اعترف روبن دياز، لاعب فريق مانشستر سيتي، أنهم لا يستطيعون الاعتماد على الخبرة فقط في سعيهم لتكرار ثلاثية الموسم الماضي.
كان مانشستر سيتي قد حقق ثلاثية الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، دوري أبطال أوروبا وكأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي موسم 2022/23.
وينافس مانشستر سيتي، هذا الموسم، في الدوري الإنجليزي حيث يحتل المركز الثاني بفارق نقطة عن ليفربول، قبل مباراتهما المحتدمة الأحد المقبل.
في حين تأهل مانشستر سيتي إلى ربع نهائي كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي لمواجهة نيوكاسل يونايتد، كما فاز على كوبنهاجن بنتيجة 3-1 في ذهاب دور الـ16 من دوري الأبطال.
وقال روبن دياز في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “إندبندنت” الإنجليزية: “كل عام جديد يمثل تحديًا جديدًا، وكل عام جديد يجب علينا التغلب على ما فعلناه من قبل”.
وأضاف: “رغم أن ما حدث قد حدث، وهو رائع، إلا أننا نعلم أنه إذا أردنا القيام بذلك مرة أخرى، فيجب علينا أن نكون أقوياء وعميقين مرة أخرى”.
وواصل: “نحن نفس الأشخاص، نحن نفس اللاعبين الذين فزنا بالثلاثية، ولهذا السبب أصبحنا فائزين بالثلاثية الموسم الماضي، ولهذا السبب نريد الفوز مرة أخرى”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. ووكر عن فودين بعد تألقه أمام مانشستر يونايتد: قناص.. ولم أفعل شيئًا تجاه راشفورد
وأثنى روبن دياز على زميله النجم فيل فودين، بعد تألقه في مباراة الأمس ضد مانشستر يونايتد، حيث سجل هدفين.
وكان بيب جوارديولا قد صرّح بأن فودين يُعد أحد أفضل اللاعبين في الدوري الإنجليزي هذا الموسم، وهو ما يتفق معه دياز.
وعن ذلك، قال البرتغالي: “يجب أن أوافق على أنه واحد منهم بالتأكيد، لقد كان دائمًا مميزًا، ويستمر في كونه هكذا، هذا ليس مفاجئًا بالنسبة لي ولنا جميعًا في الفريق وفي عالم كرة القدم، أنا سعيد جدًا من أجله ودعونا نسمح له بالاستمرار”.
واستمر: “من الواضح أنه يتمتع بقدرة خاصة، لهذا السبب هو فيل فودين ولهذا السبب ندرك جميعًا نوع اللاعب الذي هو عليه”.
وأكد: “الديربي كان مهمًا بالتأكيد، من الواضح أنها كانت مباراة خاصة بالنسبة لنا، ولكن الأهم من أي شيء آخر هو النقاط الثلاث ونحن نمضي قدمًا”.
واختتم: “الآن نتجه إلى دوري أبطال أوروبا، التركيز على المباراة التالية، هذا هو الأهم، ثم سنركز على مواجهة الأسبوع المقبل (ضد ليفربول)”.
