Manchester United ‘pressing’ to sign Alessandro Bastoni

Manchester United are ‘pressing’ to sign Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni this summer.

The Lowdown: Bastoni profiled

Bastoni is a left-footed centre-back who joined in 2017 from Atalanta in a deal worth just shy of £28m when he was valued at just £1.35m.

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Inter’s gamble on the 23-year-old has since paid off, though, with Bastoni now valued at a career-high £54m by Transfermarkt. He has made 117 appearances for Inter, 43 of which have come during the current campaign.

The Italy international will be entering the final two years of his contract in the summer, but it looks as if he could be on the way out of Italy over the coming months.

The Latest: United links

Sports Witness relayed an update from FcInter1908 regarding Bastoni on Thursday. They claim that Erik ten Hag is personally an ‘admirer’ of the player, with United ‘pressing’ to secure his services.

The report says that Bastoni’s agent recently met with Inter chiefs, where it was decided they could ‘sacrifice’ the defender over the summer, adding that United could ‘carry out a deal’ after he was made available for transfer.

The Verdict: Ten Hag knows…

United have been linked with a number of centre-backs in recent weeks including Jurrien Timber, Sven Botman, Kalidou Koulibaly and Goncalo Inacio.

Bastoni is now the latest, and it appears to show that Ten Hag knows a defensive overhaul is required at Old Trafford. He seems to pride himself on making his team hard to beat, with his Ajax side conceding just 19 goals in the Eredivisie in 2021/22.

The Red Devils have already let in 57 in 37 games, more than the likes of Burnley and Brentford, so a few centre-backs could be handy to replace the likes of Eric Bailly and Phil Jones, who look set to leave.

In other news: Man Utd source: Sensational transfer twist as Erik ten Hag now hijacking move for ‘golden boy’. 

Sky reporter: Bergwijn could leave Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur winger Steven Bergwijn is expected to leave the north London club in the summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

The Lowdown: Bergwijn’s January transfer saga

The 24-year-old was at the centre of a hectic transfer saga in January, with a move to Ajax appearing likely at one point but failing to materialise before the end of the window.

The Eredivisie giants made an initial £15m bid for the Netherlands international before later coming back in with an improved offer. However, Spurs were said to be holding out for a sum closer to the £27m that they paid for him two years prior.

Despite keeping hold of the attacker, Bergwijn has failed to start a single Premier League game since the January transfer window closed.

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The Latest: Bridge’s claim on Bergwijn

Bridge believes that it is very likely that Bergwijn will leave Tottenham in the coming months.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the Sky Sports reporter said of the 24-year-old: “I think he would be one of many where Tottenham go ‘we can get a few quid for him’.

“I would be shocked if he didn’t leave, whether it’s Ajax, I don’t know, but I would imagine that he would probably move on.”

The Verdict: Good squad option

With Tottenham still battling it out for Champions League qualification, Antonio Conte will likely be pondering over his squad options for next season.

Ranking in the 99th percentile for clearances and the 98th percentile for non-penalty expected goals for positional peers among Europe’s top five leagues (via FBRef), Bergwijn’s underlying stats illustrate why he is the perfect example of great squad player.

He has also shown an uncanny ability to make a telling impact off the bench, most notably with his match-winning stoppage-time brace against Leicester earlier this year, while his manager has previously said that the 24-year-old possesses “a lot of quality”.

However, if the Dutchman has his heart set on a move away from N17, then there probably isn’t much that Fabio Paratici can do to keep him in north London.

Therefore, Bergwijn’s expected departure would come as an unwelcome loss to Conte’s squad depth at Tottenham, if indeed it materialises this summer.

In other news: Noel Whelan drops Richarlison/Spurs transfer claim

Newcastle plotting Fabian Ruiz swoop

A big update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Fabian Ruiz ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

According to Spanish outlet AS, via Sport Witness, the Magpies are to be handed the opportunity to sign the Napoli midfielder as Barcelona are struggling to stump up the €40m (£34m) required to prise him away from Italy.

The report claims that Eddie Howe tried to bring him to St James’ Park in January, only to be told that he wanted to wait until the end of the season to consider his future. Ruiz is now poised to depart the Serie A club, and Newcastle are now eyeing a bid for his services after their failure in the previous transfer window.

