Jose Mourinho is open to the idea of taking over at Glasgow Rangers and is now on the lookout for his next managerial position after leaving Fenerbahce.
Mourinho departs Fenerbahce after Champions League exit
It has been confirmed that Mourinho has left Fenerbahce after 14 months in charge of the Turkish side. The iconic 62-year-old manager was sacked just six games into the 2025/26 season, with Fenerbahce failing to qualify for the Champions League after a qualifier defeat to Benfica.
A serial winner who has been in charge of huge European clubs in Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham and Roma during his career, it doesn’t appear as if Mourinho has any plans to retire just yet.
Jose Mourinho’s honours as a manager
Year won
FC Porto
Champions League
2004
UEFA Cup
2003
Liga Portugal
2003, 2004
Taça de Portugal
2003
Portuguese Super Cup
2003
Chelsea
Premier League
2005, 2006, 2015
FA Cup
2007
League Cup
2005, 2007, 2015
Community Shield
2005
Inter Milan
Champions League
2010
Serie A
2009, 2010
Coppa Italia
2010
Italian Super Cup
2008
Real Madrid
La Liga
2012
Copa del Rey
2011
Spanish Super Cup
2012
Manchester United
League Cup
2017
Community Shield
2016
AS Roma
Europa Conference League
2022
A move to Scotland has also been put to the ‘Special One’ in 2025, with Rangers going through more managerial struggles at this moment in time.
Mourinho actually faced Rangers in the 2024/25 Europa League Round of 16, with interim Gers manager Barry Ferguson getting the better of the Portuguese boss over two legs.
Jose Mourinho open to managing Rangers
Talking earlier in the year, Mourinho was asked if the possibility of asked of working in Scotland for Celtic or Rangers would interest him.
He was happy at Fenerbahce at the time but did admit he would be open to a move in the future, calling Rangers a “big club” with a “big fan base”.
Rangers currently have Russell Martin in charge at Ibrox, however, he has had a woeful start to life in Glasgow, with speculation surrounding his future after 10 games in charge.
The Gers also went out of the Champions League at the same stage as Fenerbahce, with Martin’s side humiliated by Club Brugge in a 9-1 aggregate defeat.
Mourinho is now available, so Rangers’ new owners the 49ers Enterprises may have the chance to offer him a move, should they part ways with Martin sooner rather than later.
Shreyas Iyer, who scored a match-winning 36-ball 59 in the first ODI against England in Nagpur, was originally meant to sit out the match. Iyer revealed this in a post-match interview with the broadcasters.India were without Virat Kohli, who was ruled out of the match with a swollen right knee, and they handed the opener Yashasvi Jaiswal an ODI debut. Rather than coming in for the injured Kohli, however, it has emerged that Jaiswal may have been part of India’s original line-up for the match, with Iyer, their regular No. 4, due to start the series on the bench.Iyer revealed that he only came to know he was playing via a late-night call from captain Rohit Sharma.”So, funny story,” Iyer said. “I was watching a movie last night, I thought I could extend my night, but then I got a call from skipper saying that you may play because Virat has got a swollen knee. And then [I] hurried back to my room, went off to sleep straightaway.”Related
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Asked about Jaiswal starting ahead of him, Iyer kept his answer diplomatic. “You know what you want me to say, but I’m going to keep it low-key and cherish this moment, the victory today.”Jaiswal’s addition necessitated a shuffle in India’s line-up, breaking up their regular opening partnership of Rohit and Shubman Gill, with Gill moving down to No. 3. It is as yet unclear who would have batted at No. 3 had Kohli also been available.Iyer has established himself as India’s ODI No. 4 over recent years, and was a vital member of their line-up during their run to the final of the 2023 World Cup, scoring 530 runs at an average of 66.25, with two hundreds including a 70-ball 105 in the semi-final against New Zealand. His strike rate of 113.24 was the best among India’s middle-order batters.The series against England is India’s last set of ODIs before the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19. India are set to open their tournament with a match against Bangladesh on February 20.It’s not yet clear that India’s original top order for Thursday’s match indicates how they are looking to line up at the Champions Trophy. With Jaiswal uncapped, it is possible they may have been looking to give him game time in this series to keep him ready to play in case India lose one of their regular openers. Gill’s move to the middle order could have been aimed at testing him out in that role should the need arise to replace a middle-order batter. Jaiswal’s left-handedness could also be a factor: there is no left-hand batter in India’s first-choice top six from the World Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur have not had a summer to remember since Ange Postecoglou lifted the Europa League after beating Manchester United at the end of last season.