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq credited a change in mindset and their determined character for Pakistan’s incredible turnaround in the Gabba Test
Brydon Coverdale at the Gabba19-Dec-2016Impossible, Muhammad Ali once told us, is not a fact, nor a declaration. It is a dare. It is potential. It is temporary. The most abridged version of his famous quote comes down to three words: “Impossible is nothing.”In cricketing terms, a fourth-innings Test chase of nearly 500 has always been viewed as impossible. And with good reason: of all the 1504 times that a team has batted in the fourth innings of a Test, only once has that team scored more than 500. That one occasion was in 1939, in the famous timeless Test in Durban, when 10 days of play was insufficient to bring a result, and the match ended only because England had to catch their ship home.So when Steven Smith declared at the dinner break on day three at the Gabba, setting Pakistan 490 to win, their task seemed impossible. Time was not an issue. They had seven sessions ahead of them, plenty of time to score 490 runs. But this was a team that had been rolled for 142 in the first innings. A team that had been embarrassed. A team that might not take the match into day four, and certainly not day five.But Pakistan don’t believe anything is impossible. This is a team that reached No.1 in the world this year, despite not having played a Test in their own country since 2009. For Pakistan, every Test is an away Test. Away from friends, away from family, away from home. Away from everything. And yet, they reached No.1. Impossible is nothing.Pakistan began the final day at the Gabba needing 108 to win with two wickets in hand. Asad Shafiq was well set, and already had a hundred. Yasir Shah was at the crease with him. Yasir can bat well enough to pull his weight. Runs came, then more, and more, and more. Before Australia knew it, Pakistan needed 41 runs with both wickets still in hand. Then Shafiq fell to a searing Mitchell Starc bouncer, Yasir was run-out, and it was all over.”As the skipper of the Pakistan team, I am happy to see the team play like that,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said after the game. “Chasing 490 in the last innings after we got out for 142 in the first innings, the character of all the batsmen showed. That was wonderful. That set the tone for the series.Pakistan were helped closer to the target with handy contributions from their tail•Getty Images
“At the moment, I could not explain how happy I am for all the guys, especially Asad. That is one of the classiest innings I have seen. In the context of the game, the way he handled the pressure playing with the tail, he just made a match out of nothing. There were a lot of positives for us, especially in Australia where batting is your main problem.”Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 450, the equal third-highest fourth-innings total in Test history. The only one higher, besides the timeless Test 654 back in 1939, was New Zealand’s 451 against England in Christchurch in 2002, also in a losing cause. Although Shafiq led Pakistan’s fight, valuable innings were also played by Azhar Ali (71), Younis Khan (65), Mohammad Amir (48), Wahab Riaz (30), and Yasir (33).”The mindset was positive,” Misbah said. “We wanted to create something out of that, and we wanted to score runs. Azhar Ali’s knock was special, and then Younis Khan, that partnership was special for us. Asad Shafiq, the way Sarfraz played in the first innings … that gave us a glimpse that these are battable conditions and if we can apply ourselves we can score runs.”In the second innings, everybody was determined, they showed character. They went in and played their shots and it changed the whole scenario.”Pakistan’s fight sets up a fascinating series, for the Gabba was likely to be the ground that would suit them the least of the three venues. If they can maintain the same level of performance as they displayed in the second innings in Brisbane, the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year’s Test in Sydney should be highly competitive.”They are capable of performing in any conditions because they are mentally tough, they have played enough cricket and they understand Test cricket,” Misbah said. “They showed great courage, I am happy. When you lose always you feel a bit of disappointment but overall I am a happy man the way we played.”
Manchester United appear to be in pole position to sign Adrien Rabiot this summer, with the Red Devils considered great favourites for his signature.
What’s the latest Man United transfer news?
Erik ten Hag seemingly wanted Rabiot at Old Trafford last summer ahead of his first season in charge. The United boss was reportedly on board with a transfer that would have been worth an initial £15m, however, a deal fell through and the midfielder remained at Juventus.
Rabiot was again linked with a move to Manchester prior to the New Year, and it seems as if he is still of interest to United officials after making 48 appearances for his current employers during the 2022/23 season, contributing to 17 goals.
Recent reports have suggested that a concrete offer has already been placed to the player, who is set to become a free agent in a matter of weeks when his Juventus contract officially expires.
Sport Witness have relayed a new update from Spanish outlet AS regarding Rabiot, citing Atletico Madrid’s interest in the player. However, they add that it is United who are the ‘great favourite’ to sign Rabiot at this moment in time in what appears to be a transfer boost for Ten Hag and co.
adrien-rabiot-juventus-man-united-transfers
Who is Adrien Rabiot?
Rabiot would provide Ten Hag with an experienced and versatile option in midfield, with the 28-year-old’s Transfermarkt valuation currently standing at €30m, so from a business perspective, a transfer appears to be a smart one.
He can play as a central, holding or left midfielder and was once labelled as a ‘complete player’ by legendary midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who said:
“He is a complete player, I have rarely seen someone so strong both physically and technically.
“He doesn’t even know the potential for improvement he can have, and we work on the mental side of things to make him understand that he is a champion. He is improving game after game.”
The Red Devils could lose a midfielder of their own this summer with Scott McTominay’s future up in the air, so Rabiot could be viewed as a solid addition after ending the campaign as Juventus' best-performing player, as per WhoScored.
