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Glasgow Rangers finished another Premiership campaign without winning the title with the Ibrox side having failed to build upon their stunning title success from the 2020/21 season.

Three years in a row, Celtic have been top dogs in Scotland and for a fanbase which is desperate for success, this is nowhere near good enough from the players. Something has got to give this summer.

While Philippe Clement may not know for certain exactly how much he will have to spend, one thing remains clear; he will have to sell a few first-team players.

Six players are out of contract in a few weeks, which will give him some leeway in the transfer market, meaning the likes of John Lundstram, Ryan Jack and Borna Barisic should all be gone when the window opens next month.

Sentiment shouldn’t come into the equation, as all three of these men have failed to sparkle throughout 2023/24, with Barisic being the one who has disappointed the most.

Borna Barisic’s form this season

The Croatian entered into the final year of his deal knowing that a solid season would perhaps give him a chance of extending his stay at the Light Blues for another year or two.

Unfortunately, he has failed to impress under either Michael Beale or Clement throughout the season.

The left-back may have started the season as first choice, but the Belgian opted to unleash Ridvan Yilmaz in the starting XI more often from October onwards. If the Turkish gem was able to stay fit, Barisic’s appearances would have been severely limited over the previous few months.

Indeed, the 31-year-old was used as his replacement from the international break in March until he recovered, but his form has been poor.

Renowned for his attacking abilities down the left flank – registering 57 goal contributions ahead of the current season – Barisic ranked only 14th for goals and assists (three) in the top flight when compared to his teammates this season.

The defender also ranked in a lowly 20th position for successful dribbles per game (0.4) and 19th for big chances created (one), certainly suggesting how lacklustre he was at getting forward when given an opportunity in the first team.

Barisic is earning £21k-per-week and there is no doubt allowing him to leave this summer could see Clement use this money a lot more wisely.

If Yilmaz can stay fit for the 2024/25 season, he will surely be the first-choice left-back in the team. Could a player who started his first game for the Gers during the 3-3 draw against Hearts on the weekend give Clement the licence to ditch Barisic for good?

Robbie Fraser is clearly an exciting talent.

Robbie Fraser's rise to the first team

Despite being captain of the B team, Fraser has been forced to watch the likes of Ross McCausland, Zak Lovelace and even Johnly Yfeko – who plays in the same position – all make their senior debuts before him.

It is a testament to his maturity and confidence that the youngster has bided his time and trusted his own ability to eventually catch Clement’s eye, coming on as a substitute during the 5-2 win over Dundee in the penultimate Premiership game of the season last week.

The Scot was included in the matchday squad on a couple of occasions last season, most notably for the final Champions League match against Ajax and this experience has clearly stood him in good stead.

His performances for the B team last season were excellent. Not only did he score twice – which included a “superb” free kick against East Kilbride, according to journalist Jordan Campbell – but also seven assists, demonstrating how effective he was at bursting forward down the flank.

With nothing to play for against the Jambos, Clement made sure Yilmaz was well-rested ahead of the Scottish Cup final on Saturday and unleashed Fraser at left-back for his first-ever Rangers start.

He didn’t disappoint, with his display offering a glimpse into the future.

Robbie Fraser’s game in numbers vs Hearts

The youngster played the opening 60 minutes before being replaced by Yilmaz, yet his performance was a sign of things to come.

Defensively, Fraser stood his ground well, winning six of his eight ground duels while also making five tackles, committing just one foul, and being dribbled past on only one occasion.

He showed plenty of willingness to get on the ball, taking 56 touches during his time on the pitch, while even making three key passes and delivering two accurate crosses from four attempts.

The 21-year-old was given a match rating of 6/10 for his performance by Football Insider. Given that this was his first-ever senior start, Fraser handled himself like a veteran and there is no doubt he should be in Clement’s plans for next season.

What the future holds for Robbie Fraser

The youngster does find himself out of contract at the end of this month, but surely his impact against Hearts should encourage Clement to put a new deal on the table.

