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When it comes to academies, few teams in the Premier League can match Chelsea.

While they do not always make it into the Blues’ first team, the number of top-flight footballers that come out of Cobham is staggering.

However, while the club have made an enormous amount of money from selling their academy stars, they have occasionally seen future superstars slip through their fingers, with Jamal Musiala being an example of this.

Fortunately, while Enzo Maresca is unlikely to ever get his hands on the German superstar, the club are closing in on a player who has won comparisons to him.

Chelsea target their new Musiala

As well as blowing teams away on the pitch, Chelsea have enjoyed a brilliant summer off of it, in the transfer market.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The board have backed Maresca in a big way by signing the likes of Joao Pedro, Jorrel Hato, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens.

Moreover, with just over two weeks remaining of the window, it looks like the Blues are planning to make at least one more addition to the team in the shape of a player previously compared to Musiala.

At least that’s according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, which has reaffirmed Chelsea’s intense interest in Alejandro Garnacho.

More than that, the report has revealed that the Blues are approaching a ‘breakthrough’ in negotiations for the Argentine and believe Manchester United will agree to a fee of around £35m before the window closes.

If this really is the case, then the West Londoners would have done incredibly well to sign a player as talented as Garnacho for such a low fee, especially as he’s been compared to Musiala.

How Garnacho compares to Musiala

So, before we get into some of the other positives to signing Garnacho, we should look at where this comparison to Musiala has come from, as some might describe it as a bold shout.

Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions in the 23/24 edition of the Champions League and came to the conclusion that the German star was the eighth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the United ace in the competition.

While that might not seem right to some, we can gain a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by taking a look at some of the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked closely.

Garnacho & Musiala
Statistics per 90	Garnacho	Musiala
Non-Penalty Expected G+As	0.44	0.44
Shots	2.39	2.36
Goal-Creating Actions	0.60	0.62
Tackles	1.21	1.24
Carries into the Final Third	2.42	2.47
All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 UCL Campaign

In this case, those metrics included things like non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots, goal-creating actions, tackles and more, all per 90.

These numbers point to a player who, when he’s at his best, is capable of being just as much a creator as a scorer of goals, and that is very much how people would describe Musiala today.

However, while comparison to someone as incredibly talented as the German is arguably reason enough to sign the 21-year-old, another reason the West Londoners should go out and get him is his output from last season.

For example, despite playing for a historically poor United side, the future “superstar”, as journalist Liam Canning once dubbed him, was still able to score 11 goals and provide ten assists in 58 appearances.

Ultimately, while Garancho is not on the level of Musiala at the moment, the fact that he’s capable of putting up numbers so similar to his is hugely encouraging, and if Chelsea can get the best out of him, they may just have a world-beater on their hands.

Shades of Cesc & Hazard: Chelsea in talks to sign "one of the world's best"

Chelsea could sign their new Fabregas & Hazard.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 15, 2025

It’s hard to predict how this season is going to go for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

On the one hand, Vitor Pereira proved himself to be a more than competent manager last year, and someone capable of getting more out of his players than you’d expect.

Yet on the other hand, the Old Gold have sold their two best players in Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha this summer, massively weakening both ends of the pitch.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom, as the club has made a couple of interesting signings themselves, and if reports are to be believed, they could be about to bring in a young phenom who could be the heir to Cunha.

Wolves target their new Cunha

While losing both Ait-Nouri and Cunha could be hugely detrimental to Wolves’ chances this season, the Old Gold have at least added a number of exciting talents to the squad who could be enough to keep them away from a relegation scrap.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Jhon Arias, for example, managed to rack up 17 goal involvements in 35 games last season, Fer Lopez racked up 11 in 37, and Jorgen Strand Larsen, whose loan has now been made permanent, scored 14 goals and provided five assists in 38 games during his debut campaign at Molineux.

Moreover, while some clubs would stop there, it appears as if the West Midlands outfit want to make at least one more signing before the window slams shut next month and bring in someone who could be the heir to Cunha.

At least that is according to a recent report from the Daily Mail, which claims Wolves are interested in Ben Doak.

