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Glasgow Rangers recently confirmed that several players will not remain with the club heading into the 2024/25 campaign as they will upon the expiry of their contracts at Ibrox this summer.

Jon McLaughlin, Kemar Roofe, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, and John Lundstram are all due to move on from Glasgow on free transfers ahead of next season.

This means that Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen may need to work hard and move quickly to identify and sign targets to replace the players who are leaving for nothing.

The Light Blues are already looking to sign a talented young central midfielder who could come in as an exciting replacement for Jack this summer.

Rangers want to sign 20-year-old whizkid

According to Football Scotland, the Gers want to sign Penarol whizkid Damian Garcia to bolster their options in the middle of the park ahead of next season.

The report claims that the talented young midfielder is on the club's shortlist of targets to improve the team, following the signing of Oscar Cortes on loan from Lens earlier this month.

It states that head of recruitment Koppen has flown to Cancun for the TransferRoom summit to discuss potential deals with other club chiefs, and that Penarol had a representative at the event.

Football Scotland then goes on to speculate that talks could have taken place between the two representatives, of Rangers and Penarol, over a potential deal to sign Garcia.

Whilst it remains to be seen how far advanced a move may or may not be for the Uruguay U20 international, the Gers are seemingly keen to sign the South American gem and he could be an exciting replacement for Jack this summer.

Why Damian Garcia would be an exciting Ryan Jack replacement

South American football writer Nathan Joyes described it as an "exciting" link for Rangers due to the profile of signing it would represent, which is one of the reasons why it could be a fantastic deal in response to the Scotland international's exit.

The Light Blues would be bringing in a 20-year-old whizkid with plenty of years left ahead of him to grow and develop to replace a 32-year-old veteran who did not have much, if any, development left to go through.

Along with being a long-term signing due to his age and potential, Garcia could also come in as an immediate upgrade on the former Aberdeen maestro.

As you can see in the table above, Garcia's form in Uruguay during the 2024 season has been more impressive than Jack's was during the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign.

They both provide a similar threat in possession in terms of scoring and creating goals but the 20-year-old offers considerably more from a defensive perspective, with his superb ability to recover the ball and make interceptions to cut out opposition attacks.

This is why the 5 foot 10 prospect could be an exciting replacement for Jack as he is a young gem who has already displayed fantastic quality at first-team level this year, particularly when it comes to his work out of possession in the middle of the park.

Clement could sign his own Aaron Ramsey in early Rangers swoop

The Light Blues have been linked with an interest in the England international.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 4, 2024

It is now down to Koppen and Clement to secure a deal for his services to ensure that they land a player who could be the future of Rangers' midfield, with Jack now old news after his exit from Ibrox.

Liverpool supporters get the sense that they are still awaiting the watershed moment that will change the narrative surrounding Darwin Nunez and propel him into the conversation for the Premier League and Europe's finest forward.

Sure, many recognise his elite-level talent, that innate ability that convinced Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool to fork out a club-record fee, rising to £85m with add-ons, to bring him to Merseyside in the summer of 2022, but the cogs haven't really combined as yet.

But after two campaigns, the discourse pertaining to Nunez's standing in English football can't shake the schism, slashing through Anfield's pitch, that boils down to the Uruguay international's wayward shooting.

Incoming head coach Arne Slot will hope that his aggressive, purposeful press will serve Nunez the chances needed to succeed, tweaking his role in Liverpool's team to cater to his distinctive qualities.

Of course, Slot would be wise by forging a bond between Nunez and another star, and given that Fabio Carvalho is now seeking a second shot at success on Merseyside after spending the 2022/23 campaign out on loan, the Dutchman might just have his answer.

Why Liverpool signed Fabio Carvalho

Liverpool signed a teenage Carvalho from Fulham in a £5m package back in May 2022 following an excellent breakout year in the Championship, scoring ten goals and adding eight assists from 33 matches.

