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Manchester United's Casemiro seemingly tried to stop Alejandro Garnacho from performing Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic celebration against Barnsley.

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• Garnacho scores brace in 7-0 thrashing
• Man Utd through to fourth round
• Red Devils face Palace on Saturday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Garnacho was one of three United players to grab a brace as Erik ten Hag's side ran riot against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup. The Argentinian scored either side of half-time as the Red Devils breezed into the fourth round.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Marcus Rashford and Christian Eriksen also scored twice in the 7-0 win, with Ten Hag pleased after seeing Antony handed a penalty to open his account for the season. It was an evening of celebration at Old Trafford, but Casemiro appeared to try to prevent Garnacho from copying Cristiano Ronaldo after his first goal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Fans believe Casemiro tried to stop Garnacho from hitting Ronaldo's iconic celebration, with some suggesting the midfielder didn't want to see Garnacho get in trouble for mimicking compatriot Lionel Messi's biggest rival.

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• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  "Casemiro was stopping Garnacho from doing Ronaldo celebration coz they'll kick him out of Argentina squad," wrote @NoodleHairCR7 on X.

  @kobbieEraa added: "Unc knew the backlash he was gonna receive from pessi fans."

  Meanwhile, @StraightAtHim said: "Bruno and Casemiro really try and stop him after every goal. But Garnacho is absolutely shameless I love him."

  "Man look at the way Casemiro was dragging him so he doesn't do Ronaldo's celebration, wrote @paapywes, while @Johnny19United added: "Look at the way Casemiro tells him not to and Garnacho was shrugs him off.. love it he does what he wants!"

Against all expectation, the Blues have laid the foundations for a successful season with a strong start to the campaign

Six weeks into the new season and much of the negativity around Chelsea has already faded away. Despite another bewildering transfer window under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership, new head coach Enzo Maresca already seems to have pieced together a competent team who are buying into his ideas.

Unbeaten since a predictable opening-day defeat to champions Manchester City, the Blues are just two points off second place with five games played, and the nature of the 3-0 dismantling of West Ham last time out suggests Maresca might just be cooking up something special at Stamford Bridge.

No-one expected such a swift adaptation to the Italian's tactics, especially after the summer's raft of new attacking arrivals, but things like they're starting to click – but what is behind their strong start, and is it too early to judge?

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  Defined style shining through

  In the early stages of this latest iteration of Chelsea's long-term project, the victory over West Ham perhaps offered the most compelling evidence yet of Maresca's tactical influence.

  It was a performance that boasted all hallmarks of the Italian's style and philosophy, which are some of the main reasons he was brought on board; Chelsea built up patiently from the back with neat passing patterns and controlled the game from the outset with a foundation of defensive solidity.

  Nicolas Jackson's second goal of the game was an excellent example, as the Blues calmly moved the ball from back to front via the middle of the park – with Marc Cucurella inverted as an auxiliary defensive midfielder – before West Ham's defence was sprung by an exquisite through ball from Moises Caicedo.

  Granted, the Hammers were nowhere near their best and this was arguably the first time that things have properly clicked for Maresca and Chelsea despite some positive results elsewhere, but these were still hugely positive signs and, supporters will hope, just a taste of things to come.

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  Rock-solid defence

  A new, formidable centre-back partnership has quietly been formed at Stamford Bridge, providing the solidity that Chelsea's controlled displays have been built upon – another reason Maresca was hired.

  Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana have caught the eye in the heart of defence following the latter's return from injury, with the former particularly impressive – ranking among the best centre-backs aged 21 or under in Europe's top five leagues so far this season in metrics such as progressive passing, interceptions and aerial duels.

  Chelsea certainly needed some improvement in the defensive department, having conceded a club-record 63 times in the league in 2023-24, and having a settled, regular pair of central defenders following Thiago Silva's exit should certainly help.

  Speaking about his partnership with Fofana, Colwill told recently: "We help each other a lot, we balance well. He's very aggressive, I like to be the sweeper, the calm one, and try and organise things. I love playing with him and I think he helps me out a lot, makes me look like a better player and hopefully I do the same for him. At times we're going to have to defend as a team."

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  A striker in form

  Things are always that bit easier when you have a striker who is oozing confidence, and Chelsea's strong start has been powered in no small part by Jackson's goals.

  The Senegal international has repaid the faith shown in him in the summer as the club stuck with him rather than splurging on the likes of Victor Osimhen, Jhon Duran or Samu Omorodion, continuing his fine form from the end of last season into the new campaign.