He is not the finished article, but having a homegrown player like Fraser in the first-team squad could be beneficial for a number of seasons.

European squads require several homegrown players to fill the quota, which means the inclusion of Fraser would add an extra body to this and save Clement having to buy another Scot.

Plus, it could allow the Belgian to develop the Scotland U21 international similarly to what Steven Gerrard did with Nathan Patterson.

The current Everton defender was sold by the Light Blues for a then club record fee of £16m, proving that promoting them from the academy and giving them chances in the first team could pay dividends a few years down the line.

Fraser might not reach this level, but the manager won't know unless he offers him the chance to make an impact and try to claim a regular berth in the starting XI.

Rangers have produced incredible full-backs such as Alan Hutton and Patterson over the years. Might Fraser be the next one on the production line?

Tottenham could table a bid for one £30 million forward before the end of this month, after claims that Ange Postecoglou thinks he's "perfect".

Spurs set to target more attackers after Timo Werner

After sealing a one-year extension on Timo Werner's loan deal, Spurs are very much still in the market for new attackers as Postecoglou, Johan Lange and the wider Lilywhites recruitment team anticipate a busy summer transfer window.

Tottenham planning £40 million swap deal bid including Emerson Royal

The north Londoners could kill two birds with one stone.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 29, 2024

Fabrizio Romano has tipped the north Londoners for a hectic few months ahead when it comes to incomings and outgoings, telling GiveMeSport that it will be an "important" summer.

"I think it will be an important summer for Tottenham in terms of midfield," said Romano.

"And then [there will be] an offensive player, at least one offensive player. We will see if it's going to be more a kind of winger or more a kind of number nine. But they are exploring the offensive players market and I think they will do something also in that position. So I think it will be a busy summer at Tottenham."

Reliable football.london correspondent Alasdair Gold has also shared that more attacking signings will come at Spurs after the Werner deal, coming after Postecoglou admitted that his side need more numbers going forward.

Tottenham are reportedly planning to bring in a new striker to replace Harry Kane, and potentially Richarlison, with the Brazilian coming as one of the many players linked to leaving N17 before the end of this summer window.

Another winger also hasn't been ruled out, with former Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi mentioned as a target in recent weeks. The Nottingham Forest forward, who signed for Nuno Espirito Santo's side for just £5 million last summer, has seen his value skyrocket to £30 million after a brilliant season at the City Ground.

Forest may have to sell key players before June 30 to avoid more PSR sanctions, and it is believed Postecoglou sees Hudson-Odoi as the "perfect" fit for his Spurs attack.

Tottenham may table Hudson-Odoi bid before June 30

As per Football Insider, Tottenham could launch a bid to sign Hudson-Odoi before June 30, as the club look to add a young forward with the added benefit of being homegrown.

The 23-year-old is apparently one of several players who the club are looking at to bolster their forward line, and it is believed they've held a long-term interest in Hudson-Odoi as well.

The Englishman bagged eight goals and an assist in 29 league appearances last term, and his top-flight experience could be another attraction.

Lots of world-class footballers have graced the WSL since it was established in 2011, but who are the best to have played in England in that time?

English women's football entered a new era in 2011 when the Women's Super League was established. In the time since, the league has grown rapidly, and is now fully professional and widely considered the best in the entire women's game. As such, it been able to boast plenty of world-class talent, be they homegrown stars or international icons.

Just as men's football existed before 1992 and the Premier League, women's football in England was of course important before 2011. After all, in 2007, the greatest achievement of any women's club team in the country's history was achieved when Arsenal upset Swedish giants Umea, regarded as 'the Galacticos of women's football', to win the UEFA Women's Cup (now the Champions League).

However, the lack of widespread funding and support for women's football in the pre-WSL era makes it a difficult period to accurately analyse and assess when it comes to ranking the greatest players in the English top-flight. It means that while icons such as Kelly Smith, Alex Scott and Rachel Yankey did play in the WSL, their names are absent from this particular list due to the brief nature of their experiences in the division.

