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Leeds United failed to get what they wanted out of deadline day, as they missed out on Harry Wilson, but it was a largely successful transfer window for the newly-promoted side.

As much as some supporters may not want to hear it right now, the recruitment team and board did well to bolster the defensive and midfield options for Daniel Farke.

Lucas Perri, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and James Justin arrived to improve the defence, whilst Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach were signed to add to the team’s midfield.

Supporters have already seen why the club were willing to spend around £17m to bring Stach to the club, after an impressive start to life in the Premier League for the Whites.

The towering German midfielder was excellent, as illustrated by the statistics in the post above, on his debut in a 1-0 win over Everton last month.

Stach and Longstaff coming through the gate at Thorp Arch meant that bringing back former star Kalvin Phillips was not high on the agenda at Elland Road.

Why Leeds were right not to sign Kalvin Phillips

Instead of immediately targeting a deal to bring the ex-England international back to the club upon promotion, Leeds decided to swoop for the aforementioned alternative targets to improve Farke’s side.

In the final few days of the window, journalist Graeme Bailey did note that the Championship champions were keeping tabs on Phillips and that he could have ended up in West Yorkshire again if Manchester City had ripped his contract up to make him a free agent.

The Cityzens did not do that, though, and the central midfielder remained at The Etihad, despite not being a part of Pep Guardiola’s plans, after the deadline passed.

Phillips earned a £42m move to Manchester City in the summer of 2022 after impressing, as shown in the clips above, in the Premier League with Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa.

Unfortunately, the midfield star only started two of his 12 Premier League appearances for City in his first season in Manchester, per Sofascore, before struggling out on loan at Ipswich and West Ham in the two subsequent campaigns.

Appearances

12

19

Starts

3

14

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Duel success rate

48%

43%

Error led to shot or goal

1

2

Penalties committed

1

0

Red cards

1

1

As you can see in the table above, Phillips has been sent off twice and made four errors that have led to shots, goals, or penalties for the opposition in his last 17 starts in the top-flight.

His market value has dropped off a cliff as a result of that poor form in recent seasons since leaving Leeds. Transfermarkt currently value the midfielder at just £10m, well short of the £42m fee that Manchester City agreed to sign him for in 2022.

Leeds were, therefore, right not to heavily pursue a reunion with the 29-year-old dud, because he is not the same player that he once was at Elland Road.

Despite once being sold for £42m, there are now numerous players within the current squad who are worth even more than Phillips, including central defender Pascal Struijk.

Leeds hit the jackpot with Pascal Struijk

The Whites swooped to sign the Dutch defender from Ajax on a free transfer in January 2018, as his contract with the Eredivisie giants was due to expire later that year, and initially linked up with the U21s.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

He only played seven times for the academy, though, before being fast-tracked into the first-team by Bielsa in the 2019/20 season, playing five times in the Championship. That led to him being valued at £650k in 2020, per Transfermarkt

Struijk then established himself as a regular in the Premier League for Leeds, playing 85 times across three seasons under Bielsa, Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Sam Allardyce, before the team’s relegation in 2023.

The Dutch defender really hit his stride in the last two seasons in the Championship for the Whites. Although he did miss the second half of the 2023/24 campaign through injury, and was unable to help his side in the play-off final against Southampton.

Struijk had arguably his best season at Elland Road in the 2024/25 title-winning season, though, as he played in 35 of the club’s 46 league matches on their way to 100 points.

Shot-creating actions

1.34

Top 16%

Passes attempted

85.57

Top 1%

Pass accuracy

90.1%

Top 4%

Progressive passes

6.15

Top 1%

Progressive carries

1.18

Top 8%

Passes into the final third

6.92

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed star was sensational in possession for Farke’s team with his ability to progress play with the ball at his feet at an exceptional rate.

Promotion to the Premier League, though, places a greater emphasis on his defensive skills. He has stood up to the task so far, winning 75% of his ground duels to help Leeds to keep two clean sheets in their first three matches, per Sofascore.

His performances last season in the Championship heavily contributed to his market value soaring up to a whopping £15.6m, per Transfermarkt, which is millions more than Phillips is currently valued at.