  Jackson is answering his (many) critics emphatically with six league goal contributions in just five games so far, including his wonderfully-taken brace against West Ham last time out.

  Speaking after the victory in east London, Maresca pointed to the striker's unseen work, too: "It is fantastic [for him]. In terms of the numbers, so goals and assists, he is doing well since I arrived. Off the ball, he is working hard and if a player misses one or two chances, that does not necessarily mean he is not playing well."

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  'A nice problem'

  It will be intriguing to see how long it lasts, but Maresca has so far been able to keep a array of attacking talent happy and in form despite being unable to meet all of their game-time expectations.

  Jackson has made himself undroppable despite the presence of the fit-again Christopher Nkunku, widely considered to be Chelsea's most potent attacking threat but forced to settle for a place on the bench in the Premier League

  Rather than sit around and mope, though, that seems to have fuelled Nkunku to stake his claim, with the Frenchman seizing every opportunity that comes his way in the cup competitions. He bagged a hat-trick against Barrow in the Carabao Cup in midweek and already has two goals in Conference League qualifying to add to his league winner against Bournemouth.

  "Both Nicolas and Christo [Nkunku] are doing fantastic," Maresca said recently. "It’s a nice problem when you have two strikers who continue to score. When you can decide which one to start with, it's nice. And because they are in a good moment we can use them both."

  In the wide areas, Maresca has shuffled through Noni Madueke, Jadon Sancho, Pedro Neto and Mykhailo Mudryk, with all of them making their mark to varying degrees already.

Glasgow Rangers have one match left to play before they can fully turn their attention to the upcoming summer transfer window and how they could shape their squad.

The Light Blues travel away from Ibrox to take on their local rivals in the SFA Cup final at Hampden Park and have the chance to secure their second trophy of the season.

Philippe Clement won the League Cup trophy early on in his reign, with a 1-0 win over Aberdeen in the final, and will now look for a second piece of silverware in his first campaign at the club.

The Belgian head coach will then work with head of recruitment Nils Koppen to identify and sign targets to improve the playing squad ahead of next season.

However, there is reportedly already an effort being put in behind the scenes to get deals over the line before the club's season is even officially over.

Rangers are in the market to bolster their defensive options and they are reportedly battling it out with another team to land a new central defender to compete with the likes of John Souttar, Ben Davies, and Connor Goldson.

Rangers submit bid to sign colossus

According to Bulgarian outlet Gong, the Light Blues are facing a battle with English Championship outfit Norwich City to sign Levski Sofia defender Jose Cordoba this summer.

The report claims that both team are interested in a deal to snap up the left-footed colossus and they have both submitted bids to secure his services.

It states that the centre-back will be sold by Levski Sofia and that a fee of around €3.2m (£2.7m) is expected to be earned by the Bulgarian side, with both Rangers and Norwich having said to have made similar proposals in terms of money.

Gong adds that the Gers invited him over to Scotland earlier this season to take in a clash with Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership, and that he had agreed a preliminary contract with the club.

However, this latest report reveals that Cordoba now prefers to join Norwich in England is the project at Carrow Road, despite them not having a manager in place at this time, is more 'attractive' to the defender.

Rangers are, per the Daily Record, via IbroxNews, set to sign Fluminense left-back Jefte on a permanent deal in the coming weeks but the Sofia star would be an even better signing for the Gers than the Borna Barisic replacement if they can oust the Canaries out of the way.

Where Jefte would fit in at Rangers

The left-footed full-back may not be an immediately impressive signing to come in and improve the team as he could have Ridvan Yilmaz ahead of him in the pecking order.

At the age of 20, the Brazilian whiz may be one for the future rather than a player who could come in to make an instant impact in the Premiership and in Europe next season.

The young starlet spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan with APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus and his form this season does not suggest that he would come in as an upgrade on Yilmaz in the short-term.

As you can see in the table above, Jefte has provided more assists than the Turkey international but with 33% fewer key passes per game on average, which suggests that his superior assist tally may be down to the quality of finishing from his forwards.

Yilmaz has also won a much higher percentage of his physical duels against opposition players and been dribbled past far less per match on average.

These statistics indicate that Jefte is a young player with a lot to learn, as he has been dominated in duels and is regularly dribbled past by wingers, whereas the Rangers star, who is three years older, is a solid defender who can be relied upon in and out of possession.