Versatile, fast and ferocious, Carvalho's Liverpool career got off to a flyer as he hopped on board during his team's 9-0 romping over Bournemouth at the start of the 2022/23 Premier League season, leading Klopp to dub him a "special player".

But his fruitful start to football in Liverpool did not stop there, with the £41k-per-week ace bagging off the bench for the second top-flight fixture on the trot, though this time sending Anfield into a rapturous cheer of a different kind, thumping home from close range against Newcastle United at a crucial last-gasp period.

Sadly, that was about the extent of Carvalho's exciting start to Premier League action, last starting during a damaging 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest in November 2022, branded with a 5/10 match rating by 90min's Grey Whitebloom, who singled out his lack of athleticism.

Given that Roberto Firmino had called him a "star" with fantastic "character on the pitch", it's clear to see that his natural prowess with the ball suggests that he could yet find his feet at the club, especially now that the managerial pillars have shifted.

How Fabio Carvalho could fit in under Arne Slot

After falling further and further into obscurity under Klopp, it was hardly surprising that Carvalho was shipped out this season, and while he failed to impress in Germany with RB Leipzig, his quality has been restored during a brilliant spell with Hull City in the Championship, scoring nine goals from 20 matches.

Sure, the Championship is contested at an ostensibly lower level than the Bundesliga, but Carvalho's struggle with Leipzig did not come down to an inability to match the division's quality, but rather, from a failure to acclimatise with German outlet Kicker citing his lack of rhythm, confidence and assertiveness as key reasons behind his issues.

His position was exacerbated by the blistering success of positional peer Xavi Simons, who has been heralded as a "superstar" by journalist Antonio Mango for his formidable campaign in Leipzig, and so it was no surprise that Liverpool recalled their nifty young midfielder in January, with just one Bundesliga start to his name.

And what a decision that proved to be, with Carvalho sent back to the Championship to rediscover his mojo after being knocked off-kilter on loan and, admittedly, after a bright start under Klopp, who deigned to use the young talent after the first few months of the 2022/23 campaign.

As per FBref, Carvalho now ranks among the top 6% of forwards across divisions similar to the Championship over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for pass completion, the top 2% for progressive passes and tackles, the top 1% for interceptions and blocks and the top 13% for progressive carries per 90.

The "magic" – as was said by Hull correspondent Barry Cooper – in Carvalho's skill set has been restored, with his successful stint with the Tigers propelling him to the height of the second tier, widely regarded as one of the finest forwards in the division during his five-month stay.

With an inborn knack for scoring now hardened and shaped to a fine point, Slot could find that his tactical style works a treat for Carvalho's progressive, energetic approach, blending his striking ability with defensive solidity and a creative flair.

His goalscoring skills at the MKM Stadium are simply the cherry on top of a natural talent that may yet see him succeed on Merseyside, perhaps even forging a wondrous partnership with Nunez in a tale of duel comebacks.

Nunez might be a wasteful forward but he isn't half influential with his interweaving motions and clever darts into space, pulling away defenders as if by magnetic force to open up pockets for his peers.

This is reflected through the Uruguayan's playmaking ability, ranking among the top 4% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 12% for shot-creating actions and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90.

Slot is fluid in configuring his frontline but he principally fields a 4-2-3-1 formation, which will likely see a central midfielder pulled further toward the brow of the pitch, sitting behind, say, Nunez, or alternatively Cody Gakpo or Diogo Jota.

But Nunez, Liverpool's record player acquisition, will be the main man if he can figure out how to stem the rot that has seeped into his shooting boots over the past two years in English football.

Liverpool have already made first move for £48,000-p/w man who loves Slot

They’ve already scouted the 26 year-old before Slot’s arrival.

By
Tom Cunningham

May 23, 2024

Dominik Szoboszlai is the obvious player to slot – ha ha – into that No. 10 position, but the Hungarian has endured an imperfect debut year at Liverpool and Carvalho could be the perfect foil.

Indeed, the Portugal U21 international is a more natural goalscorer with more balletic swagger in his forward movements, and this would serve Nunez well, with the dynamism between the pairing creating an impactful level of interchangeability, always keeping defenders guessing.

