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An “interesting” striker is now a top target for Glasgow Rangers in the summer transfer window, with Gers manager Russell Martin personally green-lighting the move.

Rangers need response after Martin criticism

It’s fair to say that Martin has already made his presence felt as Gers boss, producing some stinging criticism of his players after last weekend’s 1-1 draw away to Motherwell on the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership season.

“Some of them have to drop their ego, I’ll look at us tactically and accept my responsibility in it. But today, it’s not really tactical, it’s a mentality problem, and we got more than what we deserved actually.

“We need work out who really wants to be all in and who doesn’t. But Europe is not an excuse. This club demands to play in Europe. We’ve qualified for that, so we’re going to be playing in Europe a lot and we’re going to have games after the European games a lot, and we have to manage them way better than today.”

Granted, Rangers did bounce back in midweek with a 3-0 win at home to Viktoria Plzen in Champions League qualifying, but a response is still required in the league on Saturday, as Martin’s side host Dundee.

The draw with Motherwell was further proof that additional firepower is needed for the Gers before the transfer window closes, and a key update has now emerged regarding one target.

Martins green-lights Rangers' move for striker

According to TEAMtalk, Macca Tel Aviv striker Dor Turgeman has now “emerged as one of Rangers’ top targets” in the current window, with a move for him being approved by Martin.

The 21-year-old is mentioned in the report as “one of the best strikers in the Israeli Premier League”, but the Gers “will have to sell players before committing to new signings”, amid doubts over the futures of the likes of Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane.

Turgeman was linked with a move to Rangers last month, and it is easy to see why the Premiership side are such admirers of him, given his status as an exciting young player.

Kent 2.0: Rangers join race to sign "big potential" talent from PL giants

As Russell Martin searches for more new signings, could Rangers bring in a “talented” youngster from a Premier League giant in a Ryan Kent repeat?

ByBen Gray Aug 7, 2025

The youngster has scored 32 goals in 113 appearances for Tel Aviv, while at international level, he has one goal to his name in 10 caps for Israel. Scout Jacek Kulig has lauded Turgeman as an “interesting” striker, while journalist Kai Watson has heaped further praise on him.

“If you’ve followed me for any length of time you won’t be surprised to see Dor Turgeman here. The 21-year-old Israeli international is great with both feet, a strong carrier of the ball and lethal inside the box. He has all the tools to go to the top.”

As mentioned, Rangers’ pursuit of Turgeman could ultimately be dependant on what happens with other strikers at the club this summer, but he stands out as a talented long-term option who could be a star at Ibrox.

Arsenal could be offered the chance to sign one Real Madrid star in a potential swap deal this summer, according to reports, with sporting director Andrea Berta remaining attentive to opportunities in the market.

Mikel Arteta has already splashed over £200 million on the signings of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and star striker Viktor Gyokeres, with the latter making his first ever start for Arsenal in a 3-2 friendly defeat to Villarreal on Wednesday.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

Former £72 million Gunners flop Nicolas Pepe opened the scoring for Marcelino’s side at the Emirates, and while Gyokeres couldn’t bag his first goal in Arsenal colours, fellow summer signing Norgaard did manage to get on the scoresheet.

“We already broke that line today because I think it was very important for him to start a match and start to have the feeling and the connection with the team,” said Arteta about Gyokeres’ performance.

“He’s been with us only a week or so, but I really saw a lot of things and a lot of purpose, especially the way he was attacking certain spaces. So in general, for a lot of players that haven’t played many minutes, we have a lot now that they’re going to be ready for Saturday in a much better condition.”

Arsenal face Athletic Bilbao in their final pre-season game of the summer on Saturday before taking on Manchester United in their opening Premier League fixture of the new campaign, so time is running out for Berta to make any more new additions to the squad.

Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze and his representatives remain in contact with Arsenal (Fabrizio Romano), and Berta is expected to lodge a formal bid for the England international fairly soon.

In recent weeks, it’s been reliably reported that Arsenal are still eyeing up a few wide options alongside Eze (talkSPORT).

One of their potential targets in this regard is £209,000-per-week Real star Rodrygo, who faces an uncertain future at the Bernabeu under Xabi Alonso.