Therefore, Yilmaz could remain the first-choice option for Clement at Ibrox even with the Brazilian's reportedly pending arrival, which would not make him a fantastic signing in the short-term, at least, as it may take a season or two before he is ready to play week-in-week-out.

Why Jose Cordoba would be a better signing than Jefte

Whereas, Cordoba could be a better addition for the Light Blues in the here and now as he could come in and immediately make his mark on the pitch, based on his form this season.

John Souttar and Ben Davies have been two of the main left-sided centre-back options for Clement in the Scottish Premiership this season, with the latter being the only left-footed option in that position for the Gers.

As you can see in the table above, Cordoba has the potential to offer more than both of them from a defensive perspective, with far more interceptions and recoveries to win possession back for his team each game.

This suggests that the 22-year-old colossus is more aggressive, as shown by his superior number of duels won per match, than Souttar and Davies and could take the game to opposition attackers more than Clement's current options.

Football scout Petar Petrov described him as one of the most "progressive" defenders in Bulgaria, which also suggests, along with his 88% pass accuracy in the Parva Liga, that he is comfortable at playing out from the back.

As a naturally left-footed player, Cordoba could build attacks more comfortably than Souttar, a naturally right-footed operator, on the left side of the defence as he can open up onto his left foot to play passes into midfield or to the left flank.

Rangers could land a dream Shankland alternative in £6.8m star

The Light Blues are reportedly keeping close tabs on the prolific young marksman.

By
Dan Emery

May 22, 2024

Therefore, the potential is there for the 22-year-old star to come in as an immediate starter for Rangers to bolster their backline, if he can translate those performances over to Scotland, and that is why he would be an even better signing than Jefte, who does not appear to offer more than Yilmaz at this point in time.

Leeds United know that they will be competing in the Championship once again next season as they aim to achieve promotion at the second time of asking.

The Whites lost 1-0 to Southampton in the final of the Championship play-offs last month and will now need to prepare for a second season in the second tier.

Their failure to make an instant return to the Premier League could mean that they lose some of their key stars during the upcoming summer transfer window.

It has already been reported that Wilfried Gnonto is seeking a move back to Italy to play in the Serie A, whilst Crysencio Summerville has been linked with Liverpool in the top-flight.

Archie Gray is another player who has been touted with an exit from Elland Road, amid interest from Bayern Munich and Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.

This means that Daniel Farke and his team could have to replace some influential figures within his starting XI ahead of next season, but he could also look to improve on some of the other players in the team.

Central midfield is one area in which the German head coach could look to strengthen in and Leeds have been linked with a possible swoop for a player in that position.

Leeds United's interest in Japanese maestro

Last month, it was reported by Hochi that the Whites are one of a number of teams interested in a summer swoop to sign Fortuna Düsseldorf midfielder Ao Tanaka.

The report claimed that two English sides – Leeds and Premier League outfit Everton – are both in the race to land the talented Japan international to bolster their respective squads.

Meanwhile, Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, along with Borussia Monchengladbach, Mainz, and Stuttgart are also said to be

keen on the 25-year-old maestro.

This suggests that the Yorkshire-based outfit look set to face serious competition for his signature in the coming weeks and months, should they look to act on their interest in him.

Hochi stated that the Düsseldorf star has one year left to run on his current contract with the German club, which could open the door to a summer exit this year before they potentially lose him for nothing in 2025.

The report did not, however, reveal how much the 2. Bundesliga side are prepared to demand for his services this summer, after they failed to gain promotion to the top-flight.

If Leeds can win the race for his signature, though, then Farke could land an immediate upgrade on current Whites midfielder Ilia Gruev for the start of next season.

Ilia Gruev's debut season for Leeds

The Bulgaria international joined the club on a permanent deal from Werder Bremen last summer and enjoyed a solid first campaign in English football.

He did not immediately establish himself as a regular starter for Farke, though, as Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara were the preferred midfield partnership at times.

Gruev ended the 2023/24 Championship season with 20 starts and 29 appearances in total, which shows that he did eventually end up starting games regularly during the second half of the term.

The former 2. Bundesliga started all three of the club's play-off matches but was one of the players who failed to showcase the best of their ability in the play-off final at Wembley against Southampton.

As you can see in the table above, Gruev did not create much despite completing a high percentage of his passes, and struggled badly out of possession.

The central midfielder lost a whopping 80% of his duels in the game and only made one defensive action – an interception – in the entire 90 minutes.