The Lilywhites have only brought in two new senior players to bolster the squad, on top of Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel signing permanently, as Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus have both been snapped up, from Bayern Munich and West Ham United respectively.
Thomas Frank has, therefore, not had many reinforcements come through the door to bolster a squad that finished one place above the relegation zone in the Premier League in the 2024/25 campaign.
On top of the lack of recruits coming in, the new head coach has also lost James Maddison for the majority of next season after he suffered an ACL injury.
The England international is not the only player who is currently out injured, though, as Dejan Kulusevski is set to miss the first month of the new season after undergoing patella surgery.
Why Kulusevski's injury is a blow for Spurs
Whilst the Sweden international will not be out for anywhere near as long as Maddison will be, the left-footed star’s absence for the next four weeks or so will still be a blow for Frank.
The former Juventus winger is a quality operator on the wing and in the number ten position, which means that Spurs have lost a versatile, as well as a quality, option in the short term.
Kulusevski made 43 appearances in the Premier League and the Europa League combined last season, and showcased his ability on the ball in both competitions.
The 25-year-old magician has the quality to carve open opposition defences to create high-quality opportunities for his teammates on a regular basis, particularly in the Premier League.
Appearances
32
11
xG
4.23
0.87
Goals
7
1
Big chances created
9
2
Key passes per game
2.1
1.1
Assists
4
3
As you can see in the table above, Kulusevski created just over two chances per game on average for the team in the top-flight, but was only rewarded with four assists.
Meanwhile, no other Spurs player created more than 1.7 chances per game on average in the Premier League last season, which speaks to how important the Swedish star was as a creative force at the top end of the pitch.
That is why losing him to an injury is a blow for Frank heading into the opening month of the season, and also why the club need to be in the market for more attacking players.
Spurs place Ligue 1 star on their radar
Tottenham Hotspur fans should be pleased to read that the club are reportedly looking to bring in a player who could be a Kulusevski clone this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, Spurs have placed Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche on their radar as they look to bolster their squad before the end of the transfer window.
The reporter claims that the Europa League champions want to add more creativity to the group in the coming weeks because of the injury to Maddison, which will see him miss most of next season.
AS Monaco's MaghnesAkliouche
Vidal adds that Akliouche is viewed as a versatile and quality attacking option and that the club are monitoring his situation, but they have not submitted an official offer for his services as of yet.
It has previously been reported that Arsenal are also interested in the 23-year-old talent, who is valued at around £60m by Monaco, which shows that there could be some competition for his services.
Why Spurs should sign Akliouche
The Lilywhites should formalise their interest with an official bid for the French whiz because he could come in as a Kulusevski clone to ease the blow of losing him to injury, and to compete with the former Juventus man when he is fit.
Like the Swedish maestro, Akliouche is a versatile attacking player who can play centrally as a number ten or out wide on the right, drifting infield onto his favoured left foot.
As partially evidenced by his incredible overhead kick in the clip above, the £60m-rated star also brings outstanding technical quality at the top end of the pitch, much like Kulusevski does.
Akliouche, whose technical skills were hailed as “majestic” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored five goals and created a whopping 15 ‘big chances’ in 27 starts in Ligue 1 for Monaco last season, which means that he created six more ‘big chances’ than the Spurs man did in the Premier League.
Goals
5
Top 30%
Chances created
49
Top 10%
xA
7.85
Top 5%
Pass accuracy
84.9%
Top 20%
Successful dribbles
50
Top 9%
Assists
10
Top 5%
As you can see in the table above, the Spurs target was one of the most creative players in the French top-flight last season, as he ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of creative metrics.
These statistics suggest that Tottenham would be signing a player who can unlock opposition defences on a regular basis to create high-quality chances for the likes of Dominic Solanke, Kudus, Richarlison, and Tel to stick in the back of the net.
Maghnes Akliouche for AS Monaco.
Akliouche appears to have the potential to fill the creative gap left by the injuries to Maddison and Kuluveski, whilst being a clone of the latter for Frank to call upon throughout the season.
