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Crystal Palace got off to a rough start, losing their opening game of the Premier League season 2-1 to Brentford. After an Eberechi Eze goal was disallowed to give them a 1-0 lead, Brentford struck in the 29th minute, Bryan Mbeumo scoring the goal to put the Bees ahead.

Palace only created one big chance, compared to Brentford's three, with those attacking woes having also been on show last time out, having failed to fire during the 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham United.

Those early season struggles have highlighted the Eagles' need for creativity after the loss of Michael Olise this summer, who joined Bayern Munich.

Olise made 19 appearances for Palace in all competitions last season, scoring ten goals and providing six assists in his 1,278 minutes played, after coming back from multiple hamstring injuries that kept Olise out for a total of 195 days.

Now, however, the Eagles could be able to finally fill the Frenchman's shoes

Crystal Palace transfer news

According to reports from The Standard earlier this week, Palace are among the Premier League clubs interested in Chelsea star, Raheem Sterling. However, his £300k-per-week wages could make it difficult.

It was made clear to Sterling last week that he is "out of the project" according to Fabrizio Romano, after Enzo Maresca said he had told Sterling "he will have no minutes here".

Sterling made 43 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea last season, scoring ten goals, and providing eight assists in 2,771 minutes played.

Sterling vs Olise comparison

Pep Guardiola once described Sterling as "decisive" to what Manchester City have done in recent years, the Englishman – who was also dubbed a "leader" at Chelsea by Conor Gallagher – having scored 131 goals for the Cityzens and provided 73 assists in his 339 games for the club.

Now that Palace has the task on their hands to replace the output of Olise, Sterling's Premier League experience and output could be exactly what they need, and could be the perfect platform for Sterling to re-discover his best form.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Sterling

Olise

Goals

0.33

0.70

Assists

0.26

0.42

xG

0.30

0.39

xAG

0.20

0.41

Progressive Carries

5.45

4.79

Progressive Passes

3.55

5.49

Key Passes

1.36

2.54

Successful Take-Ons

2.05

2.82

Shots Total

2.29

3.94

Shots on Target

0.88

1.41

Shot-Creating Actions

3.86

5.77

Now it's worth pointing out straight away, Sterling only betters Olise in one of these metrics, and that is progressive carries per 90, whilst Olise is better in every other metric. However, we know Sterling hasn't quite found his best levels at Chelsea and could improve these numbers vastly in the correct environment.

Despite not being at his best, Sterling still offers good goal and assist numbers, creates 3.86 shot-creating actions for himself or others per 90, and still looks to beat his man 1v1, averaging 2.05 successful take-ons per 90, attempting 6.00 take-ons per 90.

The 27-year-old does average fewer shots per 90, and shots on target per 90 than Olise, but in four of the last seven seasons, Sterling managed a goals/shot ratio of 0.20+, and if he could recapture this efficiency in front of goal, that would certainly help the Eagles find the net more often.

Sterling also brings the versatility to play off both flanks, making 22 appearances from the left last season, and 11 appearances from the right wing, as well as playing six games through the middle, as either an attacking midfielder or centre forward.

This direct nature in attack could help Palace to create more "big chances", and having an experienced Premier League goalscorer on their books wouldn't hurt, especially if he can find his top form.

There'd certainly be worse ways to replace Olise in Oliver Glasner's attacking ranks…

Concrete option: Crystal Palace working on deal to help replace Olise

Palace continue to make recruitments in order to replace Olise attacking output

ByConnor Holden Aug 22, 2024

Dan Ashworth has been linked with a move back to the Premier League just days after his exit from Manchester United.

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• Ashworth could return to the Premier League
• Could join Everton soon
• Linked with a move to Arsenal

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ashworth recently parted ways with the Red Devils after a brief five-month stint with reports suggesting that his departure stemmed from conflicts with senior figures at the club, which led to his departure. However, the 53-year-old could return to the Premier League soon as Everton have been linked with a move for the executive, according to .

