da mrbet： While the dream for many Arsenal fans this summer will be to see Alexander Isak arrive in a big-money deal, the fact of the matter is that he feels pretty untouchable.

da realsbet： A reported £150m asking price has been slapped on his head and despite Mikel Arteta’s need to strengthen in attack, it’s unlikely you’ll see the Gunners fork out that amount of money, particularly considering they need fresh faces in other areas of the pitch too.

It perhaps explains why they’re currently working on a deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres, then. Reports in recent days suggest that they are in talks and an agreement may well be close.

But, if that move doesn’t come to fruition, attention could be turned to Benjamin Sesko and one other alternative.

Arsenal could sign £59m Sesko upgrade

Last summer, it looked as though Arsenal were going to sign Slovenian centre-forward, Sesko.

The striker had a release clause at RB Leipzig and despite interest from the north Londoners, he penned a new contract in Germany and decided to stay another year.

Well, a year on, Arsenal are still interested in the 21-year-old, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein noting earlier in the week that they have done a lot of work to potentially sign the player.

The player still has a release clause with certain conditions, meaning it could see Arsenal pay in the region of £67m.

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If they are seeking a cheaper alternative, then they need to look no further than Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy.

England’s elite clubs have all been presented with the opportunity to sign the striker this summer as according to German publication, BILD, the player has a release clause of £59m, which can only be triggered by a certain set of teams.

Those clubs are Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Barcelona.

It’s a strange situation but due to the nature of the release clause, if any of the sides above submitted a bid of £59m, Dortmund would have no choice but to accept.

How Guirassy compares to Sesko

Sesko, described as “the new Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig is clearly one of the most promising and exciting young strikers in the game right now.

In the Bundesliga, he’s scored 13 goals in 33 matches and registered a further eight across other competitions. It’s a solid tally considering his age, but Arsenal want to win now. Thus, signing Guirassy for a cheaper fee may well be the answer.

After all, when it comes to finding the net, he’s certainly more prolific. Aptly described as a “goal monster” by journalist Michael Adjei, also playing in Germany’s top-flight, Guirassy scored 21 in 30 league outings this season.

In all competitions, the 29-year-old has found the net on 34 occasions in 45 fixtures. While he was a menace domestically, it was in the Champions League where he racked up some astonishing numbers.

Guirassy most notably scored a hat-trick in the quarter-finals against Barcelona, which were three of 13 goals he scored in 14 European ties this season. He’s a man for the big occasion and being in his prime, he’s ready to help Arsenal now. Unlike Sesko, he’s not a project striker.

So, where else does he beat the Slovenian? We’ve crunched the numbers.

Guirassy vs Sesko in 2024/25 (league only)

Metric (per 90 mins)

Guirassy

Sesko

Goals

0.73

0.49

Assists

0.14

0.19

Shots

2.98

2.50

Pass success %

73%

68%

Key passes

0.87

0.72

Progressive passes

1.52

1.74

Successful take-ons

0.38

1.48

Aerial duels won

3.77

2.65

Stats via FBRef.

Analysing certain metrics, it’s no surprise to see that Guirassy is more dangerous in front of the goal considering he takes more shots. He’s also involved in the build-up play, registering more key passes every 90 minutes.

Sesko is certainly the more progressive and quicker of the two, certainly judging by the number of take-ons he achieves, but what’s crucial for the way Arteta uses his centre-forwards is that Guirassy trumps the Leipzig sensation for aerial duels won.

We’ve got two different profiles here, but at the end of the day, goals win you games of football and that’s what the Gunners have missed most this season.

The Dortmund star may well be 29 but he’s in his prime, he’s in the form of his life, and for £59m, you won’t find many better options.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 16, 2025

With 10 Tests to be played in 15 weeks, India have “laid out some plans” to manage the workload of fast bowlers

Alagappan Muthu17-Sep-20241:56

Are turning pitches a good idea for India against Bangladesh?