Jose Mourinho was booked for a remarkable laptop protest during Fenerbahce's Turkish Super Lig clash with Antalyaspor on Sunday.

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• Fenerbahce won 2-0
• Mourinho used his laptop to protest
• Placed it in front of television cameras

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former Chelsea and Manchester United boss Mourinho has made a name for himself when it comes to extraordinary touchline behaviour and he did so again on Sunday. The Fenerbahce head coach disagreed with an offside call during the game, as Edin Dzeko's strike was ruled out, and decided to pick up his laptop and place it in front of a TV camera, seemingly trying to prove that the official's decision was incorrect.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mourinho was subsequently booked by the referee, and his side went on to win the game. He was recently fined for missing a press conference, as he continues to be antagonistic towards the authorities in whichever league he is managing in.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Fener are currently second in the Super Lig, with 16 points from seven games. They are three points behind unbeaten leaders Galatasaray.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Fenerbahce play FC Twente in the Europa League on Thursday. They will then return to domestic action against Samsunspor next weekend as Mourinho seeks to add to his bulging trophy cabinet with a successful debut season in Turkey.

Celtic still have plenty to play for between now and the end of the current season as they bid to avoid enduring a trophyless year with Brendan Rodgers at the helm.

The Hoops are currently three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table with three matches left to play, and have a big Old Firm clash coming this weekend.

They also have the SFA Cup final to come at Hampden Park against their closest rivals, which means that they could still win two pieces of silverware this month.

Despite there still being plenty to play for on the pitch, some attention has already turned to the upcoming summer transfer window and what they could do to bolster the squad for the 2024/25 campaign.

That, however, is not limited to bringing new players in from elsewhere, as Celtic are reportedly looking to make one of their current loan deals a permanent one.

Celtic preparing bid to sign £5m star

The Hoops are hoping to sign loanee Adam Idah on a long-term contract at the end of the season, when his loan deal expires later this year.

According to Football Insider, the Bhoys are keen to sign him permanently after an impressive stint on loan from Norwich City in Glasgow thus far.

The report claims that Rodgers and Celtic are ready to submit an official offer to secure his services in the off-season, which shows how serious they are about getting a deal over the line.

However, it does not reveal how much the Scottish giants are prepared to put on the table to bring him back to Parkhead for the 2024/25 campaign.

Earlier this month, The Scottish Sun reported that the Canaries have set a minimum fee of £5m on the centre-forward ahead of the summer window.

The outlet stated that his price could also depend on the level of interest in his services, as competition for his signature could drive it up beyond £5m, as English Championship sides and Hellas Verona have been keen on the attacker.

It, therefore, remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops can land him on a permanent deal as Football Insider's report does not state how much they are willing to pay.

If Celtic are able and prepared to submit an offer of £5m for Idah then they could win the race for the Ireland international and ensure that his future remains in Glasgow.

Signing the 6 foot 3 forward on a permanent deal would, however, represent a piece of bad news for current Bhoys number nine Hyeon-gyu Oh.

Why this is bad news for Hyeon-gyu Oh

Celtic's desire to bring Idah back to Parkhead this summer is bad news for the South Korea international as it does not bode well for his future prospects.

He has made three appearances for Celtic in all competitions since the turn of the year, all three of which came as a substitute and two of them came against St Mirren.

Oh, who spent the bulk of January at the AFC Asian Cup with South Korea, has played more games for his country in 2024 (four) than he has for the Scottish giants.

The 23-year-old striker has made two appearances in the Scottish Premiership in 2024, after 18 outings and three starts during the first half of the campaign in the division.

He racked up five goals and zero assists in those 18 matches as the young forward found himself as the second choice behind Kyogo Furuhashi in the pecking order.

These statistics show that the signing of Idah has severely restricted his minutes on the pitch, as the young attacker has rarely got his feet on the field in a competitive setting since the Irishman's arrival.