In good news, the report has revealed that Liverpool are willing to sell the teenage sensation for a relatively reasonable fee of around £20m.

However, the less good news is that there could be quite a battle to land the Scotsman’s signature, with Leeds United, West Ham United, and Everton all credited with an interest.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Doak’s ability and massive potential, one worth fighting for, especially as he could be an heir to Cunha at Wolves.

Why Doak could be Cunha's heir

Now, the first thing to say here is that we are not suggesting that Doak is anywhere near the level of Cunha at the moment, nor will he likely be there within the next season or two.

After all, the mercurial Brazilian managed to score 17 goals and provide six assists in just 36 appearances for the Old Gold last season, and was arguably one of the most dynamic players in the Premier League.

However, just because it’s unlikely that the young Scotsman would be able to replicate the new Manchester United star’s output from the word go, it does not mean he couldn’t still be his long-term heir at Molineux.

We say this because the 19-year-old has shown plenty of potential over the last year or so, and has got plenty of people in the know very excited about the player he could become.

For example, while on loan with Middlesbrough in the Championship last season, the “explosive” ace, as dubbed by Danny Murphy, was able to score three goals and provide seven assists in just 1789 minutes across 24 appearances.

That means the potentially “generational” talent, as dubbed by analyst John Walker, averaged a goal involvement every 2.4 games, or every 178.9 minutes, in what was his first full season of senior football.

It’s not like he just got lucky either, as his underlying numbers are utterly superb.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the next best 14 competitions for carries into the penalty area, the top 2% for progressive carries and touches in the opponent’s penalty area, the top 6% for non-penalty expected goals per shot and more, all per 90.

Doak’s Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

Progressive Passes Received

12.65

Top 1%

Carries into Penalty Area

4.05

Top 1%

Progressive Carries

6.78

Top 2%

Shots on Target %

51.9%

Top 2%

Touches (Att Pen)

6.12

Top 2%

Progressive Carrying Distance

160.46

Top 3%

Average Shot Distance

13.60

Top 4%

npxG/Shot

0.16

Top 6%

Touches (Att 3rd)

30.93

Top 7%

Assists

0.35

Top 8%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

3.34

Top 11%

Penalty Kicks Won

0.05

Top 11%

Total Carrying Distance

246.56

Top 12%

GCA (Live-ball Pass)

0.46

Top 14%

Passes into Penalty Area

1.87

Top 17%

Carries into Final Third

2.58

Top 17%

Pass Completion %

79.1%

Top 18%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.56

Top 18%

Key Passes

2.23

Top 20%

All Stats via FBref

Ultimately, while there is still some way to go in his development, it’s clear that Doak is an immensely talented player, and in time could become as crucial to Wolves as Cunha once was.

Therefore, while it’s going to be a tough transfer to get over the line, the Old Gold should be doing everything they can to bring the young Scotsman to the West Midlands this month.

Related Wolves make formal approach for £45 million pair in potential double deal

The Old Gold could look to initiate two deals to bolster the ranks.

Posts BySean Markus Clifford Aug 11, 2025

With Aaron Ramsdale set to hand Newcastle United a much-needed upgrade between the sticks, PIF have now reportedly set their sights on another key defensive addition.

Newcastle ramping up business with Ramsdale deal in place

He may not be James Trafford, but Ramsdale is an England international who has played at the highest level at Arsenal and has a wealth of experience all throughout the Premier League. Set to welcome the Southampton star on loan with an option to buy, those at St James’ Park are about to get their first deal over the line since Anthony Elanga in what has been a transfer window full of frustration.

Having worked together during their time at Bournemouth, Eddie Howe will be well aware of the talent that Ramsdale has to offer his Newcastle side. It’s worth noting that it wasn’t so long ago that the England international was Arsenal’s first-choice in the middle of a title race against Manchester City. That’s the level he’s capable of and that’s the level he could offer Newcastle in the coming campaign.

But even Newcastle will admit that their spending simply cannot end there. Putting their potential Alexander Isak problem to one side for the moment, the Magpies still need another central defender this summer.