Real Madrid prepared to offer Rodrygo in Arsenal swap deal for Saliba

Arsenal were repeatedly linked with a move for the Brazil international earlier this summer and talks were held at one point (Florian Plettenberg), with that fondness for the player apparently remaining even after their deal for fellow winger Madueke.

According to Defensa Central, Alonso’s side are prepared to offer Arteta the chance to sign him in a late-window deal.

As per their information, Real are willing to exchange Rodrygo in a swap deal for Arsenal defender William Saliba, but it is very unclear whether the north Londoners would be open to that.

Saliba is one of their most important players, having formed an unbreakable partnership with Gabriel since the start of 2022/2023, and it is reliably reported that the France international is in talks over an extension.

Given Arsenal already boast a plethora of impressive attacking options and are actively pursuing Eze, losing Saliba for Rodrygo really doesn’t feel like it would be worth it – despite the 24-year-old’s obvious quality.

Finding a replacement for Saliba would be an almighty task at this stage of the window, so Berta is very unlikely to even entertain this one at best.

Chelsea are in advancing talks to sign RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons, but according to a new report, they’re also speaking with another winger as BlueCo keep their options open.

Burnley make approach to sign £200k-a-week Chelsea player, he "will leave"

The Clarets are determined to retain their Premier League status.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 25, 2025

Enzo Maresca and his squad are due back at Cobham for the week commencing August 4, and they have precious little time to prepare for the new season, given they take on Crystal Palace in their first Premier League game just 13 days later.

In the meantime, Chelsea are working to back Maresca with much-needed reinforcements to his squad, especially in the attacking third.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

The west Londoners struggled against sides in the low-block last season, which is a key reason why Maresca has identified Chelsea’s forward line as the main area of improvement before transfer deadline day on September 1 (Simon Phillips).

They’ve already sealed Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro this summer for a combined fee of around £145 million, but Maresca is rumoured to want another major attacking signing to give his side the best possible chance of challenging for the title next season.

Amid their advanced talks for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, who has already agreed personal terms, Chelsea are actively working towards signing Simons.

There are even some reports that a deal for the Netherlands international is actually even further along than the likes of Fabrizio Romano are reporting (Simon Phillips), but until he’s signed on the dotted line, anything can happen.

“The last our sources heard on Simons to Chelsea was that it was very close but had some final details to sort out,” wrote journalist Simon Phillips, via his Substack.

“As I said yesterday, I’ll be shocked if this doesn’t get done now, but it doesn’t mean it 100% does get done. I’ve been in this industry now long enough to know that a deal is never done until you see the player holding the shirt or a club announces it! So don’t get excited yet.”

Chelsea still speaking to Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho

Taking this into account, journalist Graeme Bailey has told TBR Football that Chelsea are still talking to Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and his representatives.

The Argentine, who can play both on the left and in central attacking midfield like Simons, bagged 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions last season. United want to sell, as is common knowledge at this point, so much so that they’ve now slashed his price tag from £70 million to around £40 million.

Following consistent links to the 21-year-old, Bailey reports that Chelsea remain in dialogue with Garnacho despite their fast-progressing negotiations with Leipzig. They also remain big fans of Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, who would actually be their first-choice, so it appears Chelsea are still open to different scenarios if they cannot strike a deal for Simons.

Garnacho, in terms of being an excellent alternative to the 22-year-old, could really fit the bill, with Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand branding him the “real deal”. As well as his excelling reputation, the South American also boasts proven Premier League experience.

Tottenham Hotspur could hijack Nottingham Forest’s move for an “unbelievable” forward, amid the fall-out surrounding their pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White, according to a report.

Forest considering legal action after Spurs approach Gibbs-White

Spurs’ pursuit of Gibbs-White has proven to be controversial, with Forest ceasing all communication after alleging that an illegal approach had been made for the midfielder, which means the deal has now stalled.

The Tricky Trees have reported Spurs to the Premier League, and it is currently unknown whether the transfer will be blocked entirely, although super agent Sky Andrew has suggested Daniel Levy may have to simply pay more to get a deal over the line.

Andrew said: “If it goes to arbitration, where it must go within the football rules and regulations, then Forest will have to prove that the club went directly to the player or to the agent. Most clubs know that it is very difficult to prove.

“So, this is a case now of how much will the buying club pay for the player. It won’t be £60 million, it will probably have to be more.”