When both are fit, Akliouche and Kulusevski could fight for the same position and push each other to improve in training, creating real competitions for places within the squad to ensure that there is no complacency in the XI.
Frank's answer to Palmer: Spurs enter talks to sign "exceptional" £40m gem
Tottenham Hotspur appear to be about to make another huge move in the market to bolster Thomas Frank’s squad.
ByEthan Lamb Aug 9, 2025
It is now down to Spurs to act upon their interest by swooping in with an offer to sign the French talent before the end of the summer transfer window.
Liverpool have met a roadblock in their quest for greatness, and this one might prove insurmountable.
Time was when FSG were perceived as being misers, unwilling to fork out for the big targets that Jurgen Klopp wanted to advance his Anfield project.
But after this incredible summer of spending, who can argue against the Liverpool owners’ intent now?
Arne Slot won the Premier League in his first season at the club, finishing ten points ahead of second-placed Arsenal despite relaxing standards early, with the title wrapped up at the end of April.
But Liverpool’s rivals have also spent this summer, intent on dethroning the Reds. Though Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and the like have strengthened Slot’s first team and then some, there have also been several departures.
The latest of which looks set to be Darwin Nunez, who leaves Merseyside with a thick air of untapped promise.
Why Liverpool are selling Darwin Nunez
In all honesty, it doesn’t seem likely that sporting director Richard Hughes would cash in on Nunez and Luis Diaz, who joined Bayern Munich for £65.5m last week, without pre-established plans for some kind of dynamic attacking successor.
Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is that man. The Athletic’s David Ornstein has revealed that “there’s a very good chance” Isak will leave St. James’ Park this summer, with “his preference being Liverpool.”
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
Though Liverpool have already signed Ekitike, Isak has proven himself at the highest level, and the Sweden striker could certainly cohabit with Liverpool’s mobile attacking recruit.
The fact of the matter is that Isak’s relationship with Newcastle and Eddie Howe is broken, albeit not irreparable. This is Liverpool’s time to swoop in and sign “the best striker in the Premier League”, as Isak has been named by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher.
There are plenty of variables which could disrupt FSG’s marquee move, however, and not least of which is the Magpies’ £150m valuation of their number nine.
Liverpool begin plan for Isak alternative
According to L’Equipe, Liverpool are considering acting on their long-standing interest in Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola this summer, should a move for Isak fall through.
Paris St Germain's BradleyBarcola
The left-sided Barcola would be seen as a direct Diaz replacement, and is renowned as one of the brightest talents in French football.
PSG do not want to sell the 22-year-old and have valued him at €100m (about £87m), though Liverpool clearly have the funds, having seen a £110m offer for Isak knocked back last week.
Why Liverpool want Bradley Barcola
Two years ago, Barcola left Lyon and signed for PSG in a €50m package including add-ons. Across the 2023/24 campaign, he started slowly, but came alive last term, notching 42 goal contributions across all competitions (including the Club World Cup).
Renowned for his blistering pace and ability to manipulate tight spaces with quick feet and balletic whirls, Barcola would be a credit to the Liverpool project, instrumental across the Ligue 1 side’s earth-shattering quadruple campaign, winning their maiden Champions League title along with all the goods in France.
Given that Barcola ranks so highly against his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues and is considered to be a statistically similar star to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, as per FBref, it does feel like Liverpool could hit the jackpot if they complete a deal.
FFC Bradley Barcola Graphic
Analyst Ben Mattinson has even declared the Frenchman to be “one of the best left wingers in Europe”, having risen from prospect to prodigy since leaving Lyon for the Parisians.
Barcola’s one of those players best analysed through the eye test, because picking at his qualities through the data diminishes him. Even so, he chalked up quite the impressive return last season.
Most Goals + Assists from Top 5 League LWs (24/25 – all comps)
Player
Apps
Goals
Assists
G + A
Raphinha
57
34
25
59
Bradley Barcola
58
21
19
40
Vincius Junior
51
20
17
37
Cody Gakpo
49
18
7
25
Luis Diaz
50
17
8
25
All data via Transfermarkt
This blooming level of prolificness suggests Barcola could be the perfect Isak alternative, should Liverpool be forced into ending their interest in the 25-year-old.
Barcola might not be a centre-forward (though his dynamism lends itself to alternative roles across the frontline), but he would certainly arrive at Liverpool with the properties to replace Diaz, who Slot used as a makeshift number nine many times last term.