He's like Isak & Wissa: Newcastle in talks to sign "monster" £65m striker

Newcastle United target a new striker as their replacement for Liverpool-bound Alexander Isak

ByWill Miller Jul 30, 2025

It doesn’t look as though Marc Guehi will be the man to solve that problem, either. Despite eyeing his arrival since last year, Newcastle could once again lose out on a key target to a Liverpool side who are enjoying an almighty spending spree.

If that does prove to be the case, however, then PIF could move to sign an impressive alternative to the Crystal Palace man.

PIF now eyeing Piero Hincapie move

According to reports in Spain, PIF are now eyeing a move to sign Piero Hincapie if they fail to sign Guehi for Newcastle this summer. The Bayer Leverkusen defender is reportedly valued at just €40m (£35m), which is cheaper than the £45m that Crystal Palace are reportedly demanding to sell their own star defender in the next month.

At just 23 years old, there’s a valid argument that Hincapie would provide Newcastle with a better reinforcement than Guehi. The Leverkusen man boasts Champions League experience over the England star and even has an invincible Bundesliga title win to his name.

A “great player” and “aggressive” defender, according to former Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, Hincapie could prove to be quite the coup for Newcastle if they push on and secure his signature this summer.

In just under a day, Arsenal will finally be back on our screens.

Mikel Arteta’s side may have already played one friendly behind closed doors, reportedly beating Watford 2-0, but they’ll kick off their pre-season proper with a game against AC Milan in Singapore tomorrow afternoon.

It’ll be the first chance fans get to see some of the club’s stars back in action, and how some of the new signings are looking ahead of a season in which they surely have to win the Premier League.

However, we have a feeling that the match might be somewhat overshadowed by reports of a new addition preparing for his medical, an addition who could well be Arsenal’s new Ian Wright.

Arsenal closing in on their new Ian Wright

Usually, a club known for moving slowly in the market and often not doing enough business, this summer has been a real breath of fresh air for Arsenal fans.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

With still over a month to go until the window slams shut, the club has already announced the signings of Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Noni Madueke.

Add to that the reports that Cristhian Mosquera has now flown out to join the squad and the persistent links to Eberechi Eze, and this summer has the potential to be unprecedented for the North Londoners.

However, we’ve saved potentially the best news for last, as it looks like Andrea Berta and Co have finally secured the player fans have been clamouring for – someone who could be a modern-day Wright.

At least that is according to journalist Ben Jacobs, who has confirmed that Arsenal have now reached “an agreement with Sporting for Viktor Gyökeres.”

Jacobs has revealed that the Gunners will pay a fixed fee of €63.5m, which is approximately £55m, and then add-ons of about €10m, which is approximately £9m.

Moreover, the Swedish international is now expected to undergo his medical “within 24 hours”, and he’s ready to board a flight to join up with the squad at their pre-season training camp in Singapore. That final slice of information comes courtesy of journalist Miguel Delaney.

It’s a significant amount of money to spend on one player, but Gyökeres’ record is undeniable, and he has the potential to become a new Wright.

Why Gyökeres could be Arsenal's new Wright

Okay, so we know this is really quite the statement to make, as while he retired long ago, Wright is a bona fide legend of Arsenal Football Club and someone who was one of the very best strikers in his day.

However, even though that is a lot of pressure to place on his shoulders so soon, there are some undeniable similarities between him and Gyökeres, and we do think the Swede could have a similar impact.

The first is that both players joined, or will be joining, the Gunners relatively late in their careers, which is unusual.

When he completed his move to Highbury in 1991, from Crystal Palace, the Englishman was 28 years old, and when the Sporting CP star finally puts pen to paper this week, he’ll be 27.

Moreover, we think the Stockholm-born “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, could follow in the 61-year-old’s footsteps because he’s more than proven himself to be an absurdly prolific goalscorer over the last two years.

For example, since moving to Lisbon in the summer of 2023, the former Coventry City star has scored 97 goals and provided 28 assists in 102 appearances, totalling 8417 minutes.

In other words, the outrageously dangerous forward has averaged 1.22 goal involvements per game for the last two seasons, or one every 67.33 minutes.