So, who are the greatest WSL players of all time? GOAL ranks the absolute cream of the crop…

• Getty
  

  25Mary Earps

  Though most recognised for her exploits at Manchester United when it comes to club football, it shouldn't be forgotten that Mary Earps was a talented goalkeeper well before she moved to the north west of England. After all, it was her form for Reading that earned her first nomination to the PFA Team of the Year and would convince two-time European champions Wolfsburg to sign her up.

  Earps returned from Germany to join United and enjoyed the best years of her career to date with the Red Devils, be it in their colours or those of her country, with whom she would win the European Championship and reach a World Cup final.

  Twice a winner of The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper award, she also holds the record for most clean sheets in WSL history, having racked up plenty with Doncaster Rovers Belles, Birmingham and Bristol Academy (now Bristol City) before her stints with Reading and United.

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  24Gemma Bonner

  While Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal are the top teams in English women's football today, 10 years ago, Liverpool won the most dramatic title race in WSL history to secure back-to-back triumphs. Third in the table when 2014's final day got under way, three points behind leaders Chelsea, they emerged victorious on goal difference after neither the Blues nor Birmingham could win their final matches.

  Liverpool's captain that day was Gemma Bonner, the same player who wore the armband 12 months prior when the Reds secured their first title. She was imperious in both seasons to help her childhood club reign supreme and would maintain that form for several years, earning a move to Man City in 2018.

  Now, by way of a spell in the U.S. with Racing Louisville, Bonner is back at Liverpool and has been a model of consistency since returning, helping the Reds secure an impressive fourth-placed finish in the 2023-24 season thanks to some big wins over the 'big three'.

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  23Eni Aluko

  Though she only played five seasons in the WSL, spending time in the U.S. before joining Birmingham in 2012 and closing her career out in Italy after a trophy-laden spell with Chelsea, Eni Aluko is well worth her place on this list. One of Emma Hayes' best signings as Chelsea manager, Aluko helped the Blues win their first WSL title in 2015 and a second in 2018, which laid the foundations for the club to take over English women's football.

  The forward claimed Chelsea's Player of the Year award following the first triumph, was named to the PFA Team of the Year at the end of both title-winning seasons and won the league's Golden Boot in 2016, before later leaving for Juventus. After the WSL established its Hall of Fame in 2021, it was no surprise to see Aluko among those inducted in its second year.

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  22Nikita Parris

  Just 17 years old when the first WSL season began, Nikita Parris got her breakthrough at Everton, where she came through as a young girl. It wasn't long until one of the most ambitious sides in the league snapped up the talented forward either, with Man City signing her in 2015 before Parris helped the club to win its first, and thus far only, WSL title a year later.

  It's Parris' 2018-19 season that the forward is best known for, a return of 19 goals from 19 games helping her win the FWA Women's Footballer of the Year award and earn a move to Lyon, the eight-time European champions. However, with Manchester United, she rolled back the years in 2023-24, ending the season as the Red Devils' top goal-scorer.

  Now at Brighton, alongside another Lionesses veteran in Fran Kirby, Parris is in a fantastic position to add to a goal tally that makes her the fourth-most prolific scorer in WSL history, despite that trophy-laden spell in France.

Celtic are among those chasing a move for a former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich talent this summer, but will face stiff competition for his signature.

Rodgers keen to build on success

Though at times it looked unlikely, Brendan Rodgers did end up with a domestic double to crown his first season as Celtic boss (this time around), scooping the Scottish Cup as well as the Scottish Premiership, both at the expense of Rangers.

They are keen to make Adam Idah and Paulo Bernardo's loan moves permanent this summer, with the former in particular having had a transformational effect on Celtic's attack.

Joining from Norwich in midseason, Idah scored 9 goals in 19 games and grabbed a further 2 assists, leading Rodgers to admit he wanted the 23-year-old to be signed permanently.