Chief flies to London for transfer talks with £100k-per-week Tottenham star

He could leave Spurs this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 13, 2025

The Lilywhites will no doubt have been left frustrated by the deal stalling, but they could now have an opportunity to get one-up on Forest, with a report from The Standard revealing they are in the race to sign one of their Premier League rivals’ major targets.

Tottenham reportedly remain in the race for Brentford star Yoane Wissa, having submitted an enquiry earlier in the transfer window, at which point they were told that it would take an offer of £50m to tempt the Bees into a sale.

Forest have also set their sights on the forward, having recently had a £20m bid knocked back, indicating Spurs could hijack the deal if they are willing to put a higher offer on the table.

That said, Brentford have made it clear they are unwilling to sell both Bryan Mbeumo and Wissa in the same window unless they receive a huge bid, so it could be difficult to get a deal done.

"Unbelievable" Wissa emerged as Premier League star last season

The 28-year-old was one of the best-performing forwards in the Premier League in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 19 goals, the sixth-highest tally in the top flight, while also providing five assists in 35 outings.

Courtesy of his performances last term, the DR Congo international was lauded for his “unbelievable” quality by former manager Thomas Frank, and it is an added bonus that the Spurs boss knows the forward very well.

As such, Wissa could be a solid signing for Tottenham this summer, with the France-born forward’s goal and assist tally suggesting he could justify a £50m price tag, although the fact his contract is set to expire next summer means a lower fee would perhaps be more fair.

Leeds United have submitted an enquiry over a deal for a “world-class” player, who could push for a move to Elland Road within days, according to a report.

Leeds set sights on new midfielder

Leeds have already made major improvements to their squad ahead of their return to the Premier League next season, agreeing deals for centre-backs Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw and striker Lukas Nmecha, and they have now turned their attentions towards signing a new midfielder.

Daniel Farke appears to be particularly keen on bringing in an attack-minded midfielder, capable of providing a threat on the front foot, having identified a range of different targets from within the Championship and Ligue 1.

Player

Current club

G/A last season

Himad Abdelli

Angers SCO

7

Habib Diarra

Strasbourg

9

Gustavo Hamer

Sheffield United

18

However, there is also a desire to bring in a more defensive option, with it recently being revealed the Whites are keen on signing Juventus defensive midfielder Douglas Luiz, having doing their “due diligence” on the Brazilian.

There has now been a new update on Leeds’ pursuit of Luiz, with a report from Italy (via MOT Leeds News), revealing they have now submitted an enquiry over a deal for the midfielder, who could push for a move to Elland Road within days.

Leeds leading Fulham in race to sign £8.5m defender alongside Bornauw

Leeds United are now in a race to sign a defender who has been impressing in Germany.

ByBrett Worthington Jul 1, 2025

Indeed, should the Serie A side be knocked out of the Club World Cup by Real Madrid on Tuesday evening, the maestro could seek a swift move away from Juventus, with his agents currently evaluating potential options.

There is a possibility that a deal could initially be a loan, including an obligation to buy, which may be on the expensive side, given that the 27-year-old arrived at Juventus for a fee of £42m just over a year ago.

"World-class" Luiz could be real coup for Leeds

The Brazil international has featured just once for Juventus at the Club World Cup, indicating he isn’t held in the highest regard by his current employers, but the central midfielder’s previous exploits in England indicate he could be a top-quality signing for Leeds.

The former Aston Villa man flourished during his time in the West Midlands, receiving very high praise from John McGinn, who described his former teammate as “world-class”.

Although most well-known as a defensive midfielder, the ex-Villa star proved himself as a real all-rounder during his stint at Villa Park, capable of making a real impact on the front foot.

As such, Leeds should not pass up the opportunity to sign Luiz, despite failing to kick on since moving to Juventus, and he could be a difference-maker in the battle for survival next season.

Tottenham Hotspur are set for a very intriguing summer transfer window, which has been made all the more important after their qualification for the Champions League next season.

Tottenham preparing bid for £30m colossus wanted by Napoli, Milan and Inter

Spurs could scupper Antonio Conte in the race for his signature.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 21, 2025

Spurs were handed a monumental boost both on and off the field after their triumphant Europa League final win in Bilbao last month, with Thomas Frank set to reap the rewards as he prepares for his first-ever job managing an elite-level club.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The financial windfall gifted to Tottenham, not to mention the greater player-pull they now possess as a result of competing in Europe’s most prestigious competition, will play an absolutely pivotal role in attracting the club’s top transfer targets to N17.