Imagine him & Bruno Guimaraes

PIF must ensure that they are able to get this deal over the line ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, as Ruiz would be a sublime addition to the squad to partner with Guimaraes.

He is a consistent, quality midfield player who is heading into the prime years of his career at the age of 26. Newcastle will therefore be getting a gem who can come in and make an instant impact, instead of a prospect who may take a year or two to settle in.

Ruiz has been in superb form for Napoli in Serie A this season as he has proven his ability to produce quality displays on a regular basis. He has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.21 across 31 outings for the Azzurri, scoring seven goals and providing four assists.

Journalist Josh Bunting showered him with praise earlier this year, tweeting: “Fabián Ruiz is a beautiful footballer, he scored the only goal in Napoli’s win over Torino. His pass selection is so good, dictates the play, so smart and intelligent on the ball and off it, so good at popping into space and rotating the ball around, keeps them ticking.”

These quotes illustrate the type of midfielder he is and why he would complement Guimaraes in the middle of the park. Whilst Ruiz has the technical ability to dominate matches in possession, the Brazilian is a combative enforcer with three tackles and interceptions per game in the Premier League.

The January signing from Lyon also has quality on the ball, with four goals and one assist in nine Newcastle starts, but his defensive awareness would allow him to cover for Ruiz when the Spaniard wants to advance forward. Therefore, they could be an exciting midfield pairing for Howe, as they are both impressive in their own right and have the potential to work well together.

AND in other news, Craig Hope drops worrying worrying £50m NUFC claim, it’s a first major disaster for PIF…

Celtic must unleash Stephen Welsh

Celtic have been a tough nut to crack for lots of opposition teams in the Premiership this season with the Hoops only conceding 20 goals in 35 fixtures.

One figure who’s played a big part at the back for Ange Postecoglou’s side is loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Since joining the Parkhead club on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur back in the summer, the centre-back has played in 28 league games.

In those games, the American has racked up a total of 20 tackles and 38 interceptions as well as a higher average of clearances per game (4.2) than any other Hoops player.

Despite his solid impact on the team this season, there’s nothing official of yet regarding whether or not his loan spell will be made permanent in the summer.

Having caught the attention of other clubs in the Premier League, there’s every chance that the 24-year-old may not be at Celtic Park next season.

Should this end up being the case, Postecoglou may not need to look too far in terms of a potential replacement for the Spurs loan man.

With only nine appearances to his name in the league this season, Stephen Welsh has not featured in a league game for the Bhoys since Boxing Day.

Given how well Carter-Vickers has done, it’s easy to see why the 22-year-old has found regular game time hard to come by in recent weeks and months.

However, should the American find himself waving goodbye to Celtic in the summer, this could pave the way for Welsh to finally stake his claim for a regular spot in the team.

When the defender has been able to get on the pitch, he has shown just what he’s capable of by making 13 interceptions in total, giving him the highest average (1.6) of interceptions per game in the Celtic squad.

Praised for his “phenomenal” performances in a Celtic shirt by Martin Miller, Welsh could really blossom into a top-quality defender for his side if he’s given the chance to play on a consistent basis.

This could also allow Postecoglou the chance to save the club millions in potential transfer fees should they need to find a suitable replacement for Carter-Vickers.

In other news: Transfer accelerating: Exciting Lennoxtown update will leave Celtic supporters buzzing

Everton: Lampard must axe Allan v Chelsea

Everton’s battle to retain their Premier League status continues this weekend as Frank Lampard takes on his former club Chelsea at Goodison Park, with the hosts in desperate need of a positive result.

At present, the Toffees find themselves in 18th place and two points adrift from safety, albeit with a game in hand on relegation contenders Burnley, having registered their 19th loss of the campaign away to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby last Sunday.

While Lampard insisted that his side produced a “good performance” and were denied a clear penalty against Jurgen Klopp’s title-chasing outfit, the 43-year-old will know that it is only points on the board which will help spare his team from a first relegation since 1951.

In order to bounce book on Sunday against Chelsea, one man who needs to give way is Brazilian midfielder Allan, with the former Napoli star having endured a torrid time of it against the Reds last time out.