“Hopefully we can do something. He has a long-term contract at Norwich but he is definitely one I would love to bring back here. At 23 with the potential and quality he has I think he can really push on in his career.”

But their transfer business will stretch beyond loanees this summer, and they appear to have identified a potential gem.

Bhoys chasing ex-Real Madrid prodigy

Now, Celtic have been credited with an interest in Salernitana defender Flavius Daniliuc, who spent his formative years among footballing royalty. The defender, who has spent the second half of the season on loan with RB Salzburg, developed his skills at Real Madrid initially as an attacking midfielder, where he was singled out for his playmaking qualities before moving to the Bayern Munich youth set up on a free transfer.

In Bavaria, he played alongside the likes of Jamal Musiala, Joshua Zirkzee and Josip Stanisic at youth level, where he was converted to a centre-back after "having impressed there when the team was short of defenders".

Celtic set to approach "magnificent" £40k-p/w ace to replace double winner

He could finally end the transfer speculation at Celtic Park.

By
Ben Browning

Jun 11, 2024

According to Bayern Munich's academy boss Jochen Sauer, "he had very good technique” as an attacking midfielder, but "had a great presence in central defence, exuded confidence and conviction".

Though Bayern wanted to keep him at the club, he opted to leave in search of regular football, and after stints at Nice and Salernitana, he spent the second half of the season with Austrian giants RB Salzburg, making 11 appearances across their backline.

Now, reports from Germany [Via the Sun] claim that Celtic are monitoring his situation, with the Hoops "in the race" to land him this summer alongside Salzburg, who have an option to buy the player as part of the loan agreement from the now Serie B outfit.

With three appearances for Austria to date, Daniliuc is likely to want top flight football once more next season and Celtic could offer him that, along with a spot in next season's Champions League.

However, the 23-year-old could also return to his homeland on a permanent basis should he wish, which could be hard for the Hoops to rival.

Harry Kane's excellent finish pulled Bayern Munich level with Barcelona after seeing his side fall behind early in the Champions League on Wednesday.

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• Bayern fell behind vs Barcelona
• Kane had goal ruled out for offside
• Made no mistake with next effort

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barca found themselves ahead in the first minute when Raphinha was sent bearing down on goal before smashing past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Kane had the ball in the net less than 10 minutes later, but it was ruled out for offside.

  That was just a brief setback for the English forward, though, as he was soon found in the Barca again as he met Serge Gnabry's cross and pulled off an acrobatic finish to level matters.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The goal is Kane's 14th for Bayern this season, managing to reach the tally in just 11 matches in all competitions. The clash with Hansi Flick's team comes just days after he scored a third hat-trick of the season as Bayern beat Stuttgart 4-0 in the Bundesliga.

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• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

  Coach Vincent Kompany will hope the English forward can help create more goals for the German visitors as they look to earn a second Champions League win from three matches in the current campaign.

It was a hugely frustrating night for the away side as they met a solid Scottish defence at Hampden Park.

Portugal faltered in their most recent Nations League outing, drawing 0-0 away at Scotland.

It was a frustrating night for Roberto Martinez's men, who struggled with their finishing against the Tartan Army.

There were chances for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota, but the Al-Nassr man in particular did not have his shooting boots on.

Scotland also had their share of attacks, especially in the first half. Their pressing caught Portugal out a few times and Scott McTominay had a huge opportunity to score early on.

In the second half, it was virtually all Portugal, but for a few breaks from the hosts. Martinez introducing Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Neves gave his side total control, but they still could not find the breakthrough.

Overall, Scotland will be happy with the point, while their opponents will be frustrated with the result, ending their perfect start to the new Nations League campaign.

GOAL rates Portugal's players from Hampden Park…

• AFP
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Diogo Costa (7/10):

  Made a few big stops from what was a dangerous Scotland side in front of their home crowd.

  Joao Cancelo (6/10):

  Most of Portugal's attacking threat came down the opposite flank and Cancelo rarely made any significant contributions in his inverted role.