Signed from Suwon Bluewings for a reported fee of £2.5m in January of last year, Oh produced six goals and zero assists in 16 league outings for Celtic during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.

In almost 18 months at Parkhead, the South Korean marksman has plundered 12 goals in 47 matches and only started six Premiership games in total.

The desire to sign Idah is, therefore, bad news for Oh as it does not suggest that his lack of game time in Glasgow is likely to change any time soon, and it could force him to consider his future ahead of next season.

Why Celtic should sign Adam Idah permanently

The Scottish giants should swoop to sign the Norwich City loanee on a permanent deal as he is a better option than the South Korea international to provide competition to Kyogo in the number nine position.

Since his move to Paradise on a temporary basis on deadline day at the start of February, Idah has caught the eye with his impressive finishing in Scotland.

The 23-year-old star, who was lauded as "sensational" by Chris Sutton earlier this term, has racked up seven goals in 12 Premiership appearances so far for the Hoops.

As you can see in the table above, his form in the Scottish top-flight has been more impressive than Oh's for Celtic so far this season, with two more goals and two more assists in eight fewer games.

The Norwich academy graduate has scored seven goals from an xG of 5.24, which is an overperformance of 1.76 – the highest in the entire Hoops squad.

Whereas, Oh has scored five goals from an xG of 6.35 in the Premiership and only three players in the squad have underperformed by more than his -1.35.

This suggests that Idah has been the best and most efficient finisher in the group in the top-flight this term, whilst the former K League 1 star has been among the worst.

Therefore, Rodgers would be making the right decision, on paper, to sign the Ireland international permanently to further restrict Oh's involvement in the first-team.

FIFA have announced the new format of their annual club competition, the Intercontinental Cup, which will be held in Qatar later this year.

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• Intercontinental Cup to be FIFA's annual club competition
• New format includes five matches, final three will be held in Qatar
• Champions League winners Real Madrid directly qualify for title match

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  FIFA have revealed the format and details for their new annual club competition, the Intercontinental Cup, with Real Madrid set to play the final straight.

  The 2024 edition will be held towards the end of the year, with Qatar hosting a final part of the competition. The tournament will feature continental champions from six confederations and will have five matches.

  Interestingly, apart from the first game, all the matches will have silverware on offer with the Intercontinental Cup title awarded to the winner of the final game. Real Madrid, current European champions, will directly compete in the final game.

  The first two matches of the 2024 edition will be held in September and October respectively, in UAE and Egypt. The final three matches will be held in Doha, Qatar.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There are four trophies on offer during the course of this tournament. The details are as follows:

  Match 1:FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup Play-Off: This game will see Al Ain (AFC Champions League winners) take on Auckland City (OFC Champions League winners).

  Match 2: FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup: The winners of Match 1 will take on CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly for the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup title.

  Match 3: FIFA Derby of the Americas: The winners of CONCACAF Champions League, Pachuca, will take on CONMEBOL Libertadores Cup champions (to be decided). This match will be held in Qatar.

  Match 4: FIFA Challenger Cup: The winners of the Match 2 will take on the winners of Match 3 in this virtual semifinal for the Intercontinental Cup.

  Match 5: FIFA Intercontinental Cup: Real Madrid, the reigning European champions, will take on the winner of the Challenger Cup for the Intercontinental Cup title.

• WHAT SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA BIN AHMED AL THANI SAID?

  H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Qatar's minister of youth and sports, touched on how Qatar delivered the 2022 World Cup successfully and are now fully committed to hosting another important global competition.

  "The opportunity to host another prestigious football tournament is testament to Qatar’s ability of delivering world-class sporting events," he said.

  "Two years after the greatest FIFA World Cup in history, we are proud to host the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024. We look forward to welcoming some of the greatest players in the world for another great event to showcase the legacy of 2022," he added.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024 will be a continuation of the annually-held FIFA Club World Cup.

  Meanwhile, Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe will have mixed emotions as he returns to Qatar, the stage that witnessed his heartbreak at the 2022 World Cup.