These statistics show that the Bulgarian ace did not step up on the biggest occasion to help his team, at either end of the pitch, and Farke could now bring in another midfielder to make a greater impact next season.

Gruev ended the season with one goal in 32 league outings, including the play-offs, and the Whites could land a much bigger goal threat by swooping to sign Tanaka from Düsseldorf this summer to improve their midfield options ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Why Ao Tanaka would be an upgrade on Ilia Gruev

The Japan international could come in to be an upgrade on the current Leeds midfielder if he can translate his form from the 2. Bundesliga over to the Championship.

Tanaka, firstly, could offer far more in possession in terms of progressing play from deep and then being able to make things happen in the final third.

The 25-year-old star scored seven goals and created six 'big chances' for his teammates in 30 2. Bundesliga outings this season, whilst Gruev failed to score and created one 'big chance' in 29 regular season games.

As you can see in the table above, Tanaka also produced far more quality as a progressive midfielder this term with his ability to drive his team forward through passes and carries, leading to shot-creating actions and a much greater Expected Assisted Goals tally.

The Japanese ace also won 0.9 more ground duels per game and they both won 0.7 aerial battles per match, which suggests that they offer a similar defensive presence in front of the defence.

Journalist Bence Bocsák described him as "one of the most underrated midfielders in world football" earlier this season and his impressive statistics suggest that the talented gem should be rated highly for the level he is playing at, given how impressive his form has been in comparison to Gruev's.

Leeds line up early move to sign "wonderful" Archie Gray replacement

Leeds United don’t have to break the bank when shopping for a potential Archie Gray replacement.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 4, 2024

If he can translate his current form over to English football then Leeds could immediately upgrade on the Bulgaria international by landing a player who can have far more of an impact in possession, both as a progressive force and as someone who can deliver the final action with an assist or a goal.

It is now down to Farke and his team to ensure that they can win the race for his services ahead of the likes of Leverkusen and Everton this summer.

Lionesses goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck is in a Barcelona squad for the first time this season for the Champions League clash with her old team, Man City.

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• Barca face Man City on Wednesday
• Roebuck in Catalans' squad for first time
• Lionesses goalkeeper will take on former team

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Roebuck left City to join Barca on a free transfer this summer, ending a nine-year association with the club. She didn't play a game during her last season in Manchester, revealing midway through the season that she had suffered a type of stroke.

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  Roebuck is yet to take to the field for her new club, despite being part of the travelling squad for their pre-season tour of the United States, as she has been continuing with her rehabilitation process. She has now been included in a squad for a competitive match for the first time though and will travel to England this week for the UWCL group stage meeting with Man City.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Barca have won both of the last two Champions League titles and so will be favourites to finish top of their group, with Man City expected to be their toughest test at this stage. Hammarby and St. Polten are the other teams in Group D.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ROEBUCK?

  Roebuck should get a warm reception at the Joie Stadium on Wednesday night as her new and former teams go head-to-head in this highly anticipated match.

The Athletic's leading transfer correspondent David Ornstein has recently confirmed the news that Liverpool fans all know: FSG are eager to strengthen Arne Slot's squad with a new centre-back this summer.

Wataru Endo impressed during the 2023/24 season after surprisingly signing from Stuttgart for £16m, working like an industrious ant for Jurgen Klopp, but the 31-year-old is flawed and not the long-term solution for a high-aspiration Anfield side.

That leaves the other priority position: out wide. There has been plenty of noise around the flanks and how Liverpool are keen to strengthen, but it's uncertain which side will receive the most attention, with Mohamed Salah, on the right, out of contract in 12 months and Luis Diaz, left, continuing to catch Barcelona's eye.

Diaz is one of the most likely high-profile Redmen to potentially depart Liverpool this summer, with Barcelona clearly having a vested interest in the Colombian but unable to secure his services and meet Liverpool's €75m (£63m) valuation.

Liverpool lining up Diaz replacement

Last weekend, transfer insider Graeme Bailey revealed that the Reds were set to rival Tottenham Hotspur for the signing of Crystal Palace sensation Eberechi Eze, who has a £60m release clause in his contract.

Called up to the Three Lions' EURO 2024 squad following his exemplary campaign, Eze would offer genuine quality to Slot's Liverpool frontline, with the perfect skill set to effectively succeed Diaz.

With Manchester United also considering joining the race for the 25-year-old, Liverpool must act swiftly if they are to prevail and land one of the Premier League's most exciting players.