This also means that his market value has skyrocketed by a staggering 2,400% from the £650k that he was valued at back in 2020, which highlights his impressive rise to prominence in West Yorkshire.

Leeds hit the jackpot with "dangerous" star who's worth more than Solomon

Leeds United have hit the jackpot on a star who is now worth even more than Manor Solomon.

ByDan Emery Sep 7, 2025

Therefore, Leeds hit the jackpot when they moved to sign Struijk from Ajax back in 2018 because the Dutch titan has developed into a key first-team player for Farke who is now worth even more than a star who was once sold by the club for £42m.

Sanju Samson and Phil Salt will hope to get back among the runs as the series nears its climax

S Sudarshanan30-Jan-20252:30

Ten Doeschate: ‘Suryakumar a couple of shots away from regaining form’

Big picture: Series alive, using contrasting methodsThe five-match series between India and England was expected to be a high-scoring one. A battle of sixes if you will. But three games in, this hasn’t been the case, but the series has by no means been devoid of thrills.It’s 2-1 going into Friday night in Pune, and it’s the bowling attacks that have stood out, in contrasting ways. While India have stacked their side with as many as four spin options, England have primarily relied on hitting the short-of-good lengths and undoing India with high pace: Mark Wood and Jofra Archer have tried to soften up the batters in the powerplay before handing over to Brydon Carse and Jamie Overton to pound the hard lengths through the middle overs.Related

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India have fielded just the one frontline quick – Arshdeep Singh in the first two games and the returning Mohammed Shami in the third – and used every type of spin at their disposal. England have not really found a way past them, but remain alive in the series thanks to their great escape in Rajkot led by Adil Rashid, who bowled a wily spell of legspin following a last-wicket rescue act alongside Wood.With the track in Pune also likely to favour spin, Rashid could revel once again, but it will only present Varun Chakravarthy and his spin colleagues another chance to get at England’s struggling batters.Form guideIndia LWWWW
England WLLLWSanju Samson will hope he can find answers to Jofra Archer and Mark Wood•PTI

In the spotlight: Sanju Samson and Phil SaltLast October, Sanju Samson was given the chance to claim ownership of a top-two slot in India’s T20I line-up. And he set about it in fine fashion, scoring three centuries in five outings. One of them was in Johannesburg on a bouncy surface against the likes of Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen. But Samson hasn’t quite mastered the pace of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer in this series. He has scores of 26, 5 and 3 so far, and has tended to get dismissed while being late on his shots. This may not yet be a cause for alarm for Samson or the India team mangement, given the next T20 World Cup is a fair distance away. But runs in a game India need to win to seal the series could go a long way towards raising both Samson’s and the team’s confidence.Having given blazing starts to champions Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024, Phil Salt was expected to set the tone for England on his first tour of India since. His last international series was also a productive one, bringing him an unbeaten 103 and a 55 against West Indies in the Caribbean. But his three outings in this series have yielded 0, 4 and 5, even if he hasn’t really looked out of touch. Can Salt overturn this run of scores as England look to push the series into a decider?Team newsIndia assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said Rinku Singh batted on Thursday and is fit. This could mean Dhruv Jurel misses out. India could also look at an additional seam-bowling allrounder in Shivam Dube or Ramandeep Singh instead of Washington Sundar.India (probable XI): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Washington Sundar/Ramandeep Singh, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Varun Chakravarthy.England did not train on the eve of the match. Jamie Smith had walked off in the third T20I with a stiff calf, so there could be a straight swap with Jacob Bethell, whom he had replaced in Chennai. England could also look at giving either Wood or Archer a break and play Saqib Mahmood.England (probable XI): 1 Phil Salt (wk), 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jos Buttler (capt), 4 Harry Brook, 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jamie Smith/Jacob Bethell, 7 Jamie Overton, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Adil Rashid.Adil Rashid has enjoyed an excellent series with the ball•Associated Press