However, that isn’t to say that they’re guaranteed to keep their best players.

Son Heung-min may well have already played his final game for Spurs, with sides in Saudi Arabia expressing a serious interest in the South Korean, while Atlético Madrid continue to sniff around star defender Cristian Romero.

The 27-year-old was crowned UEFA’s official Europa League Player of the Season and was vital for Ange Postecoglou throughout the tournament, helping Spurs to end their 17-year wait for a piece of major silverware.

Romero is also a leader in the dressing room, according to teammates like Micky van de Ven, who showered praise on the Argentine for helping his transition to Premier League football.

“For me, he is world-class. He is a leader. He is always one hundred per cent. He is a top-class player with the ball and without the ball when defending,” said van de Ven to Optus Sport.

“I can promise you he is not scared of anyone. He keeps going every game. From day one here he has helped me. He is just a world-class player.”

With Tottenham facing the prospect of losing their imperative defender, who’s reportedly told chairman Daniel Levy he’s keen to leave the club this summer (Marca), reliable football.london journalist Alasdair Gold has taken a look at who could replace him.

Tottenham could replace Cristian Romero with Marc Guehi

As per Gold, Tottenham have been fans of Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi for a “long time”, and he’s a potentially “obvious” candidate to step into Romero’s shoes.

Spurs made a very public £70 million bid for the England international in January, which was rejected out of hand by Palace chairman Steve Parish, who had precious little time to source a replacement for the defender.

Gold warns that, while Tottenham could offer Guehi Champions League football, any move would depend on defensive sales as Frank is currently stocked with centre-backs, and by the time they agree to some sales, the 24-year-old may have already found a new club.

Arsenal are believed to be “very keen” on Guehi, as are Liverpool, so Spurs may even have their work cut out for them in this instance. He’s about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at Selhurst Park, but Palace will still demand around £50 million, according to GiveMeSport.

Sunderland’s defenders really did lead by example all across the Black Cats’ dramatic playoff fixtures.

Without Daniel Ballard, Regis Le Bris’ men might well have crashed out of the lottery of the Championship playoffs at the semi-final stages, but, thankfully, the Northern Ireland international connected with Enzo Le Fee’s corner kick delivery expertly to seal Sunderland’s place at Wembley after beating Coventry City.

At Wembley itself, the defenders had to dig deep once more, with Chris Mepham stepping up to the mark in Luke O’Nien’s injury absence by winning four duels and registering 12 clearances to keep Sheffield United largely at bay.

But, with Mepham now gone, Sunderland could look to add some fresh centre-backs for the testing mission of the Premier League to come, with O’Nien one figure who might well have to drop into the reserves despite being a loyal Wearside servant.

O'Nien's heroics at Sunderland

This is the cutthroat nature of the beast after all, with those who are deemed dependable in the Championship perhaps not cut out for the gruelling step-up to the Premier League.

O’Nien has only ever tasted EFL football all across his drawn-out career to date, with the ex-Wycombe Wanderers defender’s no-nonsense approach making him a firm fan favourite at the Stadium of Light from day one.

Indeed, as Sunderland shot up the leagues from League One obscurity to the brink of top-flight football, so did the quality of O’Nien’s performances, with the Black Cats veteran now up to 314 appearances for the Wearside giants, on top of collecting 23 goals and 16 assists along the way.

However, the versatile Sunderland mainstay – who can also play in central midfield – isn’t without his limitations, with a stacked list of 52 yellow cards when donning a Black Cat jersey a major concern, especially if a skilful player in the division above brings out this hot-headedness in him.

Moreover, his complete lack of experience in the top-flight could also come back to bite Le Bris and Co. Therefore, if a move is soon to be on the table for a Premier League-ready centre-back to join the ever-growing camp, it’s a move that must be pursued.

The "outstanding" PL star who is a big O'Nien upgrade

That isn’t to say O’Nien won’t still play a part in Sunderland attempting to keep their heads above water, with his captain-like bravery a real asset to have around the building.