Eberechi Eze's season in numbers

Eze was in emphatic form for Crystal Palace last season as he alternated between the left wing and in a more central attacking midfield role, praised for his "individual brilliance", "unique" style of play and ability to "go on and play for one of the top teams" by pundit Rio Ferdinand.

Across all competitions this season, Eze scored 11 goals and supplied six assists for his teammates, with all of said strikes arriving across his 24 starting displays in the English top flight, a testament to his clinical edge.

That return included a composed finish to round off a stunning, sweeping Palace move at Anfield back in April, with that crowning a 1-0 win for the visitors to help dampen the spirits surrounding Klopp's farewell, as Liverpool's title hopes effectively went up in smoke following that shock result.

Complementing his goalscoring return, as per Sofascore, the £100k-per-week star completed 84% of his passes, created seven big chances and averaged two key passes, 2.6 dribbles, six duels and five ball recoveries per game, truly emphasising just how dangerous he is.

Have a look at how that compares to Diaz – his prospective predecessor on Merseyside – when comparing the fleet-footed forwards' respective Premier League campaigns.

It doesn't take Pep Guardiola to deduce which play performed to the superior standard during the 2023/24 season, with Eze enjoying greater athleticism, commitment, drive and reward.

He might have a broad-ranging skill set but Eze is undoubtedly built upon his prolific ability, ranking among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 5% for shots taken and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

That final metric illustrates his breezy, weaving movements, indeed thriving as one of English football's finest ball-carriers over the past few years. See the clip below to observe Eze taking Arsenal's elite-class midfield for a walk in the park.

Eze is a talented player, and if Liverpool were to replace Diaz with him, they might even sign their own version of Anthony Gordon. A better version, perhaps.

Why Eberechi Eze could be Liverpool's own Anthony Gordon

Eze has been praised for his remarkable ability with a football by many, but his skills and efficiency are perhaps best encapsulated by Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil, who lauded both him and his Eagles strike partner Michael Olise.

Moreover, analyst Ben Mattinson has dubbed him a "superstar" and it's quite clear that, going off his current trajectory, the Greenwich-born gem is headed for greatness. Why wouldn't Liverpool want that to be at Anfield?

There were tentative reports several weeks ago concerning Liverpool interest in Newcastle United's Gordon, who joined the Magpies from Everton for £45m back in January 2023, but it's always been unlikely that Eddie Howe's side would sell the fast-rising winger despite concerns relating to PSR.

Well, considering that Gordon plays to the tune of Eze and Diaz's style, Liverpool might be in luck if Barcelona do decide to swoop and sign Slot's current left-wing option for around £63m.

In the Premier League last term, Gordon, who is 23, scored 11 goals and supplied ten assists across 35 matches, with his exploits earning him Newcastle's Player of the Season honour.

He created 16 big chances, completed 82% of his passes and notably made 1.6 key passes and tackles, 1.5 dribbles and 5.3 won duels on average per match. Bruno Guimaraes gushed over his "unbelievable" campaign and indeed the Premier League – and Gareth Southgate – has taken note.

This is an impressive collection of qualities and no doubt showcases his tenacious and unflappable mentality, closing opponents down with constancy and charging up and down the left flank like a raging bull, but Eze, simply, is performing to a higher standard.

Slot could repeat Coutinho move by selling £63m Liverpool sensation

This sale could kickstart a revolution at Anfield.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 11, 2024

The Premier League side saw several chances go begging as they edged out their Ukrainian opponents at the Emirates on Tuesday

Arsenal edged past Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 in the Champions League, but needed an own goal from keeper Dmytro Riznyk to claim the win on a night when missed chances and injury concerns took centre stage in north London.

The hosts dominated the majority of the contest and looked set for a comfortable success when Gabriel Martinelli's shot came back off the post and deflected in off the unfortunate Riznyk just before the half-hour mark.

But they wasted several chances to put the game to bed, with Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Jesus both guilty of poor misses before the break, while Leandro Trossard saw a weak penalty saved after the interval.

The hosts survived a nervy final few minutes to make it seven points from a possible nine so far in Europe, but Mikel Arteta's injury-hit squad lost Calafiori to a worrying looking knee injury with Sunday's crucial meeting with Liverpool looming large.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Emirates Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  David Raya (7/10):

  Had very little to do on the night, but was alert in the dying seconds to make a vital save to deny Pedrinho.

  Ben White (5/10):

  Replaced by Merino at half-time. Didn't look 100 percent fit and was on a booking, which might explain the substitution.