Pitch and conditionsEvenings in Maharashtra have been on the cooler side with temperature in Pune expected to be in the late teens through the duration of the game. Teams batting first have tended to win more matches at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium: 35 times in 64 men’s T20 matches. The pitch is generally a black-soil one that favours spinners. Mitchell Santner picked up 13 wickets in a Test against India in October 2024, and then the only Ranji Trophy match here this season saw spinners take 34 of 39 non-run-out wickets.Stats and trivia India’s run-rate in the middle overs (7 to 16) in T20Is since the start of January 2024 is 9.45, the best among Full-Member teams. India have picked up 30 first-over wickets in T20Is since the start of 2022, the most by any team. They’ve done this over 91 innings, which means they’ve struck in the first over almost once every three innings. England have lost the only previous T20I they’ve played in Pune, while India have won two and lost two at the venue, including their previous one against Sri Lanka in 2023. Only two of Mohammed Shami’s 24 T20I appearances, including the outing in Rajkot, have come in IndiaQuotes”Regardless of how it went, it is so happy to see him playing for India again. It’s been a long time since he has played. He has been such a performer for the team. I thought he bowled well, apart from maybe that full-toss. Nice to see him build up in training again tonight.”
“We are moving in the right direction. I am really happy with the style we are trying to play and continuing to be aggressive and taking the shots on.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo lutou e conquistou a virada sobre o Goiás no finalzinho do jogo no Morumbi, para vencer por 2 a 1 em duelo válido pela 8ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Após sair atrás, o Tricolor Paulista virou com gols de Pablo Maia e David. Assista no vídeo acima aos melhores momentos da partida.

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Real Betis are launching a unique clothing range inspired by Antony's neck tattoo as the club look to fund £21.6m move from Manchester United. The Brazilian winger had already won fans over during his loan spell in Seville last season, but finances threatened to derail the deal. United stood firm on their valuation, leaving Betis to search for creative ways to bridge a £5m gap.

Antony's new clothing line inspired by Iluminado tattoo

Betis and Antony have collaborated on a fashion range inspired by the winger’s iconic neck tattoo, which reads Iluminado; “enlightened” in English. The collection will see royalties shared between the club and the player, generating non-sporting income designed to offset the transfer fee.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesBetis chief Alarcon reveals bold commercial plan

Chief executive Ramon Alarcon said: "We’ve launched a clothing line with Antony, we’re participating with him through royalties. And he’ll also have some non-sporting income from that merchandising. If he ends up being the world star he has been, we at Betis hope to recover the investment and even what it cost us the previous year. It carries a certain risk because this is locked in for five years and at a high cost, but you can potentially reap benefits. It’s the most difficult signing I’ve made as CEO because there was a lot of pressure from all the Betis fans. It was taken for granted that he was coming, everyone was asking when he was coming.”

United’s stance and Glazer green light caused Antony delay

Despite Betis’ inventive financial approach, the move nearly collapsed just two days before the deadline. Antony was involved in a dispute with Manchester United over a payment he believed was due. That issue was eventually scrapped to push the transfer over the line. Adding to the drama, the deal could not be rubber-stamped until the Glazer family signed it off from the United States on deadline day. Betis had to hold their nerve until the very last hours before finally confirming Antony’s arrival.

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Red Devils secure sell-on clause in Antony deal

While Betis celebrated their coup, United made sure they did not walk away empty-handed. The Premier League club inserted a 50 per cent sell-on clause into the deal, ensuring they will pocket half of any future transfer fee if Antony is sold again. For United, it represents a long-term safeguard after letting go of a player who cost them £82m from Ajax in 2022.

Dismal forecast in Nottingham raises prospect of shared trophy between Somerset and Glamorgan