Allan must be axed

Although dominating the ball clearly wasn’t the name of the game for the visitors – as their opponents finished the clash with a Premier League record of 85% possession – they certainly weren’t helped out by the performance of the £16.2m-rated midfielder, who achieved just a solitary successful pass in his 73-minute display.

Even if it was not in his remit to dictate the tempo of the match, the 31-year-old still failed spectacularly in his other duties, winning just one duel throughout the game prior to his substitution, as the away side hardly laid a glove on Thiago Alcantara, who pulled the strings for the opposition.

Such a shoddy performance is not a one-off for the Everton man this season, either. He has also been dribbled past 2.7 times per game in his 26 top-flight outings and has lost 146 duels in total, showcasing his lightweight nature in the centre of the park.

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp echoed that view earlier this season, as he suggested that the 31-year-old simply “can’t run” and that the club have “no legs in midfield”, with that potentially a key factor in their struggles so far this term.

Football Insider pundit Paul Robinson previously suggested that the club has “too much quality” to go down, but with games quickly running out, they simply cannot afford to be carrying any passengers, particularly against Thomas Tuchel’s side this weekend.

Lampard needs to be ruthless on Sunday and axe the diminutive Allan, or else risk witnessing another horror show from the £120k-per-week midfielder.

In other news, Cost £25m, now worth just £608k: Koeman made huge blunder on “dynamic” Everton flop

Celtic star was “set to” leave, now he could be the new Tierney under Nancy

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy has his work cut out for him at Parkhead after a frustrating first match in charge of the club against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

A 2-1 defeat to the league leaders proved that the Frenchman has plenty of issues to solve and plenty still to learn about the squad of players that he has at his disposal.

The former Columbus Crew head coach has a big group of players to work with in Glasgow, and there are a number of stars who he should give an opportunity to in the coming weeks.

The rarely-seen Celtic stars Nancy should unleash

Kelechi Iheanacho, for example, was an unused substitute against Hearts after returning from injury, and he should be given a chance to lead the line after Daizen Maeda missed two ‘big chances’, per Sofascore, on Sunday.

The Nigerian centre-forward has scored three goals in eight appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants this season, per Sofascore, and could emerge as Nancy’s first-choice number nine.

Another rarely-seen star who could benefit from the change in shape to a 3-4-2-1 could be Dane Murray, who has started two league games this season, as he is a naturally right-sided centre-back who can provide balance when playing out from the back.

Auston Trusty played in that role on Sunday, as a left-footed player, and was slow to bring the ball forward and progress the play, as he was on his weaker side, which could open the door for Murray to come in and take that spot.

Colby Donovan was also snubbed in Nancy’s first game, playing zero minutes, but he could emerge as the manager’s own Kieran Tierney in the right wing-back position, having been set to leave in the summer window.

Wilfried Nancy is brewing the next Tierney

The 19-year-old academy graduate was “set to join Dundee on loan for the season”, per journalist Josh McCafferty, in the summer transfer window, before an injury to Alistair Johnston meant that he was needed as a first-team option at Parkhead.

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Donovan has gone on to play 716 minutes across 12 appearances for the first-team, per Sofascore, since the decision was made to keep him at the club, instead of sending him out on loan, and he has shown real promise.

The Scotland U21 international is looking to follow in Kieran Tierney’s footsteps in Glasgow, as the left-back came through the academy to provide a big threat down the left flank as an attacking full-back.

In his first spell with the club, as shown in the graphic above, the Scotland international provided an eye-catching 37 assists in 170 matches for the club, and Donovan has the potential to provide a similar threat in this new system.

Hyun-jun Yang started at right wing-back against Hearts. However, Nancy could move him over to the left and unleash the academy graduate on the right to provide crosses on that side.

xA

0.14

Top 28%

Assists

0.28

Top 1%

Long pass accuracy

46.2%

Top 23%

Chances created

1.12

Top 39%

Successful crosses

1.12

Top 25%

Touches in opposition’s box

2.80

Top 14%

Donovan, as shown in the statistics above, has stood out as one of the most impressive creative right-backs in the Premiership this season under Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill, whilst playing as a right-back.

Playing as a wing-back under Nancy would give him even more opportunities to push forward and show off his creativity in the final third, which could improve his output as a creator and make him a Tierney-esque threat on the right-hand side.