  Ruben Dias (7/10):

  Defended well enough and showed the same calmness that he does under Pep Guardiola to play around Scotland's press.

  Antonio Silva (7/10):

  Did not do too much wrong but was caught in between crosses a few times with Scott McTominay a constant threat in the box.

  Nuno Mendes (7/10):

  Was always looking to get forward and often beat his man, but also left his defence exposed on the counter-attack.

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• AFP
  

  Midfield

  Bruno Fernandes (5/10):

  Played a deeper role than he is used to at Manchester United and ultimately failed to carve the breakthrough Portugal needed.

  Joao Palhinha (6/10):

  Picked up his customary yellow card and patrolled the midfield but offered little in terms of creativity.

  Vitinha (7/10):

  Will go unnoticed but played a key role when it came to recovering the ball and starting Portugal's attacks.

• AFP
  

  Attack

  Chico Conceicao (7/10):

  Was a constant threat all night and covered every blade of grass while he was on.

  Cristiano Ronaldo (4/10):

  Did not have his best night, skying a few opportunities, having a few loose touches and cutting a frustrated figure in Glasgow.

  Diogo Jota (5/10):

  Was not seen often after picking up an early yellow card and was unsurprisingly taken off in the second half.

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• Subs & Manager

  Ruben Neves (7/10):

  Was not too involved as the visitors had all of the ball towards Scotland's box but looked sharp when he did pick it up.

  Bernardo Silva (8/10):

  Helped establish a period of continual attacks after coming on, with Scotland struggling to get out of their own half.

  Rafael Leao (8/10):

  Was bright when he came on, constantly running at his full-back and looking to get crosses in.

  Nelson Semedo (N/A):

  Did not have the desired effect in the final minutes.

  Joao Felix (N/A):

  Was never really given enough time to get into the game.

  Roberto Martinez (7/10):

  Made some good subs early on which tilted the game more in Portugal's favour and was ultimately let down by poor finishing on the night.

Leeds United have a busy summer ahead of them as they plot to secure promotion to the Premier League from the Championship at the second time of asking.

The Whites failed to make an instant return to the top-flight, following their relegation last year, as they were beaten 1-0 by Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley last month.

Daniel Farke led his team to a third-placed finish in the league and that meant that they had to go through the play-offs, and they beat Norwich 4-0 over two legs before falling short in the capital.

The German head coach will now have to navigate the upcoming summer transfer window to ensure that his squad is in the best possible position to attack the Championship once again.

Bundesliga side Bayern Munich have been touted with an interest in teen whiz Archie Gray, Wilfried Gnonto is said to be keen on a move to Italy, and forward Crysencio Summerville has been linked with Premier League giants Liverpool.

Central midfielder Ilia Gruev, per TEAMtalk, is also of interest to Borussia Dortmund and the club have placed a price tag of £15m on his head.

This means that Leeds could need a new midfield partner for Glen Kamara, and they are reportedly already in talks with a player who could fulfill that role.

Leeds United in talks to sign £3.4m starlet

According to Italian outlet il Resto del Carlino Sport, via Leeds United News, the Yorkshire-based outfit are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Reggiana attacking midfielder Natan Girma.

The report claims that Italian side Monza alongside English teams Leeds and Watford are all lining up moves to sign the 22-year-old ace, as Farke looks to bolster his options in the middle of the park.

It states that the Hornets and the Whites have already held talks with Reggiana and the player's representatives ahead of a possible summer transfer for the young whiz.

The outlet goes on to add that it could take an offer of up to €4m (£3.4m) to secure his services, and that any bids below €3m will not be considered by the Serie B side.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds are prepared to pay £3.4m, or a fee within that region, to add the dynamo to their ranks his summer.

If they do decide to push ahead and sign the Swiss maestro then they could land a player who could thrive alongside Kamara in the middle of the park at Elland Road.