India are coming off a break of more than a month without any cricket – “We are starting after a long time actually”, the captain Rohit Sharma said – but they are also aware of the strain that their schedule over the next few months can place on their players, particularly their fast bowlers.India begin the first of 10 Tests in 15 weeks against Bangladesh on Thursday, and they already have plans in place to protect the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who might be needed to take on heavy workloads when they travel to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in November through to January.”We have laid out some plans on how we are going to manage these bowlers,” Rohit said. “But again, it all depends on the workload that has been carried by them in these games. So yeah, we will monitor that. I think we have done that pretty well. Even when we played against England [at home, earlier this year], we managed to get Bumrah one Test match off. We managed to give Siraj one Test match off.Related

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• Can India rediscover their batting swagger at home?

“So it all depends on how the body feels at that particular time, what the [strength and conditioning] is, and what the physios feel about them, when is the right time to give them a break from the game, and then take the call.”India wrap up the two-Test series against Bangladesh on October 1 and have a couple of weeks off from red-ball cricket before they face New Zealand over three games that take them into early November. Then they will leave for Australia where they will play five Tests in eight weeks.”You want your best players to play all the games, but that’s not possible because there is so much cricket that happens,” Rohit said. “It is not only Test cricket, there is T20 cricket happening [against Bangladesh and South Africa] in the middle of the Test series as well. So you [have] got to understand everything, and then see what is best for the team and then manage your bowlers around it.”There has also been an effort made to expand the fast-bowling pool, with left-armer Yash Dayal joining the team for the Bangladesh series. There are several others pushing their case to make the national team with performances in domestic cricket. Harshit Rana, Navdeep Saini, Vidwath Kaverappa, Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj were all involved in the season-opening Duleep Trophy earlier this month, and Rohit was pleased with what he saw from those matches.”We have got a lot of bowlers who are there for us,” he said. “We saw some exciting prospects in the Duleep Trophy as well. I am not too worried about the kind of bowlers that are waiting in the wings for us.”On head coach Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma said: “We have a good understanding”•PTI

Gautam Gambhir takes charge of the Test team for the first time since being appointed the new India head coach. He and his assistant Abhishek Nayar were with the limited-overs team in Sri Lanka in August, and they have been overseeing a training camp in Chennai, leading up to the Bangladesh series.”The staff is new, but I know both Gautam Gambhir and Abhishek Nayar,” Rohit said. “I have played quite a bit of cricket against [bowling coach] Morne Morkel; we’ve played some tough cricket against each other. I’ve also played, maybe a couple of games, against [assistant coach] Ryan [ten Doeschate], but the two of us haven’t spoken as much before. From what I experienced with him in Sri Lanka, I think he has a sensible and [an] understanding personality, given the way he quickly started to understand things about the team.”As for Gambhir and Nayar, like I said, I know them well. Sri Lanka was the first series [with them in charge], and now they are going to play their second series with the team. Everyone has their own style. Rahul [Dravid] , Vikram Rathour, [and] Paras Mhambrey – they had a different way of running the team, [while] these guys will have a different style.”So it’s important for you to adjust. So far, there have been no problems or issues as a player. Like I said, if there is understanding between both [coaches and players], that’s the most important thing. And we have a good understanding.”India arrived in Chennai a full week before the start of the first Test against Bangladesh•PTI

India are not seeing their home series as preparation for the challenges they will be facing abroad.”Look, at the end of the day, you are playing for your country,” Rohit said. “So there is no dress rehearsal kind of stuff happening here. Every game that we play is important, and every game becomes important because of what is at stake. [In the] World Test Championship, still the table is quite wide open, and you want to win every game. So it doesn’t matter where we play in two months’ time. We want to win here. We want to win this Test match.”That’s why they arrived in Chennai a full week before the start of the game, to have the best preparation possible.”We assembled here on the 12th, and we’ve had a good time spending hours on the field, [and] getting everything together. So yeah, it is tough. But see, now people are so experienced, they managed themselves pretty well. And guys who have not played a lot of Test cricket, obviously went on to play the Duleep Trophy, which was good.”So in terms of preparation, [and] in terms of readiness, I feel we are quite ready for this game and what lies ahead of us. So it was a good little prep that we had before this Test match. It was important to utilise that time, and I thought we utilised this little camp that we had in Chennai pretty well.”