He’s fleet-footed, but there’s also the notion that he has more of a creative capacity than Diaz, and that could be used to establish him as a leading member of Slot’s Liverpool team.
Ekitike will need plenty of creative support as he attempts to find his feet in the English top flight, but then the France forward, 23, has been praised by football scout Jacek Kulig for his talents, the analyst saying, “he could definitely reach world-class striker levels.”
With this in mind, is it truly crucial that Liverpool complete a deal for Isak this summer? Liverpool, after all, have only Cody Gakpo as a senior option on the left wing now.
Rio Ngumoha is an incredible prospect, but he’s only 16 years old; chucking him into the deep end this season could derail the hype train.
Rio Ngumoha
Given that Gakpo is more of a goalscoring wide forward, focused on cutting inside and striking on goal, Barcola would provide Liverpool with the perfect contrasting foil, blending flair against economy of movement.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Barcola is viewed as a “world-class player” by those in the FSG offices after all.
So is Isak, but then, Carragher said on The Overlap that he doesn’t “want Liverpool to spend £150m on Isak”, citing such a fee as Kylian Mbappe-level money.
Given that Barcola would be affordable for a much cheaper, though still hefty, figure, Liverpool might want to push ahead with a deal for the PSG man, whose signature might just prove the more fruitful of the two.
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West Indies broke a 13-match losing streak and topped Group B to set up a semi-final against New Zealand
Firdose Moonda15-Oct-2024West Indies pulled off the biggest heist of this T20 World Cup and qualified for the semi-finals, against all expectation, and knocked one of the favourites, England.Having last beaten England in 2018, West Indies broke a 13-match losing streak and topped Group B to set up a semi-final against New Zealand in Sharjah. That year was also the last time West Indies played in a semi-final of the T20 World Cup.This is only the second time England have missed out on the knockouts of a T20 World Cup after being eliminated in the group stage in 2010. After wins in their first three matches, they were confident of making the final four this time. Instead, it is South Africa who join West Indies, with England’s net run-rate leaving them third in the group.West Indies win was made all the more remarkable because they were without former captain and veteran batter Stafanie Taylor, who is struggling with a knee injury. In her absence, Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph, found form and wiped away the bulk of the 142-run target. Matthews, playing in her 100th T20I, scored her 14th half-century in the format while Joseph, who had a career-best of 34 before this game, scored a 38-run 52. The pair shared an opening stand of 102 inside 13 overs and West Indies were on their way. This is the sixth time West Indies have successfully chased a total of 140-plus, and the second time since their record chase of 213 against Australia last December.England may have thought they had enough after Nat Sciver-Brunt’s half-century but lacked contributions from the rest of the order. To add to their worries, Heather Knight retired with a calf-injury on 21, with the score on 80 for 3, which halted the momentum England regained after they slipped to 34 for 3 in the seventh over. Afy Fletcher and Deandra Dottin, bowling for the first time in the tournament, took four wickets between them and conceded 37 runs in seven overs, which gave West Indies an advantage they carried through the game.West Indies’ whirlwind start West Indies’ youngsters Zaida James and Ashmini Munisar spoke to ESPNcricinfo a few days ago about their commitment to building a new legacy for West Indies cricket and almost combined to start that today. James, recovered from a blow to the chin, tossed her second ball up to Maia Bouchier, who tossed it up to Munisar at cover point but she shelled a straightforward chance. Bouchier went on to hit the first boundary of the innings and England were up and away until Matthews brought herself on to bowl. Danni Wyatt-Hodge hit her behind point for four but when she tried that a second time, Dottin lunged forward to take a low catch and West Indies had a breakthrough. In the next over, Alice Capsey was run out for one, chancing Dottin’s arm at her peril, and immediately after the powerplay, Bouchier skied Afy Fletcher to Qiana Joseph at extra cover. England were 34 for 3 in the seventh over and stunned.Nat Sciver-Brunt’s fifty was in vain for England•ICC/Getty ImagesKnight and Nat: steady then surge Sciver-Brunt survived an lbw review when she was on 2 when Fletcher pitched it outside leg, and went on to open her boundary count with lap over Shemaime Campbelle and that got England going. Knight bisected the extra cover and mid-off fielder for two overs in succession to take England to fifty and beyond. The pair then brought out the sweeps and England were running away with