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  The report further adds that Dan Friedkin, who is all set to take over at the Toffees as their new owner, is known to be an admirer of Ashworth and he could bring the ex-United sporting director back to the English top-flight once his take over gets the Premier League's ratification by the end of this month.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kevin Thelwell is currently serving the Merseyside club as their sporting director but it is believed that once Friedkin's takeover is completed, he would want to bring in his own people in the management.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DAN ASHWORTH?

  Ashworth has also been linked with a move to Arsenal who are looking to replace outgoing Edu, however, the Brazilian's current deputy Jason Ayto is in a strong position to fill in the vacancy at Emirates Stadium

علق خالد جاد الله، لاعب الأهلي الأسبق، على تعادل المارد الأحمر أمام بيراميدز، أمس الأحد، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز، موضحًا رأيه في الصفقات الجديدة.

وكانت المباراة التي جمعت الفريقين على ملعب استاد القاهرة، بالجولة العاشرة من عمر المسابقة المحلية، قد حسم نتيجتها التعادل الإيجابي بهدفين لكل فريق.

وقال خالد جاد الله في تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعبة الحلوة”، على إذاعة “أون سبورت إف إم”: “المباراة كانت جيدة وشاهدنا لقاء جيد من الفريقين، الأهلي شكله تغير، ظهرت روح وتركيز والرتم السريع الذي يميزه”.

وتابع: “الأهلي يُعاني من نواقص، بالإضافة لمشاركة لاعبين في غير مراكزهم، رغم ذلك قدموا أداءً جيدًا، والنجم الأول كان الجمهور، ولاعبو بيراميدز لم يتحملوا هذا الضغط”.

وأضاف: “حتى لو كان بيراميدز بـ 11 لاعب دون أن يطرد منهم أحد، لم يكن الوضع سيختلف، لأنهم يُعانون بشكل كبير في المباريات الجماهيرية أمام الأهلي والزمالك”.

طالع أيضًا | أول تعليق لـ إمام عاشور بعد إهداره ركلة الجزاء في مباراة الأهلي وبيراميدز

وأشار: “الأهلي استحوذ على اللقاء وسيطر عليه، بسبب عدم تحمل لاعبي بيراميدز ومدربهم لضغط الجمهور”.

واستكمل: “يورتشيتش أبعد محمد الشيبي عن المشاركة من بداية المباراة، ربما بسبب أزمة اللاعب مع حسين الشحات، وأيضًا لم يدفع بـ رمضان صبحي لا أعلم هل بسبب الإصابة أم سبب آخر”.

وتطرق للحديث عن مباراة الزمالك والجونة اليوم، قائلًا: “الزمالك يمر بظروف غير جيدة بعد الخسارة أمام مودرن سبورت متذيل جدول الترتيب، المشكلة إنك عندما تشاهد الزمالك يلعب لا تثق في كونه يستطيع الفوز”.

وبسؤاله، رأيك في احتمالية انضمام أشرف بن شرقي للأهلي، قال: “من يتابعه في الدوري القطري سيجد أن مستواه متراجع، وأعتقد إنها صفقة جماهيرية للاعب كان يلعب في الزمالك، لكن على المستوى الفني، فأرى أن نسبة نجاحه لن تتخطى الـ 60% مع الأهلي”.

واختتم: “مصطفى العش لاعب جيد وسيكون صفقة قوية، وبالنسبة لـ جراديشار واضح إن الكرة تُحبه، وربنا يسهل ويطل كويس، سنقيمه بعد 5 أو 6 مباريات”.

GOAL takes a look at the managerial changes across MLS in 2024, and how remaining vacancies may be filled

Nick Cushing, John Herdman and Vanni Sartini are the latest managers to get caught up in the MLS coaching carousel. They were the 10th, 11th and 12th managers to be removed from their positions this MLS season, as it's been a challenging campaign for individuals on the touchline.