Appearances

50

52

Minutes

4169′

4248′

Goals

43

54

Assists

15

13

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

1.28

Minutes per Goal Involvement

71.87′

63.40′

Now, while there is a chance that his exploits in front of goal don’t quite translate in English football, even if he can manage 50% of what he did in Portugal, we see no reason why he couldn’t end up matching Wright’s incredible record of 185 goals and 31 assists in 288 appearances.

Finally, both players are right-footed, so there is a very good chance we will see the Sporting ace replicating some of the goals the forward scored back in his day.

Ultimately, while it’s a bold prediction, we see no reason why Gyökeres couldn’t follow in Wright’s footsteps at Arsenal and become the prolific striker they’ve needed for years.

Shades of Bergkamp: Arsenal keen on signing £60m "superstar" after Gyokeres

Arsenal could seal their new Dennis Bergkamp this summer.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 22, 2025

Things are moving apace. Liverpool have already replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold with Jeremie Frimpong and are advancing with deals for Florian Wirtz and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.

Talk about a show of intent. Talk about ambition. FSG have faced their criticisms across their time at the head of the Liverpool table, but the American owners are backing Arne Slot to the hilt this summer after the Dutch coach secured a Premier League title in his first term at the helm.

With a much-anticipated move for Wirtz, which could rise to a British-record £116m, set to be finalised in the coming days, hopes are morphing into expectations that the Reds will be right there in the title battle next season, throwing the heaviest punches and swerving the blows from Arsenal, Manchester City and the like.

What, then, should be Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes’ next move in the transfer market? Well, for all Anfield’s impressive dealings, the glaring point of contention still hasn’t been addressed: Liverpool need to part with Darwin Nunez and bring in a new number nine.

Why Liverpool need to sell Darwin Nunez

As far as statement signings go, Liverpool usually hit the nail on the head. However, Nunez has proven to be a blot on the copybook, never living up to the fixed £64m fee and actually regressing under Slot’s jurisdiction.

24/25

47

7

7

23/24

54

18

15

22/23

42

15

4

Back in February, Slot stated he “can’t accept” Nunez’s work rate following a slew of games which had turned little personal reward for the Uruguayan. Previous versions of the 25-year-old invariably provided a tenacious

A maverick, Nunez is powerful and instinctive, but consistent finishing has always eluded him throughout his time on Merseyside, and if it were not for Mohamed Salah’s extraordinary 2024/25 campaign, the striker’s woes might have been hung under a brighter, more blinding light.

Salah scored 34 goals and assisted 23 more across all competitions last season. Extraordinary. The Egyptian King turned 33 this month, though, and needs a more reliable frontman to keep him performing at his peak.

Well, Liverpool are acting with ambition, hoping to sign a star who might just prove to elevate the legend. Who knows, he may even surpass Salah’s greatness.

Liverpool line up new striker

According to Ben Jacobs for GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool are ready to place a record-breaking bid for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak this summer.

Liverpool’s current interest in the Sweden striker can be traced back to the start of March, when The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirmed the Reds had him at the top of their shopping list.

The Magpies, who won the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League last term, would want north of £150m for Isak, but GMS claim FSG would be willing to offer £100m plus add-ons, which would eclipse the fee agreed for Wirtz.

How Isak could surpass Salah at Liverpool

Liverpool need a striker, all right, and Isak is their dream target. If sporting director Richard Hughes could pick any number nine across the globe, this is the man he’d move for.

Coming off the back of a 27-goal campaign with Newcastle, Isak, who has been hailed as “the best striker in the world” by analyst Raj Chohan, could be the most incredible addition to a Liverpool side already jam-packed with attacking quality.

Isak’s prowess, always improving, could even see him become a goalscoring machine under Slot’s wing above that of Salah, whose 34-goal season was frankly ridiculous.

24/25 – Newcastle

42

27

6

23/24 – Newcastle

40

25

2

22/23 – Newcastle

29

11

3

21/22 – Sociedad

41

10

3

20/21 – Sociedad

44

17

2

Moreover, his unique approach to the attacking game could see him reach that pedestal on which Salah perches, surmounted above the rest of the Premier League’s attacking talent.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 16% of strikers last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.