  Mbappe had led France to the final two years back in Doha where they took on Argentina on the same date as when the Intercontinental Cup final is scheduled.

  He scored a marvellous hattrick in the final to drag France level and extend the game into a penalty shootout. But Argentina went on to win the World Cup after winnning the shootout 4-2.

  The France superstar will hope to win the Intercontinental Cup this time around and erase at least a few of the painful memories from that night.

Robin van Persie's Heerenveen side fell to a 9-1 defeat against AZ Alkmaar, bringing about the Dutch side's worst-ever loss.

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• Heerenveen lose 9-1 to AZ Alkmaar
• Van Persie equals the club's worst defeat
• Troy Parrott scores four goals

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Life for Van Persie as a senior team head coach has been average so far, as his Heerenveen side began the season with one win, a draw and defeat. However, on Saturday evening, things took a turn for the worse as the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker – who played under the likes of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson in his distinguished career – led his side to a 9-1 thrashing in the Eredivisie against Alkmaar.

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  Sven Mijnans opened the scoring for the hosts just four minutes into the match. Heerenveen equalised through Luuk Brouwers before the 20-minute mark, however, former Tottenham Hotspur striker Troy Parrott scored four goals before the hour-mark to put Van Persie's side in serious peril. Ibrahim Sadiq, Mexx Meerdink, Kristijan Belic and Zico Buurmeester all found the net to complete a humiliating thrashing.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The loss against Alkmaar on Saturday equalled Heerenveen's worst-ever defeat, as the side had lost 8-0 to eventual Eredivisie champions PSV last season in April. The four-goal showing at AFAS Stadion also made Parrott the league's current top scorer, tied with PSV's Hirving Lozano.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR HEERENVEEN?

  Van Persie will hope to see the Dutch side shake off the embarrassing scoreline as soon as possible – with former Netherlands international already looking forward to their next Eredivisie clash against Twente on Tuesday, September 17.

Glasgow Rangers may have to go through the remainder of the season without the services of Abdallah Sima, as the winger suffered an injury during the recent Scottish Cup semifinal against Hearts.

Having stuttered their way to a 2-1 win over St Mirren on the weekend, Phillipe Clement will be praying that the winger miraculously recovers as the Ibrox side struggled without his presence in the final third.

Abdallah Sima may have played his final game for Rangers

Having just returned from a hamstring injury which kept him out for a few months after he sustained it on duty with Senegal during the Africa Cup of Nations in January, Sima made an immediate impact in only his second game back against Celtic.

The on-loan winger was brought on for the second half before netting the second goal with just five minutes left, as Rangers scraped a 3-3 draw at Ibrox.

Against Hearts, however, he pulled up within 15 minutes and was subbed by Clement, who discussed his condition after the game, saying:

“We’re going to see and make an assessment tomorrow. He felt some tightness in his hamstring, I hope it’s not so bad. We hope we can have Abdallah in the next couple of weeks because he’s been really important in that period where he was fit and he was coming back now. So we will see.”

With just five games left – four Premiership fixtures plus the Scottish Cup final – might the Ibrox faithful have seen the last of Sima?

Abdallah Sima’s stats for Rangers this season

Since arriving on loan last summer from Brighton and Hove Albion, Sima has been one of the club’s better performers in front of goal.

In 38 games, the 22-year-old has scored 16 goals while notching two assists, made even more impressive by the fact he missed a large chunk of the season due to his hamstring injury.

There is no doubt Clement will miss the player once he returns to Brighton this summer. Unless he can stump up the cash to sign him permanently, the Belgian will have to find a replacement who can fill the void left by the Senegal international.

The left-winger currently earns £8.5k-per-week during his loan spell, which is among one of the lowest wages in the squad, behind colleagues such as Kemar Roofe, Danilo and Rabbi Matondo, who haven’t contributed near as much as Sima has this term.