Bangladesh captain expects Shakib, whose political future is up in the air, to be fully professional during the series

Mohammad Isam20-Aug-2024

Najmul Hossain Shanto on Shakib Al Hasan: “He knows how to prepare himself”•AFP/Getty Images

Bangladesh have just been through some political turmoil, which has saw their prime minister resign, and a caretaker government take charge of the country. The unrest has even cast a doubt on them hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup in October.Bangladesh’s national side will be in action for the first time since those turbulences, as the men’s team is on a tour of Pakistan, their first fixture in two months. The two Tests form part of the World Test Championship, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto couldn’t afford to dwell too much on the incidents back home, even as one of the consequences of the government getting toppled was his team-mate Shakib Al Hasan’s stint as member of parliament coming to an end.But Shakib hasn’t spoken publicly about it yet, instead focusing more on his cricket. Shanto, too, expects Shakib to remain himself – as professional as possible.Related

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“Shakib is in a good shape – in practice and preparation. He has the desire to do well,” Shanto said on the eve of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. “He has showed his commitment in every practice session. He is a professional cricketer. We all treat him as a cricketer. He [has] played this game for so long that he knows his role; he knows how to prepare himself. I am not thinking about his political career. I hope that he will do something special in this series.”Given his all-round role, Shakib remains key for Bangladesh, although the visitors also have with them Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who is a respectable batter in the lower order. Mehidy is likely to be included in the XI too to prevent Bangladesh from having a long tail. Batting him at No. 8 might allow Bangladesh to play three fast bowlers and two spinners, including both Shakib and Mehidy. Shanto hinted that one of those quicks could be Nahid Rana, considered Bangladesh’s fastest bowler with speeds up to 150kph.”There’s a chance of him playing. He is in good shape,” Shanto said. “We will have our normal combination, it seems. Pacers will have an extra advantage on this wicket, so we will look at that when thinking about our XI. [Shadman Islam] is batting very well. He is preparing well. He made runs [recently against Pakistan A] in Australia.””It is true that we haven’t been batting well in the last few months”, Shanto on himself and Litton Das’ form•AFP/Getty Images

Bangladesh are in dire need of a batting revival. The understanding that Rawalpindi could be a favourable pitch for batters is giving them encouragement. Shanto said that they have done enough preparation to get better, which also includes his own form, as both Shanto and Litton Das have been in the headlines after playing poorly in the T20 World Cup a few months back.”We are not looking to do anything extra, but it is true that we haven’t been batting well in the last few months,” he said. “We didn’t go well in our last Test series [against Sri Lanka, in March-April]. Having said that, I think we are well prepared for this Test series. The players have used the opportunities to prepare properly. They believe that we can do better with the bat.”I have always looked to develop my skills as a batter. Every practice session has been about improving in those areas where I lack. I am hopeful that it will help me in the matches [against Pakistan].”Shanto, meanwhile, remained positive that Bangladesh have enough reason to be confident for the series opener in Rawalpindi, especially with their fast-bowling unit.”Records can change. It won’t be easy [for Pakistan],” he said. “We have a balanced side. We believe we can do special things this time. We are excited to play here. We have developed a good pace-bowling unit, we have four quality spinners, [and] we covered all the bases that will help us make the team tomorrow. The seamers get a bit of benefit here, so they are excited to do well in this condition.”

MatériaMais Notícias

da esport bet： A novela pela possível criação da liga brasileira de clubes ganhou novos – e importantes – capítulos nos últimos dias. Trocas de lado, contratos assinados e adiantamentos agitaram os bastidores de Liga Brasileira de Futebol (Libra) e Liga Forte Futebol (LFF) e alteraram o panorama geral das negociações.

Abaixo, o Lance!Biz destrincha os últimos acontecimentos e mostra como cada bloco se posiciona neste jogo de xadrez. Afinal, ainda pode ter uma formação de liga única para organizar o Brasileirão?

+ Libertadores: clubes brasileiros protagonizam confronto mais valioso das oitavas; veja raio-X

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da pinnacle： Quais foram as últimas novidades?

> A primeira grande novidade aconteceu na sexta-feira, 30 de junho. Em assembleia geral, 21 clubes da LFF assinaram os contratos para a venda de 20% dos seus direitos de TV do Brasileirão para os investidores Serengeti e Life Capital Partners (LCP) pelos próximos 50 anos, a partir de 2025 – leia mais aqui.

> Nesta semana, migrações alteraram o cenário. Antigos membros da Libra, Botafogo, Vasco e Cruzeiro assinaram com os mesmos investidores do Forte Futebol e passaram a formar o Grupo União. O Coritiba também faz parte do novo bloco – clique aqui para ler mais.