He would bring a winning mentality to United’s squad alongside the likes of Raphael Varane and Casemiro who arrived from Real Madrid in recent years, with the midfielder winning an impressive 24 major honours during his career to date.
Rabiot has come off the back of a season where he has played plenty of football with Juventus, and who knows, his balance could make him a smart signing, possibly featuring alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes next year.
أوضح المدير الفني السابق لمنتخب ألمانيا، يواكيم لوف، موقفه من تدريب بايرن ميونخ بداية من الموسم المقبل.
وأعلن نادي بايرن ميونخ رحيل المدير الفني الحالي للفريق الأول لكرة القدم، توماس توخيل، بنهاية الموسم الحالي بعد مناقشات ودية بين الطرفين.
ويعاني الفريق البافاري من تراجع في الأداء الفني والنتائج هذا الموسم، حيث يحتل بايرن ميونخ المركز الثاني في ترتيب الدوري الألماني وعلى بعد 8 نقاط من المتصدر باير ليفركوزن.
اقرأ أيضاً.. بايرن ميونخ يرد على أنباء الاهتمام بالتعاقد مع ألونسو
وأرتبط كل من تشابي ألونسو المدير الفني الحالي لفريق باير ليفركوزن، ويواكيم لوف المدير الفني لمنتخب ألمانيا السابق، بإمكانية تدريب الفريق البافاري بالموسم المقبل.
وقال يواكيم لوف في تصريحات لصحيفة بيلد الألمانية: “ربما ليس لدى بايرن ميونخ أي اهتمام بي كمدرب، ولن أكون مهتمًا أيضًا ببايرن”.
واختتم: “لطالما قلت إن الحصول على وظيفة أخرى هنا في ألمانيا أمر غير وارد بالنسبة لي”.
Chad Soper took 6 for 41 to bowl PNG to a 14-run win in the second ODI against Hong Kong in Mong Kok
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Nov-2016 ScorecardFile photo – Chad Soper derailed Hong Kong’s chase early to help PNG defend 201 in the second ODI•ICC/Getty
In a low-scoring match dominated by the opening bowler from both sides, Chad Soper’s career-best 6 for 41 trumped Nadeem Ahmed’s 4 for 50 as Papua New Guinea edged past Hong Kong by 14 runs in the second ODI and levelled the three-match series.PNG opted to bat first at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok and were dismissed for 201 in 45.5 overs after left-arm spinner Nadeem scythed through their top-order. Like Nadeem, Soper, too, dismissed the top-three, before adding three more to his tally to bowl Hong Kong out for 187 in 48.1 overs.PNG’s innings was built on two partnerships. First, Assad Vala, their captain, who top scored with 70, added 78 for the fourth wicket with Sese Bau to lift them from 39 for 3. Vala then shared a 43-run sixth-wicket partnership with Mahuru Dai. The association ended with Vala being stumped off Anshuman Rath, the left-arm spinner. He had faced 87 balls and pinged nine fours and two sixes. PNG’s innings lasted a further 67 balls after Vala’s dismissal, but they could only score 30 runs more.Rath finished with 3 for 28 in 10 overs. Aizaz Khan took two wickets and Ehsan Khan accounted for last man out Soper.Hong Kong had a few solid contributions from the middle order, but none of them could stay on to see the team through. Like PNG, Hong Kong could also string together only two partnerships of note. Nizakat Khan (33) and Rath (21) pulled them from 31 for 3 to 80 for 4. Shahid Wasif (45) and Ehsan Khan (27 not out) then joined hands for a 56-run sixth-wicket stand. The chase ended with the dismissal of Nadeem, who was bowled by John Reva, the right-arm medium pacer, for 1.Vala followed up his 70 with economical figures of 1 for 33 in 10 overs. Dai finished his quota with 2 for 42.The deciding ODI will take place on Tuesday at the same venue.