Transfer Focus

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

But, the Premier League can eat promoted teams whole when it comes to leaky defensive displays creeping in, as seen in previous playoff winners Southampton shipping a league-high total of 86 strikes last season, leading to them finishing rock bottom of the pile.

This is where Liverpool colossus Joe Gomez could come to the rescue, with a recent report by the Guardian speculating that the newly promoted side are locked in an intense race to sign the Reds defender, alongside Newcastle, Aston Villa, Burnley, Leeds United, and various others.

The wide array of names here taking a look at the 28-year-old might well make it a tall order for Sunderland to win his coveted services, but if they were to land the ex-England international’s in-demand signature, they won’t feel as nervous as they do right now about their defensive options jumping into the elite league.

Just one quick glance at Gomez’s “outstanding” top-flight numbers – as he was once labelled by Reds teammate Virgil van Dijk – is enough to know why Sunderland would be immediately put at ease.

Notably, the London-born centre-back has only conceded 106 top-flight goals across his 149 appearances to date.

Much like O’Nien, too, the Liverpool number two can slot into multiple different positions on a pitch if needed, with Gomez potentially offering Le Bris cover in the left-back and right-back positions, alongside also being capable as a defensive midfielder.

With two Premier League titles glistening next to his name as well, snapping up Gomez would definitely show Sunderland mean business when stepping up a division, rather than settling for what they already possess.

Le Bris' next Rigg: Sunderland make approach to sign "outstanding" EFL star

Sunderland could be about to win their next Chris Rigg if they successfully sign this EFL ace.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 18, 2025

Celtic supporters are starting to get very excited about next season.

On Tuesday afternoon, in one of the worst-kept secrets in the history of Scottish football, Kieran Tierney’s return to the club was confirmed, six years after he was sold to Arsenal for £25m, still to this day a joint-club record.

So, with a true club icon and fans’ favourite on his way back to Paradise, Brendan Rodgers and his recruitment staff can turn their attention to other targets, but are the Premiership champions set to miss out on their dream centre-forward?

Latest on Celtic's pursuit of Mathias Kvistgaarden

According to a report by Michael Gannon of the Daily Record, Celtic’s interest in Mathias Kvistgaarden has cooled, with the 22-year-old, who is valued at £12m, set to join either West Ham United, Eintracht Frankfurt or Lazio instead.

The striker scored 23 goals this season for Brøndby, who finished third in the Danish Superligaen, and his performances have earned widespread praise.

Farzam Abolhosseini of Tipsbladet labels him “magical”, scout António Mango believes that he is “absolutely sensational” and Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout forecasts that Kvistgaarden will only continue to improve.

However, his £12m price-tag was always likely to prove prohibitive, considering Celtic’s record signing remains the £11m paid to sign Arne Engels last August.

So, with the Hoops now focusing on other targets, one in particular stands out.

Celtic's search for a new number nine

As has been previously reported, Celtic are one of many clubs interested in securing the services of Youssef El Kachati.

The 25-year-old is available as a free transfer, having left Telstar following the expiration of his contract.

Despite that, he departs Sportpark Schoonenberg a bona fide club legend, having scored 25 goals this season, firing the White Lions back into the Eredivisie for the first time in 47 years, netting five times in six play-off matches, on target home and away as Telstar defeated Willem II in the final.

So now, Martin McMillan of the Glasgow Times claims that El Kachati has turned down the chance to join German second-tier outfit Hannover, with Anthony Evans of the Daily Record reporting that Celtic are ‘supremely confident’ of making this deal happen.

The Dutch-born, Moroccan youth international’s performances in the Eerste Divisie have yielded plenty of praise, including from writer Martin Bjerke, who notes that El Kachati “combines physical presence with dynamic movement”, adding that he is “technically gifted”.

So, let’s assess how he compares to Kvistgaarden.

Appearances

45

38

Minutes

3,517

2,542

Goals

25

23

Assists

6

7

Shots on target %

40.5%

48.8%

Shots per 90

3.86

3.58

Shots on target per 90

1.56

1.75

Goals per shot

0.14

0.21

First and foremost, worth stating up front that, according to Global Football Rankings, the Superligaen is the 13th strongest league in the world, with the Dutch second division down in 70th, which is obviously worth considering.

That caveat aside, the pair do have similar statistics this season, with El Kachati scoring two more goals, albeit in around 1000 more minutes, while registering slightly more shots per 90.