> O último movimento importante aconteceu nesta sexta, 7 de julho, quando os clubes da Libra assinaram um contrato de exclusividade com o Mubadala Capital, fundo dos Emirados Árabes Unidos. A assinatura do documento não representa a venda imediata dos direitos, mas um compromisso dos clubes de que eles apenas acessarão o mercado em bloco e via Libra – veja os detalhes aqui.

> Cabe destacar que Atlético-MG, Inter, Náutico e ABC fazem parte do Forte Futebol, mas ainda não assinaram contrato com os investidores. O Lance! apurou, inclusive, que há a expectativa que o Galo migre para a Libra.

O que esses movimentos representam?

> As novidades indicam a preocupação dos clubes e investidores em garantir a formação de blocos comerciais para avançar com a venda de direitos de transmissão do Campeonato Brasileiro. Conversas com emissoras já estão em andamento e vão acelerar após a definição de times em cada grupo.

> Apesar de serem dois contratos diferentes, Forte Futebol e Grupo União vão atuar como um bloco único no mercado. De acordo com apuração do Lance!, há uma cláusula que obriga a negociação de direitos de forma coletiva.

>A adoção de uma nomenclatura diferente tratou-se de um movimento estratégico para minimizar atrito e facilitar adesão de novos clubes ao modelo de negócios da LFF. Essa tentativa, no entanto, caiu por terra com a assinatura do contrato de exclusividade entre Libra e Mubadala.

> Ao combinar clubes dos dois lados, Forte Futebol e Grupo União conseguiram formar o bloco comercial majoritário. No cenário atual, considerando a Série A deste ano, Serengeti e LCP poderiam negociar 228 jogos, 60% do total.

> O Mubadala, por outro lado, poderia negociar 152 partidas (40%). Este cálculo é feito pelo número de clubes em cada bloco multiplicado por 19 (número de partidas de cada time como mandante).

> Esta diferença, no entanto, não garante qual o bloco conseguirá valores melhores no mercado. Além do número de partidas, fatores como audiência, tamanho de torcida e peso dos jogos exclusivos serão levados em consideração na negociação com emissoras interessadas.

Afinal, ainda há chance de liga única?

> A formação de dois (ou três) blocos comerciais afasta a possibilidade da criação da liga única neste primeiro momento. O foco de cada grupo atualmente é levar os respectivos pacotes ao mercado e buscar valorizar os direitos de transmissão em uma negociação “semi-centralizada”.

> Sem dúvidas, é um avanço em relação ao cenário atual, em que cada clube negocia individualmente. No entanto, há o entendimento unânime de que a formação da liga e a venda centralizada de todos os times poderiam trazer uma valorização maior ao produto “Brasileirão”.

> Além da venda centralizada dos direitos de TV e outras propriedades, a liga seria responsável por organizar o campeonato e seu calendário, cuidar de arbitragem e eventualmente até criar um sistema de fair play financeiro, para manter a saúde financeira das agremiações.

> É possível que os blocos negociem os direitos de forma separada nos próximos meses e depois se unam para a formação da liga? Sim, mas é improvável. Além do acordo entre os clubes, este cenário dependeria de um entendimento entre os investidores de cada lado.

تحدث الأسطورة الهولندي ماركو فان باستن، عن إقامة مباراة برشلونة وفياريال ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني بمدينة ميامي في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

ووافق الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم ”يويفا”على إقامة مباراة برشلونة وفياريال هذا العام في ميامي بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، لتكون هذه هي أول مباراة في الليجا تلعب خارج إسبانيا.

وتبقى فقط موافقة الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم ”فيفا” على مقترح إقامة هذه المباراة في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، ليصبح الأمر رسميًا.

وأبدى فان باستن استيائه من إقامة مباراة فياريال ضد برشلونة في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، كما علق على مباراة ميلان ضد كومو في بيرث والتي ستقام في دولة أستراليا.

اقرأ أيضًا | فياريال عن خوض مباراة برشلونة في ميامي: انتصار للكرة الإسبانية

وقال فان باستن، في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “لديك دوري يُلعب في إسبانيا أو إيطاليا، وفجأة تجد نفسك تلعب نفس الدوري في الجانب الآخر من العالم، ميزة اللعب على أرضك مختلفة تمامًا، إنه أمر جنوني بالنسبة لجماهيرك”.