Reg Dickason, England’s security advisor, has played down any concerns that England’s players of Pakistani heritage may have about touring India
George Dobell and David Hopps02-Nov-2016
Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid in harness for England•Getty Images
Reg Dickason, England’s security advisor, has played down concerns lurking within the England camp that their players of Pakistani origin, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid may encounter hostility touring India after media reports that Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar would not stand in the series because of the further potential for nationalist protests.Dar was never scheduled to stand in the India vs England Test series, according to ICC, so cannot properly be said to have been withdrawn, but that might be regarded as a pragmatic decision a year after he was pulled out of a one-day series between India and South Africa last year because of threats.England have been full of praise for Bangladesh’s high-level security operation during their recent Test series and, although Dickason indicated that protection levels will be less apparent in India, he suggested that he was content with anti-terrorism arrangements in general and, additionally, that England’s players of Pakistan heritage had not expressed particular misgivings that they might be singled out for protests. Moeen was subjected to abuse from England-based India fans during India’s previous tour of England in 2014.”We have no real concerns but we’re certainly aware of the issues Aleem Dar has,” Dickason said. “I know it was reported that he wasn’t going, that he’d been pulled out, but according to the ICC he’s just been rostered at another event. But Shiv Sena had some issues with Aleem there and went to the BCCI offices. So we’re certainly aware of that but we don’t expect any real issues.”I’ve spoken to him and Adil and they seem ok to me. They haven’t expressed any doubts to me.”The ICC withdrew Dar from the last two ODIs between India and South Africa, stating at the time that the “incident in Mumbai where a group of extremists stormed into the BCCI office” was the reason for its decision. Former Pakistan cricketers Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, also missed the Mumbai ODI as a security precaution in response to anti-Pakistan protests by the Shiv Sena, a regional political party, about a scheduled meeting between BCCI and PCB officials.England might have left Bangladesh, but such is the way of the world that security – and the more likely threat of extremist Islamic terrorism – remains on the mind of the entire touring party.Dickason also expressed general satisfaction that the security plans drawn up in India were appropriate to withstand any threat from wherever it might arise. England abandoned their last two ODIs in India in 2008 in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, but returned to fulfil the Test series under heavy security.”It’ll be similar to Bangladesh but a different layout,” he said. “It was very overt here and it won’t be as overt in India. The road clearances that we got here that are usually reserved for heads of state we probably won’t get in India. But we’ll get adequate transit protection.”The BCCI get a host-city security plan which is a generic issue from a master security plan which is put across the whole event. There will be some subtle differences but it won’t be too many.”It appears, however, that England’s players will be expected to withstand a further period inside a security cordon and that the India tour will be a sequence of journeys from hotel to cricket ground and back again.”It’s certainly much better if the group stays as a group,” he said. “Then we can concentrate the security resources on the group rather than people star bursting.”
يتواجد نجم فريق باريس سان جيرمان، كيليان مبابي، في الوقت الحالي في قصر الإليزيه، تلبيًا لدعوة الرئيس الفرنسي إيمانويل ماكرون.
كان ماكرون قد وجه الدعوة إلى كيليان مبابي لحضور مأدبة عشاء في قصر الإليزيه، مساء اليوم الثلاثاء.
اقرأ أيضًا.. خافيير تيباس يعلق على اقتراب انضمام مبابي إلى ريال مدريد
وتواجد في تلك المأدبة كذلك أمير قطر، تميم بن حمد آل ثاني، حيث ستدور محادثات بينه وبين ماكرون، تتعلق بالشأن السياسي.
ونشرت شبكة “RMC” الفرنسية مقطع فيديو لحوار قصير دار بين إيمانويل ماكرون من جهة، وتميم بن حمد آل ثاني، وكذلك كيليان مبابي.
وذكرت الشبكة أن ماكرون قال خلال حديثه لـ مبابي وأمير قطر: “ستخلقان لنا المزيد من المشاكل”، دون إيضاح مغزى ما قاله، وما إذا كان له علاقة بمستقبل الفرنسي مع باريس سان جيرمان.
👀 👂 Emmanuel Macron : “Vous allez encore nous créer des ennuis.”
Qu’est-ce que l’Emir du Qatar a pu dire à Mbappé pendant ce rendez-vous ? pic.twitter.com/OPMfqaJy1N — RMC Sport (@RMCsport) February 27, 2024
ومن المعروف، حسب التقارير الصحفية المنتشرة في الوقت الحالي، أن مبابي ينوي مغادرة باريس سان جيرمان بمجرد انتهاء عقده في الصيف القادم، حيث سينضم إلى ريال مدريد.
When Tottenham Hotspur reached the Champions League final in 2019, it was supposed to be a watershed moment for the ambitious London outfit.