Whilst Johnston is still to return from his injury eventually, unleashing Donovan in this new role could provide him with a chance to nail down a regular starting spot in the team to become the next academy graduate to become a star at Parkhead, like Tierney.

His emergence in the first-team this season, after being set to go out on loan in the summer, is perhaps a lesson that Celtic can learn from, as they could give more opportunities to their academy players to see if they have what it takes to play for the senior side before letting them move on, permanently or on loan.

Worse than Yang: Nancy must bin 3/10 Celtic dud who once had "the X factor"

This Celtic star who had “the X Factor” should be ruthlessly dropped from the starting line-up on Thursday.

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McKenna upgrade: "Incredible" manager now high up on West Ham's shortlist

It might sound hyperbolic, but West Ham United are in something of a crisis at the moment.

They may have earned themselves an impressive win away to Nottingham Forest a few weeks ago, but they’ve lost their other four games by a combined score of 14-3.

The club might put out a press release indicating their support for Graham Potter, but he is overseeing relegation form, and therefore, it feels like a matter of when and not if he is replaced.

West Ham have already been linked with a host of possible alternatives, including Kieran McKenna, although they’re also eyeing up a clear upgrade on him.

Why West Ham might want McKenna

While a host of managers are currently out of work, one name recently linked with West Ham is McKenna.

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He might not be the biggest name, but it’s not hard to see why the Hammer might want to hire the Northern Irishman to take over from Potter.

First and foremost, his record with Ipswich Town is significantly more impressive than the Englishman’s record with the Irons.

Games

179

24

Wins

83

6

Draws

48

5

Losses

48

13

Points per Game

1.66

0.96

For example, the “sensational” 39-year-old, as John Barnes dubbed him, has an impressive record of 83 wins, 48 losses, and 48 draws with the Suffolk side, which comes out to an average of 1.66 points per game.

In contrast, since taking the job in January, the former Chelsea boss has overseen just six wins with the East Londoners, but 13 losses and five draws, which works out to a poor average of just 0.96 points per game.

Another reason McKenna might tempt the East Londoners is the fact that he helped turn the Tractor Boys from a lowly League One side into a Premier League outfit in the space of a few years, without a great deal of investment.

Yet, with all that said, West Ham now appear keen on another top-quality manager, one who would be a better hire than McKenna: Nuno Espírito Santo.

At least that is according to a recent report from Football Insider, which claims the former Nottingham Forest manager is now “high” up on the list of potential Potter replacements.

Moreover, as he’s not currently in a job, the club wouldn’t have to pay a fee to get him.

Why Nuno would be a better an upgrade on McKenna

So, as we’ve outlined above, McKenna would be a good hire for West Ham; he’s shown as much over the last few years.

However, there are a number of reasons why we think Nuno would be an even better option, notably his experience.

The Northern Irishman might have gotten a taste of Premier League football with Ipswich last season, but that’s it; he’s managed just 38 games at the top level, and while his team played some good football at points, they still went down.

Games

184

38

Wins

72

4

Draws

45

10

Losses

67

24

Points per Game

1.42

0.58

In contrast, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager has taken charge of 184 games in the Premier League, of which his teams have won 72, lost 67, drawn 45 and averaged 1.42 points per game.

Another big tick in favour of the “incredible” Portuguese coach, as dubbed by Sky Sports’ Sam Obaseki, is what he managed to achieve at Forest.

When he was appointed manager of the Tricky Trees, they were staring down the barrel of relegation, sitting five points off the drop and with just a single win from their last 13 matches – sound familiar?

He then guided them to safety in his first half-season, before leading them back to European football for the first time in generations last season.

More than that, he turned what was previously an easily beatable team into a solid and incredibly difficult side to break down, so much so that Matz Sels ended up winning the Golden Glove alongside David Raya.

Ultimately, while McKenna may go on to become a hugely successful manager, there would still be an element of risk in hiring him.

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However, there would be far less risk in hiring Nuno, as he’s already proven at this level and has shown an ability to turn a relegation-threatened side into one fighting for European places.

Alongside Lopez: Chelsea join race for Barcelona gem with "infinite" talent

Chelsea have now joined the race for a second Barcelona player who has “infinite” talent, alongside Fermin Lopez, it has been revealed.