Glen Kamara's impressive debut season with Leeds

Farke swooped to sign the Finland international from Scottish giants Rangers ahead of the 2023/24 campaign for a reported fee of around £5m.

The 28-year-old played a crucial role at the base of the midfield for the German head coach as his metronomic play in possession was key to how the team wanted to play.

Leeds looked to dominate the ball and dictate the play by having the majority of the possession, so that they could methodically break down their opponents, as they averaged 58.3% of the ball per game.

Kamara ranked within the top 2% of Championship midfielders for pass accuracy (92.7%), the top 10% for passes attempted per 90 (65.10), and the top 6% for progressive passes per 90 (6.87).

This shows that he was an outstanding passer in the second tier, both in terms of his ability to retain possession at an exceptional rate whilst also being progressive and forward-thinking in his use of the ball.

As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old metronome also ranked highly within the Leeds squad in a number of key in possession metrics.

No one was more efficient than him with the ball at their feet, as shown by his incredible pass accuracy, and he added a creative threat on top of that.

However, Kamara did end the Championship season with zero goals in 40 appearances (including the play-offs), which suggests that there is room to improve on that front.

Why Leeds should sign Natan Girma

Girma could now be brought in to thrive alongside the Finnish whiz as he has the quality to offer a box-to-box presence next to the metronomic former Rangers star.

The 22-year-old talent has the ability to offer a goalscoring threat from the middle of the park, to make up for Kamara's struggles at that part of the game, whilst also providing defensive cover in front of the back four.

Firstly, the £3.4m Leeds target scored five goals in 26 appearances in the Serie B for Reggiana during the 2023/24 campaign, and ranked within the top 14% of his positional peers for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.29).

This suggests that the Swiss wizard, who scored five goals in 21 games for Servette at U21 level, could provide goals from midfield to make up for Kamara's lack of threat in the final third as a finisher.

No central midfielder scored more than one goal in the Championship for the Whites this season, which suggests that Girma could add something that Farke's side desperately lacked.

Alongside his attacking prowess, the former Servette youngster is also an above average defender who can help to win possession back and cut out opposition attacks.

As you can see in the table above, he ranked above average among his positional peers in the Serie B in a variety of key defensive metrics, including tackles, interceptions, and aerial duels won.

These statistics suggest that Girma, who made zero errors that led to shots or goals for the opposition, offers quality in and out of possession for his side.

Leeds could land Rutter 2.0 as they eye swoop for "exciting" EFL star

The Whites are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal for the young whiz.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 8, 2024

Therefore, he could be the perfect partner for the metronomic Kamara as the Whites target could be a fantastic box-to-box midfielder to complement the Finnish ace's fantastic ball retention and passing quality in midfield.

Manchester United are reportedly stepping up their efforts to sign Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies but Real Madrid are leading the charge for him.

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• Davies out of contract in 2025
• Man Utd step up efforts to sign him
• Madrid lead the way for Bayern ace

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Canada international is into the last year of his contract at Bayern and now claims negotiations over a new deal there are 'stalling'. The report adds United made an enquiry about the 23-year-old earlier this month and their interest is becoming more concrete. However, Los Blancos still seem the favourites to recruit the left-back when his contract expires next summer.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Davies has, arguably, proven to be one of the best left-backs in the world over the past few years and his contract situation has attracted the interest of Madrid, United, and Barcelona, too. At the end of this season, he will be a free agent and will have a wealth of enticing options to choose from.

• WHAT HIS AGENT SAID

  Davies' agent, Nick Huoseh, told recently: "I will not throw insults around when discussing Alphonso's future. My priority is Alphonso's future. I have always said: If Bayern want to discuss something, we can talk about it in the boardroom."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Aside from transfer speculation on Davies' future, his Bayern side – who sit top of the Bundesliga – travel to basement team Bochum on Sunday afternoon, before rounding off October away at Mainz next Wednesday in the DFB-Pokal.