Transfer Focus

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

Thus, it goes without saying that Kvistgaarden is a massive talent, and it is a blow that Celtic are seemingly set to miss out on him, but El Kachati certainly offers a low-cost, low-risk and potentially high-reward alternative.

Sinclair 2.0: £4.6m star who "wins games on his own" is Celtic's top target

Celtic are eyeing up a deal for a winger who could be their next Scott Sinclair.

ByDan Emery Jun 10, 2025

The transfer window has been open for a week now, and Arsenal need to kick into gear.

There may be another, longer window in which to confirm deals after the Club World Cup, but Mikel Arteta and Co risk falling further behind their Premier League rivals should they waste any more time.

For example, Manchester City have already received the ‘here we go’ treatment for Rayan Aït-Nouri and worse than that, Liverpool look insistent on signing the incredibly exciting Florian Wirtz as soon as possible.

However, the good news is that recent reports have linked Arsenal with another sensationally creative talent who could be their answer to the German international.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth going over some of the other brilliantly talented players who have been linked with Arsenal in recent weeks and months, like Morgan Gibbs-White and Xavi Simons.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could cost the Gunners a whopping £100m, although, given his undeniable importance to Nottingham Forest, the fact he’s Premier League proven and his tally of seven goals and ten assists in 34 PL games, that fee is hardly surprising.

On the other hand, Simons would cost substantially less at £65m and has arguably had an even better campaign for RB Leipzig this year, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists in 33 appearances in all competitions.

Yet, there is another target who has now entered the picture, someone who’d be a better signing than both players above: Morgan Rogers.

Yes, according to a recent report from Charlie Gordon of the Express, Arsenal are now very interested in signing the Aston Villa star.

In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that the North Londoners have already made contact over the English talent, although the Midlands club could demand a fee ‘well in excess of £70m.’

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Rogers’ incredible ability and boundless potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be the perfect answer to Wirtz.

Why Rogers could be Arsenal's Wirtz

So, while it’s certainly a bold claim to suggest that Rogers could be Arsenal’s own Wirtz this summer and beyond, there are a few reasons why we feel more than comfortable making it.

The first is that even though the German did have marginally better output this season, both players produced very similar numbers in this regard, and the Villa ace in a league UEFA ranks as the toughest in Europe – with the Bundesliga coming as the fourth hardest.

For example, the Bayer Leverkusen star scored 16 goals and provided 15 assists in 45 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.45 games.

Appearances

54

45

Goals

14

16

Assists

15

15

Goal Involvements per Match

0.53

0.68

In comparison, the Villans’ creative “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, managed to score 14 goals and provide 15 assists in 54 appearances, which comes out to a still impressive but ever-so slightly worse average of a goal involvement every 1.86 games.

On top of their output, the pair are both 22 years old and while they can play in a number of positions – the “unstoppable” Claret and Blue gem, as dubbed by Jamie Carragher, being particularly adept at playing out wide – they are undoubtedly at their best as the most attacking midfielder in the team.

Finally, if these deals do go through, then both internationals would be moving to two of the favourites for the title next season and would almost certainly be doing so with the intention of revolutionising their respective sides’ creativity and attacking style.

Ultimately, while he’s not as big a name and has a lower price tag, Rogers looks like he could be Arsenal’s own Wirtz this summer and beyond, so Arteta and Co should do everything they can to bring him to the club as soon as possible.

Arsenal very close to signing £50m star who's a Saka & Rodrygo hybrid

The uber-talented international could be just the winger Arsenal need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 6, 2025

Glasgow Rangers and 49ers Enterprises could be a marriage made in heaven. Of course, things are still very much in the pre-wedding phase.

The club were crying out for new investment and this summer can see the beginning of a new era for the Light Blues. First of all, a permanent manager must be appointed, preferably sooner rather than later, especially given the size of the task at hand.

It remains to be seen just how big a budget the manager will be given this summer to improve the squad. It might be the case that he will have to sell a few players in order to raise funds and reduce the wage bill.

Vaclav Cerny, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, and Rafael Fernandes have all returned to their parent clubs following their respective loan spells at Ibrox.

Elsewhere, Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence, and Leon Balogun have all departed following the end of their contracts. Balogun and Hagi were both part of the squad that won the Premiership title in 2021.