Blues enter race for another Barcelona player

Right the way through the summer transfer window, the Blues were credited with an interest in Lopez, with Fabrizio Romano revealing an official proposal was even submitted at the end of August.

However, the west Londoners were unable to get a deal done, in part because the attacking midfielder had little interest in leaving his boyhood club, saying: “My priority has always been Barcelona. This club is my dream since I was a kid.

“It is always a compliment that there is interest from other clubs, but the truth is that I always wanted to stay and succeed at Barça”.

FC Barcelona'sFerminLopezis presented with the MVP trophy after the match

It remains to be seen whether Enzo Maresca’s side make another approach for the 22-year-old in the future, but in the meantime they have been credited with an interest in a different Barcelona player…

Indeed, according to a report from Spain, Chelsea have now joined the race to sign Dro Fernandez, who has become one of the most watched players in Europe, while also regarded as one of the most exciting youngsters in Spain.

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Manchester City are also in the race for the 17-year-old, so there could be competition for his signature, although Barça are reluctant to sanction a departure.

Fernandez would initially be brought into the reserve side, given that he is yet to make a senior appearance for Barcelona, but there would be a clear pathway to the first team.

Fernandez could be future star for Chelsea

Former coach Javi Roxo clearly believes the teenager is destined for future success, saying: “Dro was always very special, he has a gift for touching the ball and has always been very creative.

“Dro is capable of everything and if Flick puts him on the wing he can also do well, it won’t be Raphinha but he can look like the Iniesta who played on the left. If he relieves himself of pressure and plays freely, he is capable of anything, his talent is infinite.”

The young Spaniard is yet to be called up to the Barcelona first team, but he has started to catch the eye at youth level, scoring twice in the UEFA Youth League last season, while also bagging two goals in six appearances for Spain U17s.

As such, Fernandez is clearly capable of becoming a future star for Chelsea, but it may be difficult to lure him away from Barcelona, who will surely be reluctant to sell one of their most exciting young talents.

Better than Mbeumo: Newcastle make "terrifyingly good" £67m ace a key target

One of Newcastle United’s primary targets ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window seems to be Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo. According to recent reports, the Magpies are ‘firmly in the race’ to sign the Cameroon international, who seems set to leave West London in the coming weeks.

More recently, The Telegraph confirmed that the North East giants are ‘ready to swoop’ for the attacker in the coming weeks. Mbeumo is also a target for Manchester United, as per talkSPORT, so to beat the Red Devils to his signature, they must make a move for him quickly.

Having Champions League football, which the Old Trafford side can’t offer, will surely help their cause.

Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates after the match

If they do lose out to United in the race for Mbeumo, however, then Newcastle seem to have an alternative option lined up – one which would represent an even bigger coup.

Newcastle’s search for a winger

The race for Mbeumo is certainly an interesting one, and whilst the Magpies are undoubtedly one of the sides pushing to sign him this summer, it is by no means a guarantee that they manage to do so.

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Equally, he is not the only target, it would seem, with one Spanish news outlet suggesting that Newcastle could make a move for Real Madrid star Rodrygo. This would be a hugely ambitious move, but he is described as ‘one of the main targets’ at St James’ Park this summer, suggesting they think it is something they can pull off.

One of the most interesting parts about this deal is the fee. Rodrygo has a release clause in his current deal, worth around £1b.

Real Madrid'sRodrygolooks on

However, Los Blancos are thought to be willing to negotiate the astronomical fee. Instead, the Magpies might only have to pay £67m if they want to sign the winger this summer.

Why Rodrygo would be a good signing

There is no doubt about just how good Rodrygo is. The Brazilian is “terrifyingly good”, according to freelance football journalist Sam Tighe, and he has certainly showcased that this term at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It has been a disappointing season overall for the Spanish giants, but Rodrygo’s numbers are more than respectable. He has played 50 games in that famous White shirt this term, scoring 13 goals and assisting another ten.

One of the crucial things about the Brazilian is his pedigree in the Champions League. His record in Europe’s premium club competition is exceptional, with 25 goals and 14 assists in 64 games. He is a specialist in the knockout rounds, with 12 goals and assists in the latter stages.