Ipswich Town have had great luck buying a number of Welsh gems in recent times, with both Wes Burns and Nathan Broadhead standing out as glowing examples in the current squad.

Both Burns and Broadhead, who were born in Cardiff and Bangor respectively, were key parts of the Tractor Boys puzzle that won promotion up to the Premier League as plucky underdogs, with a combined 27 goal contributions tallied up between them in the second tier.

This evident success, with Burns scoring a crucial goal on the final day of last season to secure a richly deserved promotion no less, could mean Ipswich shop in the Welsh market once more soon, with this Bluebirds youngster potentially taking their fancy.

Ipswich looking at young Cardiff midfielder

Football journalist Darren Witcoop took to social media in recent days to confirm Premier League interest is there for homegrown Cardiff prodigy Rubin Colwill this summer, with Ipswich outright named as an interested party.

Labelled as being 'admirers' in the 22-year-old attacking midfielder, Witcoop did reveal that Colwill is likely to stay put regardless of this new interest, but Ipswich might well be too tempting for the 6 foot 2 talent to resist, who has even reportedly had Arsenal sniffing around for his services in the past.

In and around the first team in the Welsh capital for Erol Bulut's men over a number of seasons, Colwill will also be intrigued at the prospect of testing himself in the division above, as opposed to sticking it out with the Bluebirds routinely finishing in mid-table.

How Colwill would fit in at Ipswich

Colwill could find it hard to break into McKenna's settled first-team, however, but he could shine alongside his fellow compatriot Broadhead when given a chance to impress, and also be direct competition to Conor Chaplin just behind the lone striker spot in that number ten role.

Colwill and Broadhead have even recently been together in the same Wales camp, in rather drab circumstances in a 0-0 draw versus Gibraltar unfortunately, but the 22-year-old could opt to move to Suffolk to link up with his international teammate at club level.

Ipswich would hope this connection would take Colwill up a notch on the pitch subsequently, with the exciting attacker registering nine goals and six assists when donning a Bluebirds strip, from 107 total games to date.

Not even a main starter for Cardiff a lot of last season, Colwill still managed to amass some encouraging numbers for his boyhood club regardless – as can be seen looking at the table above – with Ipswich now looking towards the 22-year-old as a way to add strength in depth to the attacking positions, with limited numbers at McKenna's disposal in Chaplin's spot in the side.

Colwill has played all across the attack for Cardiff when needed, even playing as a centre-forward on occasion, with McKenna and Co admirers of the 22-year-old's versatility presumably as much as his raw talent.

With a close-knit team environment crucial in Ipswich upsetting the odds to pull off back-to-back promotions last season, Colwill will hope he can instantly blend in if he does join, with a familiar face in Broadhead beside him.

Ipswich could sign a "top-class" Carter-Vickers alternative

Ipswich Town could forget all about Cameron Carter-Vickers and sign this centre-back gem instead.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 20, 2024

The out-of-sorts midfielder has been dropped from the Blues' starting line-up and faces a significant battle to regain his place

When Chelsea take to the field against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, Enzo Fernandez will almost certainly not be in the starting line-up. The strange thing is, that won't really come as a surprise.

A blockbuster £107 million ($132m at the time) signing from Benfica in January 2023, the midfielder is no longer a guaranteed starter under Enzo Maresca despite being made vice-captain in the summer, as the team seemingly evolves and progresses without him.

Consistently inconsistent, the Argentine finds himself in a funk and risks being left behind if he cannot find his place in the Italian's plans by rediscovering some his best form and, crucially, maintaining it.

• Instagram
  

  Worst possible start

  Of course, Fernandez was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons before a ball had been kicked this season; amid Argentina's wild Copa America victory celebrations in July, Enzo was the man holding the camera and bizarrely live-streaming as he and his compatriots belted out a racist and transphobic chant at the expense of France's national team.

  The song included the words "they play in France, but they are all from Angola" and "their mum is Nigerian, their dad is Cameroonian, but on the passport it says: French".