Vithushan Ehantharajah22-Sep-2024Somerset vs Glamorgan – no play possibleThe 2024 Metro Bank Final between Somerset and Glamorgan has been forced into a reserve day after no play was possible on Sunday at Trent Bridge.Heavy rains and thunderstorms across the United Kingdom were felt particularly harshly in the Midlands, meaning not even the toss was possible as the pitch and square remained under covers, with consistent showers preventing any attempt at a clean-up.The teams will return on Monday to attempt a full 50-overs contest, but more inclement weather is expected. In the event of a no-result, Somerset (50-over champions in 2019) and Glamorgan (2021 champions) would share the trophy. Fortunately, there will be enough medals for both teams due to a surplus from last year.Previously, in such circumstances, the winner would have been decided in a bowl-out. However, the ECB removed that option ahead of the 2024 season when introducing reserve days across all men’s and women’s limited-overs finals. Speaking in November, ECB operations manager Alan Fordham had hoped they would not be required: “Every knockout match has a reserve day, but it’s remarkable how little reserve days are actually required,” he said. “Hopefully, I’m not leaving myself a hostage to fortune.”It will be the third occurrence of a reserve day being used for a men’s List A final, and the first use of one in men’s domestic cricket since the Vitality Blast Final in 2020. Last summer’s Charlotte Edwards Cup also had to be completed on the reserve day.Play was eventually abandoned without a ball being bowled at 2.33pm – when the rain was at its worst – as the time needed to dry the ground would have exceeded the 4.02 cut-off point. Had any play been possible, the match would have begun as a 50-overs-a-side affair and spilled over into Monday before any reduction in the playing conditions would have been implemented.For Somerset, the wait for silverware goes on – albeit for another 24 hours – with the One-Day Cup now the only trophy standing in a bid for hat-trick of titles that was derailed last week. Last Saturday’s defeat in the Blast final to Gloucestershire was followed by defeat to Lancashire which handed Surrey their third consecutive County Championship with a round to spare.Glamorgan, meanwhile, could do with something to cheer. They failed to make it out of the South Group in the Blast and are currently second-bottom in Division Two heading into the last round.Both teams brought three coaches’ worth of fans along on Sunday. Around 200 Somerset fans set off from Taunton at 6.10am, while Glamorgan had two buses leaving Cardiff at 6am, and one from Swansea which arrived on Saturday and will remain overnight in the hope that Monday’s forecast is a dud.

“Me being in the T20 squad would’ve raised more eyebrows. It’s better that way that I’m not there”

Firdose Moonda14-Aug-2024Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s former T20I and current Test and ODI captain, has acknowledged his focus is long-format cricket after he was left out of the team’s experimental T20 side to play West Indies later this month.After last playing a T20I in September 2023, missing out on the T20 World Cup squad and being released by Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20, Bavuma was asked whether he had made a decision about his T20 future. He did not give a definitive answer but seemed to indicate he understood the ship had sailed.”It’s not a surprise that I’m not there, but me being in the T20 squad would’ve raised more eyebrows. It’s better that way that I’m not there. My focus now is on Test cricket and I’m going to try to play as best as I can in the format,” Bavuma said from Guyana, where he will lead South Africa in the second Test against West Indies from tomorrow.Related

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“There’s also 50-over cricket that’s coming in the next few months and the one thing that I can trust is that if I get going in Test and 50-over cricket, everything else will follow from there. It’s not a surprise that I’m not in the T20 squad.”Bavuma’s acceptance of his non-selection for the T20I squad comes after a protracted period of criticism over his strike-rate in the shortest format, particularly at the 2022 T20 World Cup. He captained South Africa at that tournament, where they were eliminated after defeat to Netherlands, and scored 70 runs in five innings at a strike-rate of 17.50.He was subsequently replaced by Aiden Markram as T20I leader and dropped from the side but took over the Test team. Bavuma made a brief comeback to T20I cricket last year when he played in three matches against Australia and scored 35 runs in three innings, including two ducks. He played one match for SEC at the SA20 earlier this year and made 33 not out and also played for the Lions in the CSA domestic T20 Challenge, where he scored 171 runs in 15 matches at a strike-rate of 117.93, considered too low for a frontline T20 batter. That may have been what he was referring to when he said that if he was picked it would “raise more eyebrows.”White-ball coach Rob Walter has opted for Reeza Hendricks – who did not play a game at the 2022 T20 World Cup despite scoring four successive fifties in the lead-up – as a regular opener and will pair him with Rassie van der Dussen or Ryan Rickelton at the top of the order against West Indies.In the long-term, if Quinton de Kock does not continue to play T20Is, South Africa could also look at Matthew Breetzke, who is not in the squad for West Indies, as an opening option. All that doesn’t mean Bavuma is not a white-ball player at all. He remains South Africa’s ODI captain, led them to the semi-finals of the last World Cup and is expected to captain them at the upcoming Champions Trophy.