This protean attacking quality could see him join the likes of Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres as one of the most complete and electric number nines the Premier League has ever seen.

Would this make him a more dangerous forward than Salah? Who knows, but Isak definitely has the perfect style to dovetail into Slot’s system and bring a new level of direct goalscoring threat.

And it must be said, Liverpool have certainly felt the force of the Sweden striker’s skills, Isak having scored a stunning goal against them at St. James’ Park last year before bagging in the Carabao Cup final, a strike which proved definitive.

But it’s not just his goalscoring. Isak has the capacity to outstrip even Salah’s ridiculous goal per game rate at Liverpool (0.61), with his Newcastle average currently at 0.57.

As he continues to go from strength to strength, Isak could hit a truly staggering flow, especially given that he would be playing among some of the best in the business (including Salah, whose playmaking has hit another level over the past couple of years).

Whether Isak would finish a potential Liverpool career with a greater legacy than Salah is tantamount to splitting hairs. In all likelihood, he’d fail on that front, for Salah has transcended pure quality on the field to immortalise himself in Liverpool lore.

However, Isak’s ability to score is a special thing – pundit Alan Shearer has described him as a “world-class assassin” – and if signed to the Liverpool cause and allowed to foster relationships with Salah and Wirtz, his goalscoring record could form something not witnessed on Merseyside.

Huijsen was better: How Spanish media rated Trent's first game post-Liverpool

Trent Alexander-Arnold made his debut for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 19, 2025

Responding to the abject failure of Tony Mowbray returning to the West Bromwich Albion hot-seat, the Championship outfit has gone down the more modern, if untested route of appointing Ryan Mason.

Of course, the Baggies have excelled in the past when going after a manager once regarded as a second-in-command figure, with Carlos Corberan a background figure at Leeds United himself before succeeding at the Hawthorns, much like the 33-year-old was at Tottenham Hotspur.

Mason will hope no high-profile exits are signed off on during the early stages of his tenure, with Mowbray having to deal with the major exit of Alex Palmer at the start of his choppy second stint.

Ultimately, the loss of Palmer – among other factors – contributed to West Brom’s promotion campaign being derailed.

Palmer's demoralising sale

The Kidderminster-born goalkeeper would have to be patient waiting it out for senior chances, but when he became the Baggies’ main number one under Corberan, the 28-year-old never looked back.

The 2023/24 season would see Palmer start every single league clash under the Spaniard’s wing, resulting in the gloveman collecting a mightily impressive 18 clean sheets along the way, whilst also only leaking 48 strikes in total.

He entered the following campaign overflowing with confidence, therefore, with Palmer only shipping 27 league goals across 30 second-tier matches before Ipswich Town came calling.

Unfortunately, instead of sticking with their dependable stopper, West Brom would cash in, as Palmer left his boyhood club behind mid-season for £2m.

Games played

16

Wins

5

Draws

4

Losses

6

Goals conceded

20

Clean sheets

3

Whilst the 28-year-old attempted to fit in at his new Suffolk location, the wheels came off West Brom’s promotion mission drastically, with only three clean sheets coming the Baggies’ way after Palmer’s departure, alongside only five league wins being tallied up.

West Brom cannot deal with another demoralising exit of this fashion if they want to mount a serious promotion charge under Mason.

But, they could be heading to another Palmer situation.

West Brom must not sell "outstanding" star

Murmurs have died down regarding Tom Fellows leaving the Baggies this summer, which will be music to the ears of West Brom fans and Mason alike, considering he notched up 14 assists in league action last season.

Yet, the summer will still bring about a lot of anxiety regarding the situation of Isaac Price, with a new report from SportsBoom speculating that the recent January buy could already be heading for the exit door as a Jobe Bellingham-depleted Sunderland circle for his services.

Price had hardly any time to show off his excellence for West Brom last season – especially as he joined Mowbray’s camp amid the Baggies’ promotion hopes falling off a cliff – but he has shown this off-season what he’s all about when curling home efforts like the one above on the international stage for Northern Ireland.