Regardless of success in previous seasons, or even impressive playoff runs in 2024, clubs seem to have very little margin for error. In fact, more than a third of the league’s teams have changed managers in 2024.

Shocked? You shouldn’t be.

When 2023 MLS Coach of the Year finalist Bradley Carnell was fired by St. Louis CITY in July, it showed the nature of the business. Now, as the 2024 MLS season nears completion, five sides – Atlanta United, Philadelphia Union, NYCFC, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps – all still have openings.

So what's happened in 2024 to provoke so much change? The introduction of Lionel Messi in Miami in 2023 put eyes on MLS from all over the world, for one, and there seems to be little space on the touchline for underperforming. The margins are more important than ever, and for the five teams still with vacancies, they cannot afford to get their next hire wrong.

GOAL explores where Toronto, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Vancouver and New York should go next.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowImagnThe carousel begins

Gary Smith of Nashville SC was the first manager to be fired this season, with the Englishman getting the sack on May 16, and three more firings followed in June – FC Dallas, Atlanta United and San Jose. The first shocker came on July 1, though, when CITY fired Carnell.

That was the tipping point for the league. Seven of the eventual 12 vacancies have since been filled, some immediately, and some over time.

ClubOutgoing coachInterim coachIncoming coachInter MiamiTata MartinoN/AJavier MascheranoVancouver WhitecapsVanni SartiniN/ATBDAustin FCJosh WolffN/ANico EstevezFC DallasNico EstevezPeter LuccinEric QuillAtlanta UnitedGonzalo PinedaRob ValentinoTBDPhiladelphia UnionJim CurtinN/ATBDChicago FireFrank KlopasN/AGregg BerhalterSt. Louis CITY SCBradley CarnellJohn HackworthOlof MellbergSan Jose EarthquakesLuchi GonzalezIan RussellBruce ArenaNashville SCGary SmithRumba MunthaliB.J. Callaghan NYCFCNick CushingN/ATBDToronto FCJohn HerdmanN/ATBD

There are still five vacancies, with each presenting its own unique opportunity. How do those teams capitalize?

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPhiladelphia Union

Who's out?

Jim Curtin was removed from his position after missing the 2024 postseason. It was a shocking dismissal, considering he is widely-viewed as one of the best coaches in the league. However, ownership and Curtin apparently "were not aligned" with the club's mission.

Pros and cons of the job

The obvious strength for the job is you have access to the best academy in MLS, and, you are being put on the touchline to mentor perhaps the most exciting prospect in American soccer in Cavan Sullivan. The Union's youth has always propelled them to success, and Sullivan is arguably the best player in his age group across North America – and one of the best in the world.

In terms of weaknesses, though, you won't have a large transfer budget, nor will you have access to big-name players that other teams are signing. The Union have always worked with little and found success, so it's hard to see them pivoting from that.

Where do they go from here?

It's evident the Union aren't going to pursue a flashy hire, nor are they going to spend big on one. Somebody such as Rob Valentino, who impressed in his debut stint on the touchline in MLS as Atlanta United's interim manager in 2024, would make sense. Looking at former Austin FC manager, Josh Wolff, would be sensible, too. He's a former U.S. international who knows the league well, and would potentially be a good mentor for their young core – including the Sullivan brothers, Cavan and Quinn.

IMGANAtlanta United

Who's out?

Gonzalo Pineda was removed his position on June 3 after a rough start to the season. After being brought into the club in 2021, he missed the postseason in 2022, and in 2023, they were knocked out in the opening round of the postseason. The final string was losing five consecutive home matches at the start of 2024.

Pros and cons of the job

Atlanta have the most exciting opening of any MLS team this offseason. They have the finances and roster spots to completely revamp their roster. Potentially, we they could have two U22 initiative signings, two new DP's and a new GM – and they just re-signed 2024 MLS Playoff hero Brad Guzan after upsetting Inter Miami in the playoffs. It's more than an enticing job, it's a competitive one that many coaches will be vying for.