The India and KKR allrounder will play in the One-Day Cup and two rounds of the county championship

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jul-2024

Venkatesh Iyer is set for his maiden county stint•AFP/Getty Images

India allrounder Venkatesh Iyer has joined Lancashire for the ongoing One-Day Cup and two rounds of the County Championship. He is expected to make his debut against Kent on July 28.Iyer was recommended to the club by Phil Salt, his Kolkata Knight Riders’ teammate during their victorious IPL campaign this year, where he made half-centuries against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 and the final. Iyer’s stint will be for five weeks as he is set to return ahead of India’s domestic season opener, the Duleep Trophy, that kicks off on September 5.”This is a deal we have worked hard to complete,” Lancashire’s Director of Cricket Mark Chilton said. “Venkatesh will add experience to a young side during the One-Day Cup, whilst providing an explosive batting option in the middle-order and another seam bowler that we can turn to with the ball.”He will also be available for our County Championship matches against Surrey and Hampshire towards the end of August and gives us another high-quality overseas option to select from.”Iyer made his name as a top-order batter during IPL 2021, when KKR made a stirring run to the final. Iyer, who debuted in the second half of that tournament after the pandemic break, also went on to earn his India cap across both white-ball formats in the months that followed.In addition to being an attacking batter, Iyer offers a handy seam-up option, having fully recovered from a series of injuries that had limited his participation only as a batter until mid-last year.”I am incredibly excited to head over to England and to have the opportunity to play county cricket for the first time in my career,” Iyer said in a statement. “Lancashire is a very historic county with a long history of welcoming Indian players to their Club”To test my skills in both one-day and first-class cricket in English conditions is going to really benefit my game. I hope that I can entertain the fans and help my Lancashire team-mates to achieve their targets in both formats this summer.”Iyer, a left-hand batter, has 1132 runs from 32 first-class innings, averaging 37.73 with one century. He has also taken 15 wickets with his right-arm medium pace.In List A cricket, Iyer has scored 1458 runs in 40 innings at a strike rate 101.95. He has four centuries and five fifties in the 50-over format. He also played two ODIs for India in January 2022.

Nottingham Forest now want to sign a “great” £8.5 million ace as a possible replacement for Anthony Elanga, according to a new report.

Newcastle still chasing Elanga 12 months on

During the 2024/25 season, Forest had many players step up and perform at a very high level on a consistent basis, with one of those players doing just that being Elanga. The Sweden international bagged five goals and registered nine assists in 36 Premier League games in his debut campaign with the club, but he found a new level last season, scoring six goals to go with 11 assists.

He was a big contributor to Forest reaching the Europa Conference League, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed, as teams from around the Premier League begin to circle – it was revealed last week that Newcastle United had made contact with the Reds over a possible deal for Elanga.

The Magpies were interested in a deal last summer, and now Eddie Howe has returned in the hope of getting his man this time around. Howe is said to be a big admirer of the winger and has made him his number one target this summer.

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However, they are not alone in their pursuit, as Arsenal have now joined the race to sign Elanga. Journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed the Gunners are one of several sides interested in the Forest attacker ahead of the transfer window reopening next week.

The report adds that teams such as Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Aston Villa have all been watching the Swedish international ‘closely’. Forest are determined to keep hold of Elanga, but have reportedly placed a £60 million price tag on his head.

Forest want to sign £8.5m Moro as possible Elanga replacement

The mounting interest in Elanga will have the board worried, and according to Spanish outlets, relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are interested in signing winger Raúl Moro from Real Valladolid.

The Spanish side suffered relegation from La Liga last season, but despite his team’s struggles, Moro had a breakout season, netting four times in 33 La Liga games. The report states his ‘impeccable’ form hasn’t gone unnoticed, as Forest as well as AFC Bournemouth keep a close eye on his situation.

The report states that no offers have arrived for the 22-year-old as of yet, and despite Valladolid suffering relegation, they have placed a €10 million asking price on the winger, which is roughly £8.5 million.