A new era indeed. Regardless of who the new boss is, players such as Ben Davies and Kieran Dowell could be sold, especially after strong loan spells at Birmingham City.

Robin Propper must be another player who has to go this summer.

Why Rangers must sell Robin Propper

Last summer, Philippe Clement sought several signings that would turn his side from also-rans to title winners.

In came players such as Nedim Bajrami, Hamza Igamane, and Cerny, but it was the defence that the club really needed to strengthen.

Connor Goldson was sold after six years at Ibrox and a new centre-back was identified as being a priority for Clement ahead of the season.

This led to the Gers bringing in FC Twente captain Propper, who had made over 100 appearances for the Dutch side. On the surface, it looked like a shrewd signing, especially as the club paid just £1.5m to secure his signature.

After a few months, however, it was evident that the Dutchman was struggling to cope with the physicality of Scottish football. He was regularly being out-muscled and outfought by strikers of teams further down the table, while his lack of pace didn’t help either.

He delivered worse performances in the Europa League, and when compared to his positional peers in the competition, his statistics are poor to say the least.

Accurate passes

57.9

Tackles

1.6

Clearances

4

Total duels won

5.6

Possession lost

8.5

Balls recovered

3.3

Indeed, he ranks in the bottom 75% for pass completion percentage, progressive passes, progressive carries, and tackles per 90 in the Europa League. The defender just cracks the top 45% for blocks and clearances per 90 for the Light Blues.

While Rangers may have reached the quarter-finals of the tournament, they might have gone further had Propper not been part of the team.

He will turn 32 in September, and it is obvious that his best days are behind him, based on his disappointing performances for the Gers this season. Depending on the style of play of the new manager, Propper must surely be aiming to look for another team this summer.

With Balogun already departed and Ben Davies likely to be sold as well, signing a centre-back or two during the transfer window is imperative, and the arrival of a new one could result in Propper’s exit.

Could the 49ers turn to the Premier League to bring someone in?

Rangers eye swoop for Premier League defender

Last week, Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie delivered some transfer news on X surrounding the club’s interest in Ipswich Town centre-back Cameron Burgess.

He posted: “Rangers are interested in Ipswich defender Cameron Burgess as they seek to bolster their defence ahead of the new season.

“29-yo has played 18 times in the Premier League this season.”

The link certainly came out of the blue, but it was a welcome one. With Ipswich suffering relegation from the top flight, now could be the perfect time for the Gers to make a move for the Australian.

If so, the manager must axe Propper.

Why Rangers should sign Cameron Burgess

Across his 18 Premier League appearances for Ipswich Town this term, Burgess has won 3.6 total duels per game – a success rate of 68% – while also making an impressive 6.9 clearances and 0.9 tackles per game for the Tractor Boys.

It wasn’t enough to see them slip back into the second tier, but Burgess wasn’t the problem, far from it.

Burgess has showcased his talents when compared to other defenders in the Premier League, ranking in the top 21% for aerial duels won (2.57), the top 2% for clearances (7.48), and in the top 5% for percentage of dribblers tackled (81.8%) per 90 this season.

Scottish scout and analyst Kai Watson hailed the defender amid the links to Rangers, saying: “Cameron Burgess may not be the most exciting signing on paper but he’ll bring necessary experience to the back, particularly if Balogun departs.

“He’s 6’4, left sided, an Australian international and uses the ball well (Ipswich struggled to keep it which impacts his %s).”

As Watson mentions, Burgess uses the ball well at the back, but what Rangers need is a defender who is physically capable of getting the better of opposition forwards in the penalty area.

Too often have the club seen opposition players get plenty of time in the final third, which has given clubs such as Motherwell, St Mirren and Hibs chances to secure victory against the Glasgow side this season.

Propper was a big factor in some of these defeats. By signing Burgess, the Gers will be getting someone who is currently at the peak of their powers.

His contract expires in a couple of weeks, which means he won’t cost the Light Blues a single penny, making the move all the more attractive.

Perhaps not the big-name signing many of the supporters are hoping for, but the Australian would offer some solidity to a backline which has struggled throughout 2024/25.

He won’t demand a massive wage either. Everything points to this being a smart piece of business by the club; that much is certain.

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