Off the back of his continued brilliance for his country, scout Jacek Kulig has labelled Price as “fantastic”, with Mason perhaps the manager to get even more out of the promising 21-year-old, having worked closely with Spurs’ rising stars when located in North London.

There is still plenty to come from Price at the Hawthorns, with the former Everton youth product at least managing to get off the mark with a single goal and assist from 15 league appearances last season, even as his new employers regularly slipped up.

Therefore, instead of selling him to the likes of Burnley or Sunderland before he reaches his full potential, the Baggies must keep a firm grip on their “outstanding” youngster, as his ex-Toffees teammate Asmir Begovic once labelled him.

Further lauded as “smooth” when gliding forward by Mowbray, patience must be exercised on the end of West Brom with their rising star, especially now that a youth-oriented boss such as Mason is in charge.

If he comes good, he could well be a key player if promotion is to be clinched.

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West Bromwich Albion could soon snap up their next Jed Wallace by landing this experienced Championship performer.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 16, 2025

Celtic have brought the curtain down on another successful campaign at Parkhead and could now be set to let go of one of their long-serving stars, per a report.

Change could be in the wind for Celtic this summer

Brendan Rodgers will feel disappointed that his side weren’t able to see a domestic treble over the line, but a double and tangible progress in the Champions League isn’t to be sniffed at in the grand scheme of things.

Nevertheless, the end to a long campaign has come at a good time for Celtic, who are already beginning to make decisions on the personnel that will prop up their talented squad next term.

Greg Taylor is now out of contract and may depart following an excellent six years of service, while talks are ongoing to resolve Jeffrey Schlupp’s future at Parkhead as his loan spell draws to a close.

Given his parent club Crystal Palace are currently paying him £60,000 per week, it remains to be seen if a deal will be thrashed out to take the Ghana international to Glasgow on a permanent basis.

Looking ahead, Rodgers has urged Celtic to use their Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen as fuel for next season: “Looking at the bigger picture, we won the league title, won the League Cup, sadly we just couldn’t go that next step. It’s been a really good season for us. This will hurt. That’s your motivation, that drives you going into next season.”

Celtic could sign Idah upgrade in £40m star who's "guaranteed goals"

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ByDan Emery May 25, 2025

Supporters will hope that extends to their transfer business, and they are already beginning to make tough decisions if recent reports are anything to go by.

Scott Bain set to leave Celtic on free transfer

According to The Herald, Scott Bain is set to be allowed to leave Celtic on a free transfer despite having a year left to run on his contract at Parkhead.

The 33-year-old will now seek first-team football elsewhere after becoming a distant back-up option to Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo between the sticks.

Scott Bain’s trophy-laden career at Celtic

Appearances

78

Clean sheets

40

Trophies won

7x Scottish Premiership, 5x Scottish Cup, 4x Scottish League Cup

Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan is out of contract and is set to replace Bain at Celtic, which will help their homegrown quota in line with UEFA squad registration rules due to being a club-trained player.

Cutting his deal short may be an abrupt end to former Dundee star Bain’s time in Glasgow, but he has enjoyed some memorable success and filled in admirably when called upon by Neil Lennon, Ange Postecoglou and current boss Rodgers.

However, he hasn’t played a single minute since a 3-2 victory over St Mirren at the tail end of last campaign, so it makes sense for the former Scotland international to try his luck as a number one elsewhere.

Despite the new owners not being situated at Ibrox just yet, Rangers’ summer rebuild starts now.

After their bitter rivals were crowned Premiership champions for the 13th time in just 14 seasons on Saturday, those from across the city have plenty of work to do over the summer to bridge that gap.

The 17-point chasm that exists at the top of the table is despite the fact Rangers have won both Old Firm derbies in 2025, 3-0 winners at Ibrox in January and 3-2 victors at Parkhead in March, with the latest Glasgow derby coming up on Sunday.

Off the field, the Light Blues could soon have new owners, Paraag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises seemingly set to complete his 51% takeover imminently, with big summer signings promised, including the potential arrival of a “special” youngster from within the SPFL, finally filling the void vacated by the club’s best striker of the modern-era; Alfredo Morelos.