Raul Moro’s 24/25 La Liga stats

Apps

33

Starts

26

Goals

4

Shots per game

1.4

Assists

5

Touches

34.7

Big chances created

8

Key passes

1.3

Succ dribbles

1.7 (45%)

Ground duels won

2.9 (48%)

This isn’t the first time Moro, who has been dubbed “great” by scout Jacek Kulig, has been linked with a move to England. Back in December it was revealed that both Liverpool and Manchester City were interested in signing the former Spain under-21 international, but it remains unclear if they are both keeping an eye on his situation.

Glasgow Rangers will need a new manager in the dugout at Ibrox when the 2025/26 campaign gets underway later this year, having relieved Philippe Clement of his duties in February.

Barry Ferguson came in to replace the Belgian head coach as an interim manager until the end of the season, and his side did beat Aberdeen 4-0 last time out in the league.

However, the former Rangers central midfielder has only won five of his 13 matches in charge of the club in all competitions, losing four of those games.

Ferguson’s most recent managerial experience before his current stint at Ibrox came at Alloa Athletic in the 2021/22 campaign, when he lost 17 of his 33 games at the helm.

These statistics do not suggest that the former Scotland international is the right man to lead the Light Blues back to glory in the Scottish Premiership moving forward, which is why he should not be a contender for the job.

It does appear as though Rangers are set to look externally for their new head coach this summer, as they have been linked with a move for Davide Ancelotti.

Why Davide Ancelotti could be exciting for Rangers

It was recently reported that the son of Carlo Ancelotti, who is currently part of his father’s coaching staff at Real Madrid, is closing in on the Rangers job.

The Light Blues were reported to be pushing to bring him to Ibrox to convince him to take his first role as a senior head coach, rather than going to join his dad when he becomes the Brazil manager later this year.

The Rangers-linked coach has worked with his father at Real Madrid, Everton, and Bayern Munich, and has been described as an influential figure behind the scenes.

Former Bayern midfielder Javi Martinez, as quoted by the BBC, hailed Davide’s influence on Carlo: “The evolution process never stops and it is more difficult to adapt for older coaches. Davide completes Carlo and helps him understand the evolution of football. Davide is incredible: prepared, serious, a great person, like his father.”

As you can see in the graphic above, he has learned from one of the best managers around, given the incredible number of trophies his father has won, and that illustrates why him being an influential figure on his coaching staff is a big positive ahead of a possible move to Rangers.

This is why, despite his lack of outright managerial experience, Ancelotti could be an exciting appointment for the Gers and a chance to get behind a new era at Ibrox, which could be kickstarted with an excellent signing.

Rangers make contact to sign English forward

According to The Herald, Rangers have made contact with Blackburn Rovers forward Tyrhys Dolan to remain informed on his situation ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Gers want to keep tabs on the English attacker, who could become a free agent this summer if he does not extend his contract with the Championship side.

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

It reveals that Blackburn would value Dolan between £5m and £10m but they could lose him for a nominal compensation fee if he runs down his contract to sign for the Light Blues.

The report, however, adds that Premiership rivals Celtic are also monitoring the winger ahead of a possible swoop for his services in the summer window, which shows that there will be competition for the 23-year-old dynamo’s services.

This means that Rangers may have to act fast once it becomes clear that Dolan will be available to sign when his contract at Ewood Park expires at the end of June, as they will have to beat other teams to his signature.

The board should push to get a deal over the line for the Blackburn star because he could be an excellent signing to kick the Ancelotti era off with a bang, should a move to appoint the Real Madrid coach go through.

Why Rangers should sign Tyrhys Dolan

The Light Blues could kickstart the Ancelotti era in exciting fashion by signing Dolan because he is a promising young talent with the potential to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch in Scottish football.

At the age of 23, the Blackburn star would arrive with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve as a player, which means that he could be a long-term addition to the side as well as having the quality to make an instant impact.

As you can see in the clip above, Dolan is also a player who has showcased his quality in the final third in the Championship for the English side this season.

The incredibly versatile attacker, who can play on the left, on the right, as an attacking midfielder, or as a striker, has shown that he has the potential to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis if put in the right environment.

Dolan has only averaged 38.1 touches per game in a Blackburn team that ranked 16th in the league for xG, with 51.6 xG in 46 matches, which shows that he was not getting loads of touches in a well-coached attacking side.