  A deserved backlash arrived quickly, as a number of his Chelsea colleagues – many of whom are of Afro-French descent – turned on Fernandez and unfollowed him on Instagram. Centre-back Wesley Fofana labelled the incident "unabashed racism".

  Fernandez inevitably apologised, claiming he "stands against discrimination in all forms" and apologised for "getting caught up in the euphoria". "That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my character or beliefs. I am truly sorry," he wrote.

  However, his actions still resulted in disciplinary action from Chelsea and a FIFA investigation. Although there were reports of a rift, his club-mates, including Fofana, eventually forgave him – but it would be remiss to say the debacle hasn't had some effect on him this season.

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  Midfield misfit

  On the pitch, Fernandez's performances this season haven't all been bad, but he certainly hasn't shown the level of consistency many would expect of a £107m player. Indeed, ahead of the trip to Man Utd he has lost his place in Maresca's so-called 'A team'.

  Fernandez had been a starter in the early part of the season, aided by Romeo Lavia's five-week absence as a result of a hamstring injury suffered after an impressive showing on the opening day of the Premier League season against Manchester City. However, now Lavia is back to full fitness, Fernandez has been dropped.

  The Belgian started the previous two league games against Liverpool and Newcastle, with Maresca tweaking his tactics in favour of more defensive solidity and in-form Moises Caicedo playing the role of the shuttling midfielder in the manager's preferred 4-3-3 shape, while Cole Palmer has, of course, been starring as a No.10. At present, it's hard to see how Fernandez fits.

  He certainly hasn't been the creative force Chelsea would have hoped in 2024-25, and arguably since he signed; a deep-lying playmaker, Fernandez is yet to register a league goal or assist this campaign, and his pass completion percentage in the league is concerningly low at 80.7. Meanwhile, there are question marks over whether he has the stamina and physicality to be effective as a defensive midfielder.

  The vast majority of Blues followers have backed Fernandez to the hilt in the belief that he will come good and become one of the best midfielders on the planet, with a damning recent statistical comparison of Chelsea's win rate with and without him (35% with, 81% without) swiftly rubbished. Patience, though, may soon run thin.

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  'It's a matter of balance'

  For his part, Maresca insists that he maintains faith in the midfielder and that his decision-making has been purely tactical. "I still trust Enzo," the head coach said in his press conference before the trip to Old Trafford.

  "There is not any reason in the world I can lose confidence in him. The reason why he is not playing in the Premier League is because at this moment I take a different decision. My confidence is 100% with Enzo.

  "In this moment, I know you are looking for some different reasons for Enzo [not starting], but it’s very simple. He’s not playing in this moment, we have so many games, he’s going to play for sure in the future. And it doesn’t mean Romeo and Moi are always going to play. At the moment one of them drops [their levels], probably we will change it."

  He added: "It’s a matter of balance. Romeo and Moi give us physicality and strength in the middle. This is why we found the option of Malo [Gusto] in the pocket. Otherwise, when we play with Enzo it has to be with one of Moi or Romeo, and Enzo moves forward we struggle in the middle for physicality."

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  Weight of expectation

  Maresca has previously stated that he believes Fernandez and, previously, Caicedo have both been suffering under the weight of the eye-watering £100m+ transfer fees Chelsea paid for their respective services in 2023, as the former arrived from Benfica in January and the latter was signed from Brighton in the summer.

  The head coach has openly admitted he feels the club made a mistake by paying that much and putting that expectation on the pair's shoulders.

  "The price does not have to be a problem for them, it’s something that the players can do nothing about," the Italian said recently. "Sometimes players feel under pressure because the club pay too much, but this is a big problem and is a weight on the shoulders which does not help the players."

  There is certainly some truth in that. Fernandez has always been fighting a losing battle in trying to live up to that price tag, and it's more likely than not that he never will with few players truly worth that astronomical sum. All Chelsea can hope for in the short-term is some consistency, with the 23-year-old more than capable of turning things around.