Alfredo Morelos' Rangers career

Back in 2017, two days before his 21st birthday, Morelos joined Rangers from Veikkausliiga champions HJK Helsinki for a reported fee of £1.5m, and what a bargain this would prove to be.

Nicknamed el Búfalo, the Colombian striker was a key figure as the Light Blues went from a laughingstock to Premiership title winners under Steven Gerrard, as outlined by the table below.

Appearances

269

Goals

124

Assists

57

European goals

29

Goals vs Celtic

3

League titles

1

Scottish Cups

1

Red cards

8

As the table suggests, Morelos especially excelled in UEFA competition, breaking Ally McCoist’s all-time club-record for most goals scored in Europe, six of his 29 coming in 2021/22, as the Gers made it all the way to the Europa League Final.

Many supporters would argue the Colombian has never been properly replaced, but could that be about to change?

Rangers' interest in the SPFL's most in-demand striker

According to a report by The Chronicle, Rangers are ‘tracking’ Heart of Midlothian striker James Wilson, with both Celtic and Newcastle United reportedly interested too.

Matthew Lindsay of the Herald describes Wilson as a ‘gifted young striker’, claiming that Hearts fear losing him for an ‘absolute pittance’, valued at around £1m.

So who is he, and why is he in such demand?

Well, let’s take a look at his statistics to help answer this question.

Age

18

Age of debut

16

Appearances

31

Minutes

1,549

Goals

6

Assists

2

Despite only making his debut as recently as January 2024 against The Spartans, Wilson has established himself as a regular in the Hearts first team.

Indeed, he’s already scored in an Edinburgh derby at Easter Road in October before opening his European account at Tynecastle against Petrocub Hîncești in the Conference League a couple of months later.

The teenager was also sent off for a high-tackle on Dundee United’s Luca Stephenson last month, which is a very Morelos thing to do isn’t it?

In a more positive development, back in March, Wilson was handed his senior international debut by Steve Clarke against Greece during a UEFA Nations League tie at Hampden, becoming Scotland’s youngest-ever male player, breaking John Lambie’s record that had stood for a staggering 138 years.

Teammate for club and country Craig Gordon described Wilson as a “great talent” and “pretty special”, believing “he’s going to go really far”, while Hearts left-back James Penrice praised the teenager’s “brilliant season”, adding “I’m very impressed with him”.

So, it’s easy to understand why he is in such high demand.

Thus, if Rangers are able to get their hands on Wilson, could he replicate Morelos’ time at Ibrox?

Like the great Colombian, he’d be arriving as a youngster for not very much money, but potentially making a huge impact by scoring a high number of goals.

Kris Boyd 2.0: Rangers lining up move for "pretty special" SPFL talent

Rangers are eyeing up a young striker who could be the club’s new Kris Boyd.

ByDan Emery Apr 30, 2025

The offspinner showed her versatility with the ball but it was not enough to take RCB past Capitals

S Sudarshanan11-Mar-20242:53

Perry wants RCB to win the ‘little moments’ moving forward

If a picture could capture agony and ecstasy in one frame, it was that final moment of the match between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday night.Richa Ghosh was down at the non-striker’s end after a sprawling dive. She had willed every ounce of power from her body, but fell inches short. Shreyanka Patil was at the other end of the pitch, with the stumps disturbed and the ball lying close by. She did not want that moment to happen. Both had their heads buried on the ground, tears flowing uncontrollably.And not too far off from the two were the Capitals players – relieved and full of smiles. They were hugging each other, sharing high-fives and jumping with joy. They had managed to secure a playoffs spot for the second successive season, this time with a one-run win against RCB, who are still in contention.Capitals were faced with yet another thrilling contest – twice in two games now. They had come out at the wrong end the last time, but not this time, despite RCB being in command for the last half hour. So they knew what Ghosh and Patil were going through.Ghosh’s heroics helped RCB get close after they needed 40 from 18 balls. She exhibited her power and big-hitting chops to score a 29-ball 51 – skills that make her indispensable in India’s T20I set-up as a finisher. That RCB got so close was also down to Patil’s spell earlier in the evening.Related