Vaclav Cerny, meanwhile, has delivered 12 goals and three assists with 50.7 touches per game for Rangers on the right flank in the Premiership this season.

Appearances

31

44

Touches per game

50.7

38.1

Shots

90

51

Goals

12

7

Conversion rate

13%

14%

Big chances created

6

7

Assists

3

6

As you can see in the table above, Dolan enjoyed a better conversion rate of shots to goals than Cerny has managed so far this season in the Premiership, and created more ‘big chances’ for his side with roughly 12 fewer touches per game on average.

These statistics suggest that the English star’s output at the top end of the pitch could soar if he was put in a Rangers team that gives him plenty of touches in the final third, with more chances to take shots and create chances as an exciting wide player.

Dolan, once hailed as “outstanding” by former boss John Eustace, would also provide an exciting celebration for supporters when he scores, as shown in the clip above.

In all seriousness, though, he could be the perfect first signing of the Ancelotti era as a superb young talent who has the quality and the potential to be a star at Ibrox, with the chance to be more influential in the final third as part of a more dominant and attacking team than he has been at Blackburn.

Rangers: 49ers plotting statement signing of "very talented" £4m Brazilian

The Gers’ prospective new owners have set their sights on a midfielder.

ByDominic Lund May 13, 2025

Arsenal have wasted no time in drawing up plans for the summer transfer window, looking to finally end their two-decade wait for a Premier League title.

Mikel Arteta has done a superb job of transforming the squad during his near five-year spell in charge, but more work needs to be done to take them to the summit of the division.

Viktor Gyokeres has emerged as a huge target for the upcoming window, with new sporting director Andrea Berta making an immediate impact in pursuing a move for his signature.

Given his goalscoring record, which has seen him score 86 times in his 93 outings in the last two seasons, it’s understandable that the Gunners are pursuing a striker to bolster their forward line.

Should he move to North London in the summer, he could be joined by another player who’s been a constant target, with a new update emerging on his potential move to the club.

Arsenal make contact to land £51m talent

According to Sun Sport, Arsenal’s director Berta has already been in contact with the representatives of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi ahead of a summer move to the Emirates.

It was reported in January that a deal was on the verge of being agreed for this upcoming window, but no news has emerged since – with this the latest update on any transfer.

The Spanish international has made 29 LaLiga appearances this campaign, featuring in all but one of their league outings, showcasing his importance and quality.

The report claims that the hierarchy are still “working hard” on a deal to land the 26-year-old this summer, with the £51m release clause not thought to be an issue.

Any move for Zubimendi could provide added quality to the middle of Arteta’s side, allowing one player to return to his former best after his recent slump in form.

Why Zubimendi could decide Odegaard at Arsenal

Midfielder Martin Odegaard has been a player so often tasked with providing the goods for Arsenal in attacking areas but ultimately has struggled to deliver in recent months.

The Norwegian had a long injury layoff with an ankle issue but hasn’t been the same player since his return – leading to huge amounts of criticism in the process.

He’s also featured in more of a deeper role, taking away his best qualities with his intricate passing able to create chances for attackers within the final third.

Zubimendi, who’s a defensive midfielder, could be able to sit in front of the backline should he move in the coming months, freeing up Odegaard to go and create carnage further up the field.

The Spaniard, who’s been labelled “superb” by the Spanish Football Podcast, has excelled out of possession, having the quality to be the ball-winning talent the side have been crying out for.

He’s won 1.3 tackles per 90 to date, along with 5.4 duels won – coming out on top of the latter on 60% of the occasions he’s entered a battle with an opposition player.

Games played

29

Goals & assists

3

Pass accuracy

85%

Tackles won

1.3

Duels won

5.4

Duel success rate

60%

Dribbles completed

70%

However, he’s also got the passing ability to aid Odegaard in higher areas, registering an 85% pass completion rate, along with a 70% dribble success rate.

Whilst the club would have to fork out a pretty penny to secure his signature this summer, it’s evident that Zubimendi would be a player who could certainly increase the club’s title credentials.

As for Odegaard, he’s been an influential player in various title battles, with Arteta needing him to return to top form if they are to go one better next season – with the Sociedad star having a huge say in his fortunes if a deal is completed.

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