Mauricio Pochettino had crafted one of the most eye-catching and fluid teams in the Premier League and, despite the loss on that fateful day by the hand of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, the rich pool of talent tantalised green pastures over yonder.
Instead, the dismissal of Antonio Conte this year was the fourth permanent manager discarded in as many years, and the failure to qualify for European football this term has underscored the issues that the club is currently beset with.
Ange Postecoglou has now been appointed and supporters will eagerly anticipate how the Australian will bolster the squad this summer.
One of his first moves could be to seal a swoop for Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, who has been linked with a departure from Camp Nou after just one season and has been reported by Spanish publication AS to be of interest to the Lilywhites.
As per the report, a fee of €35m (£30m) could be required to prise him away, and given his imposing physicality and tendency to progress play with his barging presence, he could suit English football and Postecoglou's system to a tee.
Should Tottenham sign Franck Kessie?
Dubbed a "warrior" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 60-cap Ivory Coast international won Serie A last term and LaLiga this season, making 43 appearances for Xavi's outfit but only starting seven times in the league, consequently discontented with life in Catalonia and ostensibly seeking an exit, with Spurs all too willing to enrich their ranks.
If he is managed aptly, Kessie could be moulded as Tottenham's next version of Dele Alli, with the England international suffering misfortune and a plummet from prominence over the past several seasons but unequivocally one of the most prodigious talents to ever grace Premier League soil.
Alli plundered 67 goals and 61 assists from 269 appearances for Spurs before losing his spark and being shipped out to Everton at the midpoint of the 21/22 campaign, having now completed an unsuccessful season-long loan move with Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas.
At his resounding best, Alli was lauded as a talent with the "world at his feet" by Frank Lampard and "very special" by Xavi – two former stars who know a thing or two about how to succeed as a first-rate midfielder.
Soccer Football – Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain – November 30, 2019 Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/David Klein EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact y
The one-time MK Dons youngster was best suited to an attacking role deployed behind the all-encompassing talisman Harry Kane, almost a shadow striker at times, and wreaked havoc with his unflinching approach and devastating offensive potency.
Praised as an "amazing player" by former Spurs 'keeper Paul Robinson, Kessie can emulate this; he ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for both touches in the attacking box and progressive passes received per 90, as per FBref, driving forward just like the 37-cap England ace.
And while the former AC Milan gem has been a peripheral figure with La Blaugrana this year, 19 goals across his final two seasons in Serie A, complemented by clinching the Scudetto last term, illustrates a goal-scoring prowess and a "devastating" danger, as remarked by Antonio Cassano, to match Alli's – who posted 37 strikes across his first three top-flight campaigns.
Kessie's possible transfer to Tottenham could well be an unmitigated success, with Kane's superlative skill as one of football's most creative striking focal points – ranking among the top 10% of strikers for shot-creating actions and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90 – providing Kessie with the perfect platform to unleash the full might of his attacking arsenal.
Forging a battle for top four and a confident domestic cup run is imperative next year and with Kessie's signing, the return to the former free-flowing football that left the Spurs support in raucous rapture could return to cast aside the cobwebs of the 22/23 term and drape the curtain irrevocably on the recent woes.