In fact, that is surely one of the things that sets him apart from Mbeumo. The 2025/26 campaign will be huge for Newcastle, as they look to defend their Carabao Cup crown and, of course, return to the Champions League.

Well, with Rodrygo’s record in the competition and the fact that Mbeumo has never made an appearance, perhaps that edges him out as the better signing for the Magpies to make this summer.

Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates scoring their first goal

With that being said, it is not like the Brentford man is not up to the level. Quite the opposite, in fact. He had a stellar campaign for the Bees, scoring 20 goals and grabbing eight assists in 38 Premier League games.

However, there are underlying stats on FBref which also suggest Rodrygo could be a better addition than the Cameroon international. For example, he averages 2.29 key passes and 5.28 progressive carries per 90 minutes compared to Mbeumo’s 1.85 key passes and 3.43 progressive carries each game.

Key passes

2.29

1.85

Progressive passes

5.05

3.72

Shot-creating actions

4.95

3.8

Progressive carries

5.38

3.43

Successful take-ons

2.29

1.37

There is certainly strong evidence that suggests Rodrygo is the guy the North East outfit should turn to if they are looking for a new winger this season. He is an electric dribbler, a creative outlet – as those key stats outline – and has bags of Champions League experience.

Of course, £67m is a lot of money, but he is a worthy investment, and perhaps will prove to be a better addition than Mbeumo.

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Not just Butland: Rangers flop may have played his last game at Ibrox

Glasgow Rangers ended their 2024/25 campaign in the same fashion as how it started; failing to win in Edinburgh.

In August, the Ibrox side could only draw 0-0 against Hearts at Tynecastle, making it the second season in a row where they failed to win the opening match of the Premiership season.

This afternoon, Rangers could only draw 2-2 with Hibernian at Easter Road to end arguably the worst season in the club’s recent history.

Goals from Cyriel Dessers and Nicolas Raskin gave the Gers a 2-1 advantage. A blatantly obvious goal wasn’t awarded when the score was tied at 1-1, despite the ball crossing the Hibs’ line by at least a foot.

Martin Boyle equalised with 25 minutes left, and both teams were forced to take a share of the spoils.

Jack Butland conceded another two goals, and it would be a surprise to see him still at the club next season.

Jack Butland’s future is uncertain at Rangers

The Englishman’s drop-off in form this season has been alarming, to say the least. Across 44 matches in all competitions, Butland has kept only 14 clean sheets, conceding 51 goals in the process.

He has conceded two or more goals in ten of his 28 league matches, and it is clear that the ‘keeper may have potentially played his final game for the club against Hibs.

Jack Butland

Butland should have done better for Kieran Bowie’s effort to make it 1-1, while he misjudged a cross into the box, which meant Martin Boyle had plenty of room to make it 2-2, and failed to prove that Ferguson was wrong to drop him for Liam Kelly in recent weeks.

He isn’t the only player who must depart Ibrox this summer, as plenty of others in the first-team squad will likely be moved on by whoever becomes the club’s permanent manager.

Clean sheets

10

Accurate passes per 90

21.4

Touches per 90

37.1

Possession lost per 90

6.3

Errors leading to goal

2

Saves per 90

2.2 (66%)

Tom Lawrence must be top of the list, and he proved exactly why during his cameo today.

Rangers must release Tom Lawrence

Across his three full seasons in Glasgow, Lawrence has missed 75 games due to injury issues. During that time period, the Welshman has scored only 12 goals for Rangers.

Earning £22k-per-week, it is evident that the club could be spending this sort of money elsewhere in the squad.

Tom Lawrence

He came on for Mohamed Diomande with 35 minutes left against Hibs, but he failed to solidify the midfield as the Gers chased three points, and he must, now, never play for the Gers again.

The midfielder took just 15 touches, completed eight passes, lost possession four times, and failed to register a single dribble or shot on goal.

Why he was given a runout is questionable, especially with several youngsters on the bench looking to gain much-needed game time heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

Hopefully, the new manager releases the former Derby County star in the summer, as he certainly isn’t of the required quality to help the Glasgow side challenge Celtic domestically next season and has not proven himself to be reliable in terms of availability, as shown by his injury record.

It will be a summer of change at Ibrox. The question is, will it be enough to wrestle back the Premiership crown after four years away?

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