Where do they go from here?

Valentino seemed likely to be in the mix after his brilliant takeover in 2024, but he announced his departure last week. Now, club president Garth Lagerway and the are set to undergo an in-depth hiring process. The obvious move, though, is Jim Curtin. The ex-Union boss is one of MLS' most successful managers, and he's achieved so much with so little over the years. If you give him money to spend to build an elite roster, it could be a great fit.

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Getty Images SportVancouver Whitecaps

Who's out?

Vanni Sartini was dismissed after Vancouver was eliminated after a closely-contested Round One playoff series against LAFC. The Whitecaps smashed the Portland Timbers 5-0 in the Eastern Conference Wildcard match, but fell to the No. 1 seed in the opening round.

Sartini didn't excel with Vancouver, but he didn't underperform either. Notably, though, he was outspoken on a number of topics. In 2023, he was initially suspended for six matches for comments aimed at a referee following a postseason exit, though that was later reduced to four games. After their 2024 season came to an end, it seemed as though it was just the right time for both parties to move on.

Pros and cons of the job

The Whitecaps have an important offseason ahead. They have Ryan Gauld in his prime years, Brian White playing excellent, and a terrific defensive pairing with centerbacks in Tristan Blackmon and Ranko Veselinovic, with Scottish veteran Stuart Armstrong in the midfield. Elsewhere, though, a lot of their roster feels replaceable.

Notably, though, they don't have a ton of room regarding high-profile player. They have maxed out their DP and U22 slots at the moment, so any additional upgrades will come in the form of TAM or GAM signings.

Where do they go from here?

They need to target a coach who can get the most out of the current group, while using the transfer market to elevate the team. The ambitious answer is Pellegrino Matarazzo, a German-American coach who has lived in Europe since 2000 – and has constantly been talked about as a potential MLS coach. He was sacked from his role as Hoffenheim manager after a poor start to the season, and is available. It would be a flashy hire, and potentially one that could draw talent to the club.

“It hasn’t been positive on trying to find a window but we are working hard,” says CSA’s director of cricket

Firdose Moonda15-Feb-2021

Greame Smith – “Engagement needs to happen to improve things between South Africa and Australia”•Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Relations between Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Cricket Australia (CA) remain “strained,” as South Africa seek to move on from the indefinite postponement of a three-Test series that was due to take place on the Highveld in March.Related

South Africa 'have a number of tours against India' in the works, says Graeme Smith

Tour postponement: CSA lodges official complaint against Cricket Australia with ICC