Sunday was the third time New Zealand were denied parity by India’s lower order, but Trent Boult has said that the visitors are not doing much wrong
Sidharth Monga at Eden Gardens02-Oct-2016Sunday was the third time New Zealand were denied parity by India’s lower order, which has been crucial in a low-scoring series. In the first innings in Kanpur, India’s sixth wicket added 52 and the last 41. In response New Zealand lost their last five wickets for seven runs. In Kolkata, Wriddhiman Saha led the lower-order fightback, taking India from 200 for 6 to 316. In the second innings, India have exceeded those last two comebacks by converting 106 for 6 into 227 for 8. New Zealand’s leading bowler, Trent Boult, though, feels they are not doing much wrong against the lower order.”Not necessarily,” Boult said when asked if they could have done much differently to prevent another frustrating resistance from India’s lower order. “We are trying to apply the pressure for as long as we can and not let off at all throughout the whole innings. But we know and realise they are going to put partnerships together, and we just can’t afford to get frustrated by that. It is still a challenge as a bowling unit to not drift and release that pressure, but it is something we are trying to get much better at.”Some of it could be put down to the exhaustion in the heat. “I have to put these down as some of the tougher conditions I’ve ever played in in my career,” Boult said. “I’m not too sure what it looks like on TV, but it is pretty taxing. Obviously the dryness in the wicket and in the air is pretty tough. The last session is probably the easiest session in terms of heat. [But] You are just sapped by the time that comes around.”The guys did extremely well to put the balls in the areas we did and apply that pressure. It was spoken in the huddle that we weren’t just going to let them drift away with the game with a figure in mind. We wanted to put pressure on them and make them earn every run. I think we did very well.”Thanks to Jeetan Patel and BJ Watling’s batting at the start of the day and the six early wickets, New Zealand fought their way back, but perhaps it was that deficit that meant India weren’t under the pressure New Zealand would have wanted to put them under. It was mostly on day two that they let the game slip with India’s lower-order runs and their own collapses with rain and bad light around.”It’s very disappointing but that is done now and we can’t do anything about it,” Boult said of the second day. “They had some good conditions there last night to put us under pretty big pressure with the ball. Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took five wickets] bowled very well, and that has played a big part in the game. But we are not just going to roll over, we’ve fought very nicely to get ourselves back in the position we are in now.”Boult said New Zealand would need every bit of skill with the bat to fight back again in this Test. “We have the guys with the ability to bat long periods of time,” Boult said. “In terms of the wicket there is a little bit of variation in bounce and that is obviously going to be in the back of a few of our minds. We have to take it small steps at a time. If we can tick off our goals of trying to bat for half a session, then a session and just keep them out there and try to build like that. Anything that is set is definitely achievable.”They could learn from Jeetan Patel’s innings in the morning, Boult said. “He did very well. It’s his first in a wee while and to come back and play an innings like that was good to watch. The rest of us can take a leaf out of his book and try to apply yourself like he did because they were valuable runs.”
Glasgow Rangers will need to bolster their attacking options during the summer transfer window in order to achieve success next season.
Alfredo Morelos has left the club having failed to agree to an extension, while Kemar Roofe is perennially injured and played only six games last term, leaving Antonio Colak as their only fully fit striker at the current moment in time.
Michael Beale has admitted that improving the quality of players he has at his disposal in the final third is key, saying: "Certainly, in the final third, I think that's an area where, although we win a lot of games and score a lot of goals, we are also a team that miss a lot of chances.
"That's a key part of my thinking."
With this in mind, the Ibrox faithful will be hoping to see a couple of forwards arriving in Glasgow over the course of the summer, especially as they scored 21 fewer goals than Celtic last term, a key factor in them winning another Premiership title.
Could Rangers sign Josh Maja this summer?
The Bordeaux striker has been linked with Rangers over the previous few months, and due to the Ligue 2 side failing to achieve promotion, the Gers could now seal him on a free transfer.
Foot Mercato claimed that Maja would have signed a new deal had Bordeaux sealed a path back to the French top flight, but according to France Bleu, he is ‘expected to leave’ – and could end up being an upgrade on Fashion Sakala for Rangers.
The Zambian enjoyed something of a renaissance under Beale when he took over in November, eventually finishing the season with 20 goal contributions. However, he isn’t the most clinical, and former Rangers winger Neil McCann claimed Sakala “can sometimes lack composure” after a win against Hearts in February, whereas Maja could add a ruthlessness in front of goal that the club have been struggling with.
Across 40 games in all competitions last term, the Nigeria international scored 17 goals and grabbed six assists, while he also created more big chances (eight to seven) and netted more league goals (16 to 12) than Sakala.
There is no doubting Sakala’s enthusiasm, however, he is often deployed out wide, while Beale needs a reliable finisher ahead of an important season, and former Ibrox hitman Jermain Defoe has even lauded praise on Maja, as they both spent time at Sunderland, saying: “Josh is a quick thinker and if you’re that fast upstairs, you don’t need anything else.
Rangers players Fashion Sakala and Ridvan Yilmaz
“When he trained with the first team he showed such great awareness – he knew when to pass it, had a great touch – and although he’s not got electric pace, he’s two steps ahead of everyone which means he’s got an immediate advantage.
“The gift Josh has is rare and if he builds on it, the sky’s the limit.”
It’s a gamble that Beale must take, and considering he might not cost the club a penny in terms of a transfer fee, Maja may just go on to surprise a few people should he make the move to Scotland.