it at 79 for 3 after 12 overs when injury struck. Knight had treatment during that over but then left the field with a calf concern. At the time, the partnership was worth 46 off 36 balls, which was the only stand of more than 30 in the innings. Sciver-Brunt watched Amy Jones hand Dotting a catch at backward point and Charlie Dean pick out Matthews at mid-off as the 17th over started. She played an almost lone hand in scoring 14 runs off the 18th over and 13 off the 20th to register her 14th T20I half-century and taking England over 140.Most runs in an over and the highest powerplay score It took until the final group stage match to see some proper aggression upfront and it came from the team with the reputation to hit big, but not always the results. Matthews, who has registered scores of 10, 8 and 34 in the tournament so far and has not been as much of a presence with the bat, hit Lauren Bell over long leg for six off the second ball. She went on to score fours through fine leg and mid-off and the first over cost Bell – the most expensive of the tournament so far. Matthew owned opening over and her and Joseph rode their luck to take charge of the rest of the powerplay but not without some nerves.Joseph got off the mark with a thick outside edge between backward point and short third that went for four, then hit Sciver-Brunt to deep mid-wicket, where the ball went through Sophia Dunkley’s hands for four more. She settled in the next over and hit Charlie Dean for six before taking on England’s trump card Sophie Ecclestone for back to back boundaries. West Indies were 67 without loss in the powerplay, the highest of the tournament so far.England’s drops add up Dunkley’s drop was the start of one of England’s worst fielding performances recently as they put down five catches. In the fifth over, Joseph was on 31 when she skied Sciver-Brunt into the night sky and though Alice Capsey settled herself underneath it at point, she tried to catch it reverse-cup and dropped it. Then, on 35 in the eighth over, Joseph hit Sarah Glenn to mid-wicket, where Bouchier ran to her left but let it slip through her fingers. The ball followed Bouchier for a little while after that, and she did not collect cleanly at mid-wicket when Campbelle called Dottin through for a run. Bouchier berated herself and England were falling apart. According to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, there have been 75 dropped catches in the group stage of the tournament, and England have been responsible for nine, the third most of any side.
Nottingham Forest have now joined the race to sign a “special” £25 million international winger, according to a new report.
Nottingham Forest in contact to sign new striker after Jesus
The Reds have made two signings so far this summer, both of whom arrived from Brazilian side Botafogo. But given the club are looking to go deep into the UEFA Conference League as well as achieve further success in the Premier League, then Nuno Espirito Santo will be wanting more arrivals before the Premier League season gets underway.
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Igor Jesus, who is a striker, is one of the two players to arrive at the City Ground this summer, and he will join Chris Wood, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Emmanuel Dennis as the contracted forwards at Forest, but the latter could be free to leave the club given he has fallen down the pecking order. Meanwhile, Awoniyi’s return to action is unknown, and therefore, Forest are in the market for another centre-forward.
Inter Milan's Mehdi Taremi in action with Lazio'sMarioGila
According to recent reports abroad, Forest have made contact with Inter Milan over the signing of Mehdi Taremi. Fulham and Turkish outfit Besiktas were already in the race to sign Taremi, but the Reds have now added his name to the list, with all three teams making contact with Inter but are now waiting for the striker to decide his next move. He could cost any side as much as £6.8 million.
Nottingham Forest join Everton in race to sign "special" £25m winger
As well as looking at new forward options, the Reds are also looking at who could replace Anthony Elanga, and according to The Express, Forest have registered their interest in signing Ben Doak from Liverpool.
Unfortunately for Forest, they are not the only team from the Premier League interested in the winger, as Doak is a “leading target” for Everton, as they have made an enquiry, but the likes of Bournemouth and Crystal Palace have also submitted enquiries about signing Doak.
It goes on to add that Doak, who has earned six caps for Scotland to date, would be open to leaving Anfield this summer, after returning from his loan spell at Middlesbrough. The 19-year-old is out of contract next summer, and therefore, Liverpool could be open to letting Doak leave, should they receive an offer worth £25 million.
This is despite the fact he has played just 10 times for the Premier League champions, but Liverpool will see his loan spell at Boro as a productive campaign, as he scored three goals in 24 league games.