Australia set to tour Bangladesh later this year for T20Is, not Tests

Cricket South Africa rejected formal Australia offer to host Test series

Cricket South Africa 'disappointed' at Cricket Australia's tour cancellation

With no international teams available to play in that prime summer window, CSA’s director of cricket Graeme Smith announced that South Africa will play domestic four-day cricket over that period and will soon announce a busy winter program to tide the men’s national team over to next summer. There is no indication of when the Australia series will be rescheduled.”The relationship is definitely strained at this stage,” Smith said, in a virtual press engagement on Monday morning. “There is an effort from our side to engage and set up a meeting at board level. Engagement needs to happen to improve things between South Africa and Australia.”Smith reiterated that South Africa would like to play Australia “in this calendar cycle,” but conceded it is becoming increasingly tough to find a window. “We’ve had some engagement with the operations side of Cricket Australia and it hasn’t been positive on trying to find a window but we are working hard,” he said.Last week, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, CSA wrote to both the ICC and CA to express their dismay at the tour being postponed and to warn that smaller nations are being sidelined by the Big Three. Smith added that the Coronavirus pandemic is making it more difficult for less wealthy nations to secure financially-rewarding visits from England, India and Australia.”Covid-19 has amplified the haves and the have-nots. The FTP is going to be challenging with potentially eight ICC tournaments in eight years, an extended IPL and a lot of the calendar dominated by England, India and Australia. It makes it extremely challenging for the rest of the member nations,” he said.”The game needs leadership. It needs to understand the complexities. I don’t think world cricket wants three nations competing against each other in 10 years time. How does that benefit the game? It doesn’t. That will amplify the leagues and leagues will get bigger and the rest of the nations will have little to no content. It has been fast-tracked because of Covid. These issues are becoming more relevant and amplified and the ICC have found themselves a little bit off guard with these issues.”In the absence of a formal complaint, CSA have no recourse against CA and have to make do with a leaner summer calendar and less money. Apart from the costs they incurred in attempting to set-up a biosecure environment for the Australia tour, CSA will also not make R40 million (US$2.7 million) in television revenue until the series takes place. Additionally, they have also spent extra money in setting up biobubbles for domestic competitions including the one-day cup and the T20 tournament, which starts on Thursday. “I don’t have a figure but it’s a lot more than what we have paid in the past,” Smith said.All nationally contracted players will be available for the T20 tournament, adding some heft to a usually low-key affair. They are also required to play in the four-day competition and CSA are in talks with pay-television provider to have some matches televised before South Africa host Pakistan for three ODIs and four T20s in April.The Pakistan series is likely to clash with the early part of the IPL, and CSA is yet to confirm if they will release their top players and play a second-string side against Pakistan or keep the contracted players at home.Smith – “There is an FTP schedule but some of these windows were worked out ages ago”•OfficialCSA/Twitter

“We haven’t made a definitive decision on that yet. We’ve just announced those fixtures. We are still waiting on dates for the IPL so internal engagement needs to happen with management and selectors and we need to get into a discussion over how we are going to move forward with the IPL,” Smith said. “My opinion is that we need to invest in South African cricket and it needs to come first but we have made a commitment to release our players over the years to IPL. It’s something we will need to robustly debate.”South Africa are facing a West Indies-style conundrum now where they know it is more lucrative for players to participate in leagues like the IPL but they also need to keep as many players involved with the national set-up as possible to build consistency in a time of transition.Since Mark Boucher took over in December 2019, South Africa have won only two out of eight trophies and have failed to make gains on the World Test Championship or limited-overs’ leagues. They’ve also had long breaks in play because of the pandemic, something Smith hopes will change in the winter.”We need to get our players playing,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of growth to happen in the men’s game. Players need to step up. We’ve got to improve and we’ve got to get the team playing. That’s my ultimate goal.”Potential fixtures could include rescheduling a white-ball tour to Sri Lanka, which was postponed last May, or a visit to the Caribbean, which was due to take place last July. South Africa are also looking at a visit to India before the T20 World Cup. The FTP, as it currently stands, has India visiting South Africa in the 2021-22 summer, an away trip to New Zealand and a home series against Bangladesh but all these fixtures are subject to what Covid-19 restrictions are in place and to securing player safety, which has made planning the cricket calendar more complicated than ever.”There is an FTP schedule but some of these windows were worked out ages ago and there is an opportunity for members to manoeuvre, to add tours or to make up for lost tours,” Smith said. “These details take a bit more time, especially with every nation trying to fill the gaps caused by Covid-19. It’s a bit of a bunfight out there.”

Phil Parkinson is eager to turn things around against Mansfield Town in League One after an FA Cup exit to Harrowgate Town.

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Wrexham crashed out of the FA Cup Parkinson wants to return to winning waysEager to make the most of home advantage against MansfieldFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Dragons, who are sitting in third place in League One, remain unbeaten at home this season. However, they face a formidable challenge in Mansfield, who trail closely in fourth position, just a single point behind Wrexham.