The Light Blues have a history of signing expensive flops on high wages, often failing to live up to the lofty expectations placed on them when they arrive in Glasgow.

One of the most notable recent examples is that of Cedric Itten, who arrived to plenty of excitement, only to stutter his way through two seasons at Ibrox.

How much Rangers paid for Cedric Itten

Ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, Steven Gerrard was desperate to bolster an attack that had stagnated in the months prior to the previous season being halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Before Christmas, the Gers were in the mix for the league title, yet a run of just four wins out of nine following the winter break ensured the club slipped out of contention.

That summer, Roofe was brought in from Anderlecht along with Itten, who Gerrard signed from Swiss side FC St Gallen for a transfer fee believed to be around £3m, which indicated that he was of high quality.

It soon became apparent that Gerrard had overpaid massively for the Swiss striker.

Cedric Itten’s Rangers statistics

Having scored 36 goals in just 63 games for St Gallen, it looked like Rangers had signed a player who certainly knew where the back of the net was.

His first season at the Light Blues was hardly a success, despite them ending a ten-year wait for a league title. Across 37 games, Itten managed to score just six goals, while grabbing a further three assists, hardly £3m worth of impact, let’s put it that way.

He was sent out on loan to German outfit Greuther Furth, netting just two goals in 12 appearances, although one did come against Bayern Munich.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst recalled him in January as he sought to give the striker a second chance at Rangers, yet he failed to grab the opportunity presented to him.

He scored just twice in seven games, surely ruining his chances of remaining with the club heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

That summer, he was sold for a cut price fee of just £1.5m, meaning the Gers had lost out on money by selling so cheaply as he returned to his homeland to join BSC Young Boys.

Cedric Itten's wage at Rangers

Not only did the centre-forward cost £3m to bring into the club in the first place, he was also earning £14k-per-week during his two-season stay, which included paying his wages while out on loan in the Bundesliga.

Combining his transfer fee plus total wages earned during his dismal spell in Glasgow, Itten rinsed the Ibrox side dry of around £4.5m. Considering he scored just eight goals in 48 appearances, it proved to be a massive waste of funds – earning even more than what Sima is currently making at the club.

Perhaps it was Scottish football that was the problem, as Itten has shone since returning to Switzerland. During his first season with Young Boys, he won the domestic double, registering 35 goal contributions – 23 goals and 12 assists – across 39 matches.

He may have only scored ten goals during his second season, but he is still performing fairly well.

Hopefully, Clement will avoid mistakes like those that were made by his predecessors as he looks to strengthen his first-team squad in the summer transfer window.

Itten is just one of a host of players who joined the club that failed to replicate their form which saw them secure a move in the first place.

With his budget uncertain, the Belgian may not have the funds to make expensive mistakes this summer.

Rangers could have a possible Sima replacement brewing in "exciting" teen

Rangers may have seen the last of Abdallah Sima at Ibrox…

By
Ross Kilvington

Apr 27, 2024

Aston Villa's pursuit of Champions League qualification has been one of the stories of the season, but if recent reports are to be believed, those at Villa Park are only looking to improve even further when the transfer window swings open.

Aston Villa transfer news

As things stand, Villa will complete an incredible campaign under Unai Emery, inside the Premier League's top four with Champions League qualification close to sealed. It's the type of achievement that they'll only want to kick on from, however, and the summer transfer window should help them do just that, especially when it comes to adding squad depth.

Emery must replace Tielemans with Aston Villa's big-money star

Aston Villa will play their first European semi final since 1982 when they face Olympiacos on Thursday evening

By
Ross Kilvington

May 2, 2024

With that said, the Villans have already been linked with a backup for Ollie Watkins in Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho. The forward's current deal at the Foxes is set to expire at the end of the season, handing Villa the chance to land a bargain free deal this summer to add to Emery's attacking options.

Meanwhile, Jonathan David has also been linked with a move to Villa Park to compete with Watkins, with that seemingly being one of the aims in the Midlands this summer alongside competition for Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno.