  William Saliba (7/10):

  A fairly comfortable night's work after his red card at the weekend. Never really put under pressure.

  Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10):

  Looked to defend on the front foot as always. Made a couple of important blocks.

  Riccardo Calafiori (7/10):

  Missed a golden early chance to open the scoring. Got forward well at times and linked up with Martinelli. Went off injured in the second half after appearing to twist his knee. Worrying for Arsenal.

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  Midfield

  Thomas Partey (8/10):

  The dominant player on the pitch in the first half, both with the ball and without it. Getting back to his very best, which is a good sign. Moved to right-back for the second half after White went off.

  Declan Rice (7/10):

  Looked to drive forward when he could. Had a couple of sights on goal he could maybe have done better with. Played some nice cross-field passes.

  Gabriel Martinelli (7/10):

  Bright on the left and is unlucky that the first goal will not be credited to him after it went in off the keeper. Arsenal's stand-out attacker.

  Gabriel Jesus (6/10):

  Should have scored just before half-time and you could see that miss weighed heavily on his shoulders. Played OK aside from that. Got on the ball a lot playing on the right wing and caused Shakhtar problems.

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  Attack

  Leandro Trossard (6/10):

  Buzzed around all night and caused problems with his pressing. Had some nice touches and glanced one header just wide early in the second half. Really poor penalty late on, which summed up Arsenal's night in front of goal.

  Kai Havertz (6/10):

  Unable to score for the eighth successive home game. Worked hard, but didn't really get a chance all night. It was a surprise not to see him take the penalty.

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  Subs & Manager

  Mikel Merino (6/10):

  On for White at half-time. Made a few important blocks defensively, offered very little in attack.

  Raheem Sterling (5/10):

  Couldn't really get into the game. Little impact.

  Myles Lewis-Skelly (N/A):

  Replaced the injured Calafiori.

  Jorginho (N/A):

  On for the final few minutes.

  Mikel Arteta (6/10):

  Made a couple of changes to his starting XI but resisted the urge to bring in Ethan Nwaneri. Could have brought on the youngster at half-time, but went for Merino instead. His team lacked spark in the central areas as a result.

Glasgow Rangers should have their eyes firmly set on kicking on to win the Scottish Premiership title next season after they fell short once again this year.

The Ibrox giants have now failed to win the division in each of the last three campaigns, finishing second behind their local rivals each time, and they must now end that barren run in 2025.

Head of recruitment Nils Koppen has already been hard at work to make changes to the playing squad, with Oscar Cortes joining on a second loan and permanent deals for left-back Jefte and central defender Clinton Nsiala already agreed.

The likes of Bristol City's Tommy Conway, who is currently at the European Championship with Scotland, and Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland have also been linked with moves to Glasgow this month.

It was also recently reported that Scottish giants have struck a €2m (£1.7m) deal to snap up Moroccan centre-forward Hamza Igamane this month, with the striker now waiting to undergo a medical before the transfer can be officially completed.

That does not look to be their end of their business this month, however, as they are also reportedly pursuing a deal to sign a star from the SPFL.

Rangers submit contract offer to sign Scottish star

According to the Daily Record, the Gers are pushing to secure an agreement with central midfielder Connor Barron, who became a free agent at the end of last month.

The report backs up the claim that Igamane is set to join in a £1.7m transfer and adds that the club want to bring in the Scottish dynamo shortly after that move is finalised.

It states that Rangers have put an improved contract offer on the table for the 21-year-old talent, whose deal with Aberdeen expired at the end of May.

The Daily Record adds that Philippe Clement and Koppen are facing a fight to land his signature as they are not the only team interested in signing him.

Hellas Verona, from the Serie A, and English Championship sides Plymouth, Stoke, Cardiff, and Swansea have also submitted offers in an attempt to secure his services ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Barron is now weighing up all of the proposals on the table before making a final decision on his future, and the Gers will be hoping that their improved offer is enough to convince him to make the switch to Ibrox.

The report states that Rangers would then need to agree a fee with Aberdeen if the midfielder agrees to join, as the Dons would be due compensation for bringing him through their academy. If they fail to reach an agreement with the Premiership side then it would go down to a tribunal, which would decide how much they have to pay for him.

Clement could now land two exciting talents who could thrive alongside each other on the pitch by landing Igamane and Barron this summer.

Why Hamza Igamane is an exciting signing

Firstly, the centre-forward has plenty of room left to grow and develop at the age of 21, which means that he can be a long-term signing for the club.