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Last season, Wrexham and Mansfield faced each other three times, with the Welsh side coming out on top twice and drawing once. In March, Wrexham claimed a 2-0 victory at the Stok Racecourse, with goals from Sam Dalby and Paul Mullin. The Dragons also triumphed in the FA Cup meeting between the two sides, while the third encounter ended in a goalless draw. These past performances offer Wrexham a confidence boost heading into Saturday’s match, especially as they return to The Stok Racecourse which has been a fortress for Wrexham this season.

WHAT PARKINSON SAID

Parkinson is eager to capitalize on the home advantage and told reporters: "I’m looking forward to getting back on home turf again. The great thing there’s always a buzz about the build-up to a home game, there really is. You can feel it in the area so we’ve got to get this place absolutely rocking for the weekend."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

While the FA Cup loss was a setback, Parkinson and his squad are focused on their primary goal: climbing higher in League One. If Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's men can pull off a win, they will not only extend their unbeaten home record but also keep the pressure on Wycombe and Birmingham – the top two in the standings.

Everton are believed to be readying an approach for a "special" player in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.

Everton transfer news

The Blues continue to be linked with new signings ahead of next season, with Newcastle United youngster Yankuba Minteh a player who was being looked at, though he now seems set to join Lyon.

Iliman Ndiaye is a target who has been lined up as a replacement for the possible loss of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the Marseille ace described as a "ridiculously talented" footballer who could add quality and unpredictability in the final third.

Meanwhile, Wilfred Ndidi stood out as one of the leading midfielders in the Championship last season, playing an important role in Leicester City returning to the Premier League, and he is being looked at as an upgrade on the ageing Idrissa Gueye in the middle of the park at Goodison Park.

Midfield additions could also be important for Everton before the 2024/25 campaign gets underway, and Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove is also reportedly wanted by the Blues, being seen as a player who could link effectively with Jack Harrison.

Everton want "special" Championship winger

According to Football Insider, Everton are "readying an approach" for Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto this summer, with the Blues "turning their attention to a new move" for the Italian.

The Merseysiders came close to snapping up the £20,000-a-week attacker last summer and "have continued to closely monitor his progress at Leeds". It is also believed that he is "keen to move on after failing to secure promotion back to the Premier League with the Whites".

Gnonto could be just what Everton and Sean Dyche are looking for in terms of attacking reinforcements in the summer window, standing out as a young player with a huge amount of potential.

Admittedly, the youngster was outperformed by Crysencio Summerville for Leeds last season, but that's not to say that he didn't impress for the Whites, too, scoring eight goals in the Championship, which is more than any Blues player managed in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, former coach Michael Skubala has lauded him in the past, saying: "He’s a great lad, he’s a special player. He’s a credit to Leeds, he’s a credit to himself and he’s a really nice player to work with."

At just 20, Gnonto is still raw in aspects of his game, but his all-round end product should only improve with age, and Everton could end up enjoying the best years of his career.

Imagine him & Minteh: Everton one of the favourites to sign £20m star

The Toffees are at the front of the pack for this Premier League star.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 24, 2024

To be a 13-cap Italy international this quickly says a lot about his ability and long-term ceiling, and if the Blues can beat others to his signature this summer, it could end up being a wonderful piece of business as the years pass.

There is a common theme evident when you look at all of the inward business that Glasgow Rangers have completed so far during the summer transfer window.

All of their signings to date are aged 21 or younger as the club seemingly look to restock the squad with promising talents who have the potential to increase in value over the years to come.

Oscar Cortes, Jefte, Clinton Nsiala, and Connor Barron have all been brought in to add freshness to the group, whilst the Ibrox giants are also reportedly in talks to sign Yusuf Kabadayi (20) from Bayern Munich and Hamza Igamane (21) from FAR Rabat to improve their attacking options.

These deals come after the Light Blues offloaded a number of experienced operators from the squad at the end of last month, when the latest round of contracts expired.

Jon McLaughlin, Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe, John Lundstram, and Borna Barisic were all released upon the expiry of their contracts earlier this summer, and all of them are above the age of 29.