Apps
24
Starts
21
Goals
3
xG
4.40
Shots per game
1.1
Goal conversion
11%
Assists
7
xAG
4.52
Big chances created
7
Key passes
1.9
Successful dribbles
1.5 (40%)
Doak is a player who is admired by a lot of clubs, and it may not come as much of a surprise, given former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp labelled Doak “special”. Klopp said: “Special boy. Really confident, has something nobody else delivers, really, this kind of dribbling, this kind of straight-forward bravery, all these kinds of things.”
Chelsea’s second signing of the summer is through the door. Last week, the Blues completed a deal for Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, activating his relegation release clause and bringing him to Stamford Bridge, beating the likes of Manchester United in the race for his signature.
Now, signing number two is also in the building for Enzo Maresca and his squad. Centre-back Mamadou Sarr has made the move to West London from their sister club, Strasbourg, who were one of the standout clubs in Ligue 1 last summer. The defender has signed with the club for eight years and could be in line to play in the Club World Cup.
Sarr might not be the only defender Chelsea sign this summer. They are already linked with another centre-back.
Chelsea’s next centre-back target
So, it seems clear that Maresca is intent on strengthening at the back this summer. After the addition of Sarr, the Blues seem likely to pursue another defender, although they might not be in before the pre-Club World Cup deadline on Tuesday.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to a report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are set to make a move for Ajax and Netherlands international Jorrel Hato. They have reportedly ‘had contacts with Ajax in the last few days’ regarding a potential move for the Dutch talent.
Despite the contact and willingness to get a deal done, they will face stiff competition from Premier League rivals. Hato has ‘long been on the radars of both Arsenal and Liverpool’, with Newcastle United also showing interest.
Ajax Amsterdam's JorrelHatocelebrates after the match
They have all ‘asked for information on the player’ ahead of a potential summer move, which could cost as much as £42.3m.
Why Hato would be a good signing
Football scout Antonio Mango summed up just how good Hato is by describing him as “one of the best young talents in football”. Indeed, that is the kind of impression the 19-year-old has made during his short career so far.
Last season was a strong campaign by the talented young defender. He amassed 50 appearances for Ajax in all competitions, mainly playing as a left-back, but also slotting in at centre-back, a position in which he equally excels. He managed three goals and six assists in total.
To put into perspective the kind of player Chelsea are looking to sign, Hato was Ajax’s youngest ever captain back in November 2023, at the age of just 17. He has now skippered his boyhood club three times, showing incredible leadership at such a young age.
Hato might even be a better signing for Chelsea than their new defender Sarr. The 19-year-old France under-20 international is certainly an exciting addition, and impressed for Strasbourg under Liam Rosenior last season.
The youngster played 28 games in all competitions, with all but one of those appearances coming in Ligue 1. It was certainly a successful season for the new Blues defender, who helped keep ten clean sheets in the top flight of France as his side qualified for the Conference League.
However, Hato managed to keep more clean sheets in an Ajax shirt than Sarr managed for Strasbourg under Rosenior. The Dutchman played his part in 14 clean sheets in the Eredivisie last term.
When looking at the underlying data on FBref from Hato and Sarr’s campaigns in 2024/25, there are further numbers which suggest the Ajax star is a better player than the new Chelsea man. For example, Hato averaged 2.78 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, compared to 2.39 each game for Sarr.
Hato and Sarr – key stats in 2024/25 compared
Stat (per 90)
Hato
Sarr
Progressive passes
4.17
1.98
Tackles and interceptions
2.78
2.36
Blocks
1.22
0.99
Ball recoveries
4.51
3.73
Aerial duels won
1.77
1.14
Stats from FBref
It seems as though, for a talent perhaps better than Sarr, £42.3m is a steal for Hato. He has all the tools needed to make it to the very top, and the fact that he has already captained Ajax at such a young age is even more of a reason to sign him.
With the Blues looking to bolster at the back, this is a fantastic option for Maresca’s side, which can definitely add quality and potential to their defensive options.
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Birmingham City stole most of the headlines in League One last season by sealing a title success on a gigantic 111 points, but Wrexham also gained plenty of airtime themselves when clinching yet another promotion.
This was the Red Dragons’ third promotion success in a row, unbelievably, with Phil Parkinson the manager who has amazingly steered the Welsh giants back into the spotlight away from non-league obscurity, to now being one division below the Premier League.