Igamane could be a project player for Clement, as an attacker who can improve with more experience over the years to come, whilst also having the potential to make an immediate impact on the pitch for the Scottish giants.

His form in his native Morocco this season suggests that the quality is there for him to make an impact in the final third if he can quickly adapt to football in Scotland.

As you can see in the table above, Igamane showcased his ability at the top end of the pitch with ten direct goal contributions in 16 starts – more than one every other start on average.

That came after the talented youngster's return of six goals and one assist in 18 league appearances in the Moroccan top-flight during the 2022/23 campaign.

He is a versatile forward who can play through the middle, out wide, or in an attacking midfield position, and his creative and dribbling qualities, as highlighted in the table above, could make him an interesting option to use in a deeper role behind a starting centre-forward.

Why Connor Barron could thrive alongside Hamza Igamane

If Igamane is deployed in a number ten position, or as a second striker, then Barron could thrive behind him as a box-to-box midfielder for Rangers.

The 21-year-old battler has the advantage of already having experience in the Premiership, with 24 starts in the division this season, which suggests that he could hit the ground running at Ibrox.

Barron already knows what it takes to perform in the Scottish top-flight and his performances during the 2023/24 campaign suggest that the quality is there for him to be an excellent addition to the squad.

As you can see in the table above, the young talent played regularly in the league and showcased his ability in and out of possession in the middle of the park.

His three assists and four 'big chances' created from a deep-lying midfield position indicate that the 5 foot 9 dynamo likes to play forward and create for his teammates, which could make him a perfect option to play behind Igamane as he could look to find the 21-year-old attacker in dangerous positions on a regular basis.

Barron, who was once hailed as "tenacious" by Belgian scout Niels Liebens, also has the athleticism and defensive awareness to consistently win possession back, as shown by his 5.3 ball recoveries per game, and his 56% duel success rate.

This means that he can excel at breaking up opposition attacks with key interventions and that would then create more opportunities for Rangers in transition, which Igamane could thrive in due to his aforementioned dribbling quality.

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The Morocco U23 international could receive the ball from Barron, after the midfielder wins possession back, and then use his ability to effectively beat his man to open up the pitch and make things happen in the final third.

Thomas Frank has reacted to Manchester United's sacking of Erik ten Hag as the Brentford boss opens up on reports linking him with the Red Devils.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

• Man Utd part ways with Erik ten Hag
• Thomas Frank linked with vacant job
• Brentford boss opens up on rumours

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Manchester United and INEOS finally made the decision to part ways with Ten Hag after months of speculation as the Red Devils struggled to find their footing since the start of the season. The Red Devils have a number of names on their shortlist to take over at Old Trafford, including Brentford boss Frank. The Bees' head coach has now reacted to Ten Hag's sacking and opened up on reports linking him with the vacant role at United.

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  WHAT FRANK SAID

  Speaking to the media, Frank responded when asked about the Manchester United job: “It’s a very delicate question. I’ve got a big responsibility to Brentford, the fans, [owner] Matthew [Denham], the leadership, the staff, and I’ve got one focus and that’s to do our best and beat Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup.

  “I’ve said many, many times but I’m very happy here. It’s one of the best clubs in the world. What happens in the future, who knows? But I’m very, very happy here."

  When asked if he had the right to talk with other clubs after six year with Brentford, he said: “It’s difficult for me to say – that’s a hypothetical situation. I always try to be as transparent as possible. I’ll repeat myself. I’m very happy here and I can see myself being here for a long, long time in the future.

  “Of course, I’ve also said that maybe if something comes up and I think, ‘That’s an opportunity I’d like to try’, okay let’s see. But for now, no, I’m very, very happy here.

  "It’s more difficult [to focus] when you guys keep asking questions. I just want to focus on Sheffield Wednesday and focus on winning the game. But I get it’s a part of it.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Frank was also questioned about how he felt for Ten Hag after being sacked by Manchester United this early in the season, to which the Danish coach responded: “Of course, I feel for Erik. He is a great coach and has a great career. He did a good job at Manchester United, two trophies in two years.

  “It’s a non-stop developing football world and that is more than acceptable. At these big clubs, there are massive expectations but there has to be a reality check. There are three teams in Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool who look to be above everyone.

  “When you are head coach you always feel for guys who lose their jobs. It’s life. It happens. There are better people to judge that (improvement). He had a very good first season and had more than a few injury problems.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  The Manchester United top brass will be hard at work finding a potential replacement for Ten Hag. For the moment Ruud van Nistelrooy will serve as the interim coach till a decision can be reached.