A balance must now be struck between having young talents and still having senior professionals who can be relied upon and used as mentors for the younger crop of players.

Rangers open talks to sign experienced star

With this in mind, it makes sense that Rangers are now reportedly eyeing up a deal to sign a 32-year-old midfielder to join their ranks this summer.

According to Football Insider, the Scottish giants have made contact with Norwich City to pursue a move for Scotland international Kenny McLean.

The report claims that the Light Blues have opened preliminary talks with the Canaries as they look to bring the left-footed maestro to Ibrox ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

It states that the club are wanting to add an experienced midfielder to the squad, in the mould of ex-Gers star Steven Davis, to compete alongside the younger options in Nicolas Raskin, Mohammed Diomande, and Barron.

Football Insider adds, though, that his salary of over £30k-per-week could prove to be a stumbling block in negotiations as that is considered 'high' by Rangers' standards.

The report does not, however, reveal how much the Championship side are set to demand for the 32-year-old ace, as he is under contract and the Light Blues would need to splash out a fee on the experienced gem.

Johannes Hoff Thorup was recently appointed as their new head coach and Rangers may have to wait until he has had a chance to assess his squad before they have a chance to sign the Scottish dynamo.

If Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement can get a deal over the line for McLean, though, then he could come in as a perfect replacement for Jack in the middle of the park.

Ryan Jack's struggles at Rangers

The 32-year-old midfielder provided an experienced presence on and off the pitch for the Gers but the issue was that he was rarely available to play throughout his time at Ibrox.

In his seven seasons in Glasgow, Jack only had one year – the 2022/23 campaign – where he missed fewer than ten matches for the club through injury, and he was absent for 24 or more games in three of those years.

The Scotland international was on the sidelines for 14 clashes last season and ended the term with just 11 appearances to his name in the Scottish Premiership.

In those 11 outings, Jack did not do enough to suggest to Clement that he deserved more game time as the former Aberdeen man struggled badly out of possession.

Appearances

11

Interceptions per game

0.0

Tackles won per game

0.2

Ball recoveries per game

3.0

Duel success rate

46%

As you can see in the table above, the right-footed metronome offered very little off the ball to help his team out from a defensive perspective in games.

He was dominated by opposition players in physical duels, losing the majority of his battles, and astonishingly only made two tackles and interceptions combined in 11 matches.

McLean could now come in to provide an experienced player for the young midfielders to look up to whilst providing far more quality and reliability on the pitch for the Belgian head coach, making him a perfect replacement for Jack.

Why Rangers should Kenny McLean

The Gers should snap up the Scotland international as he fits the bill in terms of what they are looking for from an experienced and quality midfielder.

Firstly, McLean has only missed five games through injury since the start of the 2019/20 season and he started all 46 of Norwich's regular season matches last term.

This suggests that the left-footed whiz would provide a level of reliability that Jack did not offer when it came to being available week-in-week-out.

The Canaries star is also a vastly experienced talent with over 250 appearances in the Premiership, over 60 games in the Premier League, and over 100 matches in the Championship throughout his career, which suggests that he could use his experience to help the younger players in his position as he has been there and done it many times before.

Appearances

11

46

Tackles per game

0.2

2.0

Interceptions per game

0.0

1.2

Ball recoveries per game

3.0

6.0

Duel success rate

46%

59%

As you can see in the table above, McLean has the quality out of possession to offer far more to Rangers than Jack did off the ball last season, with his dominant success rate in duels and ability to make tackles, interceptions, and recoveries far more regularly.

In possession, the Norwich star also racked up five assists, seven 'big chances' created, and 0.7 key passes per game in the Championship, whereas the Gers man managed zero assists, two 'big chances' created, and 0.6 key passes per match.

These statistics indicate that the left-footed dynamo could also provide more creativity in possession with his ability to create high-quality chances for his teammates.

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Therefore, McLean could come in as the perfect replacement for Jack due to his experience, availability, and quality, and that is why Clement must push to get a deal done for him this summer.