Wrexham will know that their next step up to the Championship will be their most difficult jump to navigate so far, with plenty of new signings ready to enter the building to ensure the next step-up isn’t so difficult, which includes this exciting striker target potentially joining Parkinson’s ranks.
Wrexham now interested in former PL ace
As per an exclusive report from football journalist Graeme Bailey, Wrexham are now in the race to land Leeds United attacker Joe Gelhardt this summer.
Unfortunately, they aren’t just a lone suitor having a peek at the two-time Premier League goalscorer, with Chris Davies’ Birmingham also keen on landing a loan deal for the explosive centre-forward, as Leeds look to get rid temporarily after sealing their own dramatic promotion.
Leeds forward Joe Gelhardt.
Whilst the 23-year-old has found himself stuck on the periphery at Elland Road as of late, he still has plenty of plus points next to his name that will intrigue Parkinson and Co.
He could even be viewed as a better signing for Wrexham to make than the newly promoted side going after an injury-prone Danny Ings, with the soon-to-be free agent forward more known now for his lengthy absences away from the first-team, than his clinical finishing ability.
24/25
17
1
2
23/24
30
1
1
22/23
22
3
2
Why Gelhardt would be a better signing than Ings
Indeed, the table above makes for some pretty grim reading on the ex-Liverpool striker’s end, with Ings only managing five goals for West Ham over his last three unmemorable seasons.
Whereas, in Gelhardt’s defence – despite tumbling down the pecking order in West Yorkshire as of late – he has still proven he can cut it in the Championship when handed a chance to impress out on loan at Hull City last season.
This spectacular effort back in January would get the ball rolling for Gelhardt in his fresh location, with the ex-Hull number 30 going on to bag another four strikes in league action, away from just this wild shot looping over Paul Nardi’s head.
This will instantly put Wrexham at ease about whether the 23-year-old is well-suited to the demands of the Championship after barren patches of form at Leeds. On the contrary, Ings last played at the demanding level all the way back in 2014, with a concern brewing that he just doesn’t have the legs required to kick back into gear in the EFL.
Games played
22
Goals scored
5
Assists
0
Big chances missed
1
Big chances created
5
Total duels won*
5.2
To Wrexham’s relief, Gelhardt showed he has plenty left in his tank at Hull last season, with a bite present in his game too when winning 5.2 duels on average per Championship clash, away from also creating five big chances on top of his goal tally of five.
The newly promoted side have also been there and done that when it comes to veterans leading the line, as seen in Steven Fletcher being on their books last campaign, with the loan capture of the 23-year-old “wrecking ball” – as he was once labelled by Jamie Redknapp for his aggressive approach – signalling a newer approach centred on the future.
While Ings’ name might be more instantly recognisable, his best years seem to be behind him now.
When it comes to Gelhardt, however, plenty more could still be in the offing.
Big Rathbone upgrade: Wrexham still in race to sign "outstanding" PL star
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It might be over two decades since they won the Premier League, but Arsenal have had some sensational players represent them since then.
The likes of Cesc Fàbregas, Robin van Persie, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Alexis Sánchez were all near enough unstoppable on their day, even if they couldn’t deliver the club the biggest prizes.
However, perhaps the star who felt most likely to drag the North Londoners back to the pinnacle when he arrived was Mesut Özil.
The German playmaker was an unreal talent, but unfortunately, his Arsenal career fizzled out into nothingness, and now there’s a player in the current squad in danger of having the same happen to him.
Ozil's Arsenal career
On transfer deadline day 2013, Arsenal announced the shock £42.4m signing of Ozil – to fan delirium – and there was a level of hope that the former Real Madrid superstar would be the one to bring the glory years back to N5.
For the first few seasons, while there was no league title or European glory, the World Cup winner certainly delivered on his end of the bargain, racking up 61 goal involvements in his first three seasons and helping the club win some FA Cups.
However, as time passed, and especially after signing a new £350k-per-week contract, the former Werder Bremen gem seemed to become less and less effective.
In fact, once Arteta was appointed manager in 2019, the German superstar eventually saw himself frozen out of the team entirely, with fans and pundits alike lambasting his apparent lack of effort off the ball.
Eventually, after over a year of barely playing for the club, he left for Fenerbahçe for free in January 2021.
Ozil remains a popular figure with much of the fanbase today and left with an impressive tally of 44 goals and 75 assists in 254 appearances, but there is no denying that he left the club failing to achieve what many thought he would, and on a low rather than a high.
