored the Uganda innings with a 35-run stand. Riazat enjoyed some luck in his crucial 33, surviving an easy dropped chance by fielder Charles Amini on 8; that was one of two dropped chances let off by PNG in their defense of a small target.”I thought that the effort from the bowlers really brought us back into the game,” Vala said. “There weren’t enough runs on the board for them to defend. We started really well with three early wickets.”You need everything to go your way in a small total. We created the opportunities at the same time. When we need to take those chances, I don’t know what to say anymore. It is a disappointing effort from us.”Vala doesn’t want his troop to drop their shoulders yet. They have matches against Afghanistan and New Zealand next, so he wants to see the energy levels they displayed against West Indies in their opening game.”We are coming up against two Full Member nations in Afghanistan and New Zealand in the next two games in Trinidad. I think we need to be up for that,” he said. “We don’t get the opportunity to play against those teams so when the opportunity is in front of us, we need to make the best of it.”I think we need to have the full energy, determination and attitude towards playing against top teams. We got outplayed today, to be honest. We didn’t play as well as we did against West Indies so we need to have the right attitude in the next two games.”

Tottenham Hotspur have now held direct talks to appoint an “outstanding” manager, with Ange Postecoglou heading for the exit door, according to a report.

Ange could be set to leave despite Europa League triumph

One year ago, INEOS arguably made the mistake of keeping Erik ten Hag in the Manchester United job after the Dutchman led them to victory in the FA Cup, and it appears as though Daniel Levy doesn’t want to make the same error this summer.

Indeed, widespread reports are now suggesting that Levy is set to sack Postecoglou, despite the historic Europa League triumph against Manchester United last month, which puts captain Son Heung-min among some esteemed company.

It may be a divisive decision to sack the manager responsible for leading Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years, but appointing a top-quality replacement could go some way to getting the fans back on side, and contact has now been made with a coach who could be in that category.

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna on X, Tottenham have now made “direct contact” with Brentford manager Thomas Frank, who spoke about his project and potential targets for the summer transfer window.

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Several candidates are said to be under consideration as potential replacements for Ange, but Frank is believed to be “high” on the list, and Spurs have now made their first move to appoint the Danish manager.

In another report from France, it is detailed that Ange’s future remains very much up in the air, with talks to discuss his position as manager due to take place at some point in the next week.

Frank could be "outstanding" Ange replacement

Deciding whether to sack the 59-year-old will no doubt be a difficult decision for Levy, given that Tottenham’s torrid Premier League form cannot be ignored, finishing 17th as a result of collecting just 38 points across the entire 2024-25 campaign.

However, the former Celtic boss has suggested his side’s first experience of success will make them more eager to make sure they’re in the same position again, saying: “I also wanted us to think about what’s next, you know — don’t settle for this. We’ve got a taste of it now. My players have got a taste for it. The club’s got a taste for it. Well, let’s make sure we’re back here again.”

Should Levy decide to sack Ange, there are signs Frank could be a fantastic replacement, having been lauded as an “outstanding” manager by Troy Deeney, while leading Brentford to a very respectable 10th-placed finish last season.

Having transformed the Bees from a Championship club into a solid Premier League side, the 51-year-old, who utilises a 4-3-3 formation, has earned the opportunity to prove himself at the top level, showing a knack for turning attacking talents into some of the biggest stars in their division.

Said Benrahma, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins and Neal Maupay all thrived under his guidance, with only Watkins able to replicate that form elsewhere, while current forwards Yoane Wissa (19) and Bryan Mbeumo (20) combined for nearly 40 top flight goals this season.

Football pundit Micah Richards believes a Leeds United target who the 49ers have made an approach for will “light it up” should he leave Man City this summer, according to a new report.

James McAtee’s Man City career could be coming to an end amid Leeds links

James McAtee has been at the Etihad for his entire football career, but he has yet to nail down a regular starting spot. The 22-year-old has played just 34 times for City in total, 15 of which have come this season in the Premier League.

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McAtee’s most successful time in recent seasons came on loan at Sheffield United, where he was a regular starter and thrived in the second tier.

After his latest spell with the Blades, City decided to keep hold of McAtee, but it is a move that has seen his career stall, as he’s struggled to win over Pep Guardiola, and it’s now been reported that he is ready to leave the Etihad.

The attacking midfielder is out of contract in 2026, and given his situation at the Etihad, Premier League-bound Leeds United have made an enquiry over the possibility of securing a transfer for McAtee this summer.

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The Whites are not the only team chasing McAtee, as Nottingham Forest are also keen on landing the England under-21 international. It could be a costly deal for the Yorkshire side, as City are said to value the midfielder at around £35 million.

Micah Richards: McAtee will "light it up" should he leave Man City

The latest development in McAtee’s situation at Man City saw the midfielder left out of their FA Cup final squad on Saturday, and according to pundit Micah Richards, McAtee would “light it up” should he leave the Blues.

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer believes McAtee needs to leave City if he wants to play regularly. Speaking on the latest episode of ‘The Rest Is Football’, via Leeds Live: “He [McAtee] is not getting in their team. He’s another one that is going to have to leave.”

Richards went on to agree with Shearer’s comments and added that “he’s got something special” and will “light it up” in a new team.

McAtee has played 48 times in the Premier League, scoring six goals in the process, and if Leeds do sign him, they will hope his experience of the division, even though it is limited, will help them next season, and he can be a creative force in their forward line.