Paul Scholes. Not just a wonderful footballer, but one of the best midfielders to have ever graced the beautiful game, let alone wear the Manchester United kit.

The local legend dominated under the instruction of Sir Alex Ferguson for years, racking up a total of 718 appearances for his boyhood club.

Over his 19 years of service to the club, the magician won 11 Premier Leagues, four FA Cups, and two Champions Leagues, one of the finest trophy cabinets of any English international.

Therefore, it’s no surprise to see that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to bring the success of the past into the future, with a current United target being likened to a certain Scholes.

Man Utd’s search for a new midfielder

According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, via Sports Witness, Man United are determined to acquire the signature of Joao Neves this summer.

The midfielder currently plays for Benfica, having progressed through the academy ranks, and he’s being watched by many of the top clubs across Europe.

No reports have mentioned that United are planning to launch a bid yet, with the club still yet to play in the FA Cup final and decide the future of Erik ten Hag, but they are allegedly 'very keen' to bring the player in.

However, one stumbling block in place will definitely be Neves’ £102m release clause, which is a fee that Benfica will look to receive. That would eclipse Man United's transfer record should a deal be brokered at that price.

How Casemiro compares to Joao Neves

There’s no doubt about it: Casemiro has been one of the greats over the past decade, serving as a crucial player in Real Madrid’s success.

However, his move to the Premier League hasn’t quite been as rewarding, even after a successful debut campaign at United where he won the EFL Cup.

Unfortunately, this season, the Brazilian has struggled to return to the standard required to perform at the highest level after an injury, to the point where he’s now being highlighted as a huge weakness in the team, particularly because of his lack of athleticism.

Throughout the 2023/24 campaign, the 32-year-old made 24 Premier League starts while operating as a defensive midfielder and a centre-back, but how do his stats compare to those of his potential replacement, Neves?

Touches

72.8

76.5

Passes completed

46.5

54.4

Pass accuracy

83%

90%

Successful dribbles

0.4

1.2

Tackles

3.3

2

Duels won

5.8

6

Balls recovered

5.3

6.4

Dribbled past

2.2

1

Firstly, it’s quite clear that the signing of Neves would be a huge upgrade on Casemiro, from pretty much every single perspective.

In possession, there’s a clear difference between the two, with the Benfica star being far less wasteful on the ball while also having the ability to be press-resistant due to his mobile frame and control the tempo of a game, as highlighted by his dribbling, touches, and passing stats.

Despite standing at just 5 foot 9, the Portugal international defends with aggression and tenacity, while his proactive approach enables him to always be one step ahead of the play, which makes him far superior to Casemiro.

Furthermore, he covers ground brilliantly, and he’s far less likely to be breezed past, which will protect the backline, unlike Casemiro, who’s dribbled past far more often than Neves.

All of the above makes the “insane” midfielder, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, sound just like a young Scholes, who he’s also compared Neves to, in regards to his technical class, tenacity, and the potential to become a leader.

At just 19 years of age, it’s crazy to see how well Neves is performing, especially considering he has so much potential to reach. Alongside Kobbie Mainoo, he could lead the Red Devils towards over a decade of success, just like the iconic Scholes.

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Pakistan’s series defeat in England means they have plenty of work to do in the back end of the WTC

S Rajesh and Shiva Jayaraman26-Aug-2020

The covers were on but the rain on Day 5 morning was persistent•Getty Images

The two rain-affected draws in their three-Test series against Pakistan have put England on a sticky wicket in their quest for a place in the final of World Test Championship (WTC). To put these results in perspective, a win in the forthcoming tour of India will fetch only 24 points – given it is a five-Test series – but the difference between a win and a draw in a three-Test series is 27 points (40 points for a win, 13 for a draw).The WTC schedule is not halfway through yet, with 14 out of 27 series still to be played, but here is a look at where teams stand at this point.