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Patil showed why she is rated highly in T20 cricket by picking up 4 for 26. She had an economy rate of 6.50 when the opposition scored at just over nine – a creditable feat in itself.A niggle had kept her out of RCB’s first two games of the Delhi leg. She was “fighting it out to be match fit” in the past few days, according to her captain Smriti Mandhana, and returned to the XI on Sunday. The match was not played on the centre wicket, which meant one square boundary was shorter (46m) than the other (63m), and Capitals had raced along to 55 for 1 in seven overs when she was brought into the attack.Patil had switched to being an offspiner – having tried her hand at fast bowling, legspin and wicketkeeping – after seeing there weren’t too many of those in the Karnataka Under-14 trials, and one of her strengths right from those days was her pace. Earlier, most spinners in the women’s game focussed on slowing the pace down. But Arjun Dev, Patil’s coach and mentor, made her understand how she can use it effectively.3:14

Takeaways: Jemimah Rodrigues 2.0 powers Delhi Capitals

That Patil is one of the smartest spinners in the Indian circuit is an open secret. She provided an early glimpse of those smarts with her first wicket, when she varied her pace to catch the batter, Meg Lanning, no less, off guard. With the shorter boundary to the off side, she started from around the stumps, but erred by tossing one up outside off at 73kph. Lanning, who came into the game on the back of three successive fifties, duly lofted it over mid-off to pull the first punch. Patil responded by using pace to her advantage and slipped in the next one at 84.7kph on a length while getting it to spin in a touch. Lanning went back for the pull but missed it and was hit on the back leg, adjacent to middle.Most of Patil’s wickets on the evening were about dangling the carrot with a flighted ball before slipping in the quicker one to outsmart the batter. That Mandhana always bowled her with the longer boundary to the leg side made her job a little easier, allowing her to concentrate on one-upping the batter. Like she did when Jemimah Rodrigues backed away to go over the off side and was met instead by a yorker that she couldn’t get under.A ball later, Rodrigues tried to move towards off to sweep one past short fine leg. But Patil slipped in a very full ball, catching her by surprise. Rodrigues could only drag it back onto her stumps. That dismissal helped RCB end the 97-run stand between Rodrigues and Alice Capsey for the third wicket.Patil then struck twice in the last over. Capsey was on 48 and was in a belligerent mood at the start of the over. Her first instinct was to charge down the track to attack the spinners, and if not, just stand and loft them over the infield. With the field up on the off side, Capsey backed away to a length ball that landed outside off. But it kept coming in and she couldn’t make any contact and was bowled. Patil had fired it in quicker at 86.5kph.Three balls later, she enticed Jess Jonassen out of the crease with a flighted one to have her stumped. Thanks to Patil’s three wickets in two overs, RCB only gave away 38 runs in the last four overs and kept Capitals to 181 for 5.Patil earned special praise from her captain after the game: “Sometimes when you lose, you don’t credit it enough, but Shreyanka’s last two overs were brilliant, the way she bowled, especially the last over,” Mandhana said. “She was not dropped but she had a niggle. A player of her quality, there is no choice of dropping her. She showed a lot of character after the niggle she had.”Patil was inconsolable after the finish. The tears didn’t stop even when she shook hands with the players and walked towards the dugout. Patil and RCB still endure an agonising wait for playoffs qualification.

Hosts batted 171.4 overs, as Australia debutant Mitchell Swepson finished with 0 for 156, third-worst for a bowler on debut

Sampath Bandarupalli16-Mar-20221 Number of instances of a team batting longer than Pakistan’s 171.4 overs in Karachi in the fourth innings to save a Test. England faced 218.2 eight-ball overs during a 696-run chase against South Africa in 1939. Pakistan’s 171.4 overs is also the fifth-longest by a team in the fourth innings of a Test.Highest scores by a captain in the fourth innings of a Test•ESPNcricinfo Ltd408 First-innings lead for Australia in this match. Only on five occasions in Tests has a team held a higher first-innings lead before settling to a draw. The highest is 563 runs by England against West Indies in the 1930 Kingston Test.