According to The Boot Room, Aston Villa sent scouts to watch Ian Maatsen in Borussia Dortmund's semi-final first leg win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and are now eyeing a move to sign the left-back. On loan from Chelsea, Maatsen has enjoyed an excellent spell in Germany to attract the interest of Manchester City, Villa and Bayern Munich.

Borussia Dortmund will be among the leading contenders too, especially with how successful the left-back has been in Germany and after his father's own admission via Fabrizio Romano.

It will be a difficult race for Villa to win, but the fact that they've now got Champions League football to offer should go a long way in convincing players of Maatsen's calibre. When the summer window swings open, the left-back will undoubtedly be one to watch.

"Excellent" Maatsen can become better than Digne

Still just 22 years old, £11k-a-week- Maatsen has shown exactly what he's capable of on the biggest stage, having been part of a Dortmund defence which managed to keep Kylian Mbappe quiet in their Champions League semi-final first leg. Earning the praise of Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig as a result, Maatsen's performance was described as "excellent".

Now, it's Villa who will hope to benefit from such performances, as Chelsea run the risk of losing another impressive young player to a Premier League rival and one who is on course to become better than current Villans left-back Lucas Digne.

Niamh Charles left the field in tears during Chelsea's win over Feyenoord after an apparent arm injury and Sonia Bompastor has provided an update.

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• Chelsea win 9-0 against Feyenoord
• Charles picks up arm injury in first half
• Bompastor believes she has 'dislocated shoulder'

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea earned their third straight win under new boss Bompastor as they won 9-0 over Feyenoord at Kingsmeadow. It has been smooth sailing for the Blues as they are yet to lose under the new coach in pre-season, however, despite the massive win on Saturday, fans and the coaching staff had a bit of a nervous moment due to Charles' injury, which saw her leave in a makeshift arm cast.

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  WHAT BOMPASTOR SAID

  Speaking to the media, Bompastor provided an update on Charles' condition and also Sophie Ingle's injury, as she said: "I think Niamh [Charles] dislocated her shoulder, so she will need to pass some tests to see how it goes, at the moment it’s too soon to give more information.

  "Sophie [Ingle] it was her knee, she got kicked in the beginning of the second half, so we will have to see after some tests as well, but I hope it’s not too bad."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Charles has been a part of all three of Bompastor's Chelsea matches so far as she made the starting line-up against NJ/NY Gotham and Feyenoord, and came off the bench in the friendly clash against Women's Super League rivals Arsenal. The 25-year-old has been a key squad player for the Blues since her move to Chelsea from Liverpool in 2020.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  With just under two weeks left until the start of the Women's Super League, Chelsea will hope that Charles won't be laid off for too long as they will hope to have the 25-year-old back sooner rather than later.

Kylian Mbappe has warned Real Madrid’s rivals that he is “hungry for more” after opening his Liga goal account for the Blancos at the fourth attempt.

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• Scored on debut in UEFA Super Cup
• Then went three games without a goal
• Bagged match-winning brace vs Betis

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  After netting on his debut for the Spanish giants in a UEFA Super Cup victory over Atalanta, the World Cup winner posted a blank through three outings in La Liga. The France international attracted criticism for his toothless performances, with the expectation being that he would be a prolific presence for Carlo Ancelotti.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbappe is now showing that he can be just that, with a match-winning brace recorded in a 2-0 win over Real Betis. Those efforts came in front of an adoring new fan base at Santiago Bernabeu, with the 25-year-old forward proving what he is capable of.

• WHAT MBAPPE SAID

  Having broken his duck, Mbappe will be hoping that there are many more goals to come. He believes that will be the case and has told those preparing to cross his path that he is now “hungry for more” as he looks to enjoy a productive first season in the Spanish capital.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Mbappe became Paris Saint-Germain’s all-time leading scorer before severing ties with them as a free agent, with the target found on 256 occasions for the Ligue 1 heavyweights. Having committed to a five-year contract with Real, he will fancy his chances of becoming a centurion for them as well.