Unfortunately, a current Arsenal player might be falling down the same path this season, a player the boss should look to drop from the starting lineup for some time.
The Arsenal star emulating Ozil
On the back of Tuesday night’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, it would be easy to lambast the entire starting lineup for not playing well enough, but in retrospect, it wasn’t quite the battering some may try to portray it as.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Arsenal had their chances to score, and for much of the game, the likes of Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Bukayo Saka and David Raya did their jobs.
However, there was one starter who was as bad as everyone initially said: Martin Odegaard, who was anonymous at best and actively ruining attacks at worst.
The Norwegian fully deserved the 4/10 match rating he received from the Independent’s Jamie Braidwood, and the worrying thing is that it wasn’t a massively surprising performance either.
Yes, even though he picked up his second successive Player of the Year Award last season, the “frustrating” playmaker, as dubbed by podcaster Rohan Jivan, has been seriously poor all season, and as content creator Rimedi pointed out earlier this year, he’s just “not at the level.”
In all, the player who is supposed to be the team’s creative hub has amassed just 15 goal involvements in 39 games this season, which is undeniably underwhelming and feels eerily similar to Ozil’s slow decline.
As this collapse in form is showing no signs of reversing, Arteta should take him out of the team for the next game at least and start Ethan Nwaneri in the middle of the park, as he looked more likely to make something happen in just five minutes of action on Tuesday.
Appearances
39
Minutes
2982′
Goals
5
Assists
10
Goal Involvements per Match
0.38
Minutes per Goal Involvement
198.8′
Ultimately, Odegaard is an incredibly talented player, but at the moment, he is not showing it, and therefore, he should be dropped and given time to figure out what’s going wrong, lest his Arsenal career end the same way Ozil’s did.
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Wolves have made contact over the signing of a “brilliant” Manchester United player on a free transfer this summer, according to a new report.
Man Utd circling for Cunha after Wolves win at Old Trafford
Wanderers are sweating over the future of star man Mathues Cunha, with United looking like they are leading the race to sign him at the end of this season. The Brazilian has been such an impressive performer for Wolves, in what has largely been an underwhelming season for too many players, scoring 14 goals in the Premier League and once again shining in the recent 1-0 win at United.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhareacts
If Cunha does leave Wanderers this summer, a top-quality player needs to come in and replace him, and Chelsea’s Joao Felix has been mentioned as a loan target. The Portuguese hasn’t reached his potential, having won the European Golden Boy award back in 2019, but he could still be an exciting addition.
Aside from Cunha, there could be other exits at Wolves in the coming months, with Tommy Doyle expected to move on to pastures new, in order enjoy more regular playing time. Now, a well-known central defender has been backed to head to Molineux in the next transfer window.
Wolves make contact with Man Utd's Lindelof
According to the latest from Caught Offside, Wolves have “been in contact” with United centre-back Victor Lindelof over a summer move to Molineux. The 30-year-old is expected to leave the Reds Devils on a free transfer at the end of the season, and Wanderers are among a host of clubs who are keen on snapping him up. Fulham, Everton and West Ham are all mentioned in the report, too.
The £120,000-a-week Lindelof could be a shrewd signing by Wolves, even though his best days may arguably be behind him, hence United being willing to lose him on a free. The defender is a hugely experienced figure, making 277 appearances for the Red Devils and winning 71 caps for Sweden, while Fraizer Campbell lauded a performance against Everton last season.
“He was brilliant. He’s not let his man have time or space, [Jack] Harrison, who started on the right fot them, he’s a good player, he could have caused us a lot of problems, he snuffed that out. He did really well. That’s exactly what the manager wants. He wants people he can trust when he picks them, whatever position they play in, to do a job for him. He’s demonstrating that by playing left-back.”
There is a certain gamble Wolves would be taking in signing Lindelof, especially as he has had lots of injury problems at United, but the free aspect of the transfer would take out some of the risk element.
Wolves must rue selling sensational star who is worth £40m more than Cunha
Wolves sold a player in 2022 who is now worth around £100m
ByRoss Kilvington Apr 21, 2025
The Swede can come in and be a strong squad option for Vitor Pereira, putting his experience to good use and adding the much-needed depth that Wanderers crave ahead of what is hopefully a more positive 2025/26 campaign.