Aston Villa could look a rather different team when they take to the pitch for their first Premier League game against West Ham United compared to the final game of last term.

This is due to the club having to sell players in order to comply with profit and sustainability rules (PSR) before June 30, otherwise, they could face various sanctions.

Unai Emery is clearly working hard to avoid such penalties, as Douglas Luiz, Omari Kellyman and Tim Iroegbunam are either close to departing or have already left the Midlands side in recent weeks.

These sales will allow the manager to complete a deal for players such as Ian Maatsen, who looks set to join from Chelsea, with plenty more in the pipeline over the coming weeks.

Despite raising some funds already, could Emery perhaps cash in on another one of his prized assets this summer? Particularly as there is a chance he could receive a fee which might be too hard to turn down.

Aston Villa could sell Ollie Watkins this summer

Why would Emery want to sell Villa’s highest goalscorer from last season? A player who is currently in England’s Euro 2024 squad and still has so much to offer.

Well there are a few reasons. Firstly, there appears to be no shortage of interest in the centre forward.

Arsenal are a club who have shown plenty of admiration for the player in recent months as Mikel Arteta seeks to bolster his attacking options, while Chelsea were showing some interest late last year in a bid for the Englishman.

He will turn 29 midway through the 2024/25 campaign, which indicates that he might not get much better than what he is now. Could this give Emery a licence to sell him during the current window?

Watkins currently has a market value of €52.6m (£44m) according to Football Transfers, which has been rising steadily ever since the start of last season.

There is no doubt Emery will want a higher fee than that should interest in Watkins remain over the next few weeks, especially going by his record last season.

Indeed, the 28-year-old found the back of the net 27 times last term, chipping in with 13 assists as he emerged as one of the biggest stars in a Villa team which secured fourth place in the Premier League.

Not only does he know the league, but his finishing skills could prove to be a game-changer for the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.

Should an offer arrive, Emery must surely strike when the iron is hot. Especially considering there could be a perfect replacement available…

Aston Villa's dream Ollie Watkins replacement

According to i News, Villa are among a host of English sides eyeing up a move for LOSC Lille striker Jonathan David this summer.

Manchester United currently lead the race as they have already made contact with his representatives, but with Champions League football to look forward to, could this potentially swing the odds in Villa's favour?

With just one year left on his current deal, it appears he could be departing the French side this summer. Lille president Olivier Letang has confirmed that bids of around £25m could be enough to secure his services ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

There is no doubt the Midlands side need some added quality and bringing a player such as David to the club in the summer could give them a massive boost.

Why Jonathan David would be a good signing for Aston Villa

His statistics from last season prove that the Canadian is one of the finest centre-forwards on the continent.

Across 47 games in all competitions during 2023/24, the 24-year-old scored an impressive 27 goals while grabbing nine assists too.

Across Europe’s top five leagues, David ranked in the top 17% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.58) when compared to his positional peers, while also ranking in the top 3% for pass success rate per 90 (82%), which shows that he is more than comfortable linking the play with those who are playing behind him, which could prove useful for Emery next season.

U23 scout Antonio Mango lauded David for being “absolutely insane” when it comes to his scoring record, while further praise came from Canadian journalist Tony Marinaro, hailing the Lille marksman as "one of the best strikers in the world", no mean feat in today’s game.

Among his teammates last season in the French top flight, David ranked highly in a number of metrics, notably first for goals and assists (23), shots on target per game (1.4) and penalties won (two), while ranking fourth for key passes per game (0.9) and third for big chances created (eight), showcasing his all round game.

Not only would David be a solid presence in the final third for Villa next season, but he is also able to drop slightly deeper to link up well with fellow teammates, creating chances for them going forwards.

Cashing in on Watkins might be the last thing on the minds of supporters, but it is clear that David can offer a well-rounded game.

Combine this with the fact he would cost just £25m, not yet reaching his prime, and a move for the Canadian centre-forward is looking more and more attractive.

He is currently representing his nation at the 2024 Copa América, scoring the winner for Canada in a 1-0 win against Peru, which puts them in a good position to reach the quarter-finals of the event.

If he continues to impress in the competition, Villa may have to battle against more than just Man United with regard to signing the talented striker, as there are plenty more European heavyweights out there who could certainly do with a player just like him.

If Emery can bring him to the Premier League, it would be seen as a massive statement of intent, that’s for sure.

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