وأكمل: “أي كوميديا ​​هذه؟ لا أفهمها حقًا، تبدو لي ضربًا من الجنون، إنها قلة امتنان لجماهيركم وبلدكم، كما أنها تُمثل فشلًا للدوري الذي يُزيف”.

وأردف مهاججم ميلان السابق: “لماذا يلعب فريق خارج أرضه وآخر لا؟ هذا ليس صحيحًا، إنه تشويه للمسابقة، ويجب إيقافه”.

وأعلن الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا” موافقته على إقامة مباراة فياريال وبرشلونة خارج إسبانيا، وستُقام المباراة في 20 ديسمبر بشكل استثنائي لتكون أول مباراة في تاريخ الدوري الإسباني تُقام خارج إسبانيا.

Leeds United now want to sign a new goalkeeper who keeps a clean sheet every three games, and a deal will cost less than what the 49ers Enterprises paid for Ao Tanaka.

Leeds eyeing new goalkeeper to replace Meslier

Daniel Farke’s decision to drop Illan Meslier for the promotion run-in spoke volumes, with Karl Darlow being trusted to do a job between the sticks at the back end of the 2024/25 season.

Darlow received high praise for his performances during the promotion charge, with the Welsh goalkeeper proving to be a dependable option, helping the Whites secure the Championship title on the final day.

However, long-term replacements have been under consideration for quite some time, with Meslier heavily linked with an Elland Road exit this summer.

Augsburg’s Finn Dahmen is among the targets, as are more proven Premier League goalkeepers, including the likes of Aaron Ramsdale and Caoimhin Kelleher.

According to a report from Fotboll Direkt, Leeds also want to sign 6 foot 4 Mjallby goalkeeper Noel Tornqvist, who is being watched by several clubs from England and Sweden ahead of a potential summer swoop.

Tornqvist could be an affordable option for the Whites, as Mjallby are looking to hold out for a fee of just £1.5m, far less than the £25m it would take to lure Ramsdale to Elland Road, and the reported £40m asking price for Kelleher.

Farke’s side are unwilling to give up in their pursuit of the shot-stopper, but it remains to be seen whether they make a move, given that a number of more proven goalkeepers on the shortlist.

Signing Tornqvist would be a risk as Leeds No.1

While a deal for the Mjallby goalkeeper would be on the cheap side, it would still be a risk for Farke to bring him in as the new number one, given that he is unproven in a major European league.

That said, the Swede has put in some impressive performances in his home country, and he retains a record of a clean sheet every three games for his current employers, shipping a total of just 83 goals in 78 games.

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The Whites are looking to raid one of their 2024/25 Championship rivals this summer.

1 ByDominic Lund May 28, 2025

As such, Tornqvist could be a savvy signing for Leeds as a back-up or long-term addition, given Darlow’s performances at the back end of last season indicate. The 23-year-old is still young for a goalkeeper, so he’d have plenty of time to adapt to life in the Premier League, potentially repalcing Meslier in the process.

By spending just £1.5m on a goalkeeper, less than the £3m the Whites spent on 24/25 Players’ Player of the Season Tanaka, Leeds should also have available funds to strengthen other areas of the squad, and they are clearly very keen on signing a new striker, with Rennes’ Arnaud Kalimuendo and Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson among the targets.

Cristiano Ronaldo is being backed to launch a 2026 World Cup Golden Boot bid as his “sole aim is to beat records” at 40 years of age.

Evergreen frontman continues to make historyHoping to grace a sixth World Cup finalsFocused on end product & conserving energyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Portuguese GOAT is expected to grace his sixth World Cup finals next summer, as more history is made at international level by the all-time leading goalscorer in the men’s game – with the target being found for his country on 138 occasions through 221 appearances.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo, with a Euros crown and two UEFA Nations League titles to his name, has never savoured global glory. He is determined to right that wrong before hanging up his boots, with a new two-year contract being signed at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

DID YOU KNOW?

A World Cup win would see him emulate eternal rival and fellow Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, with CR7 already considered to be mimicking the iconic Argentine in the energy stakes – with the veteran frontman now more about end product than relentless running.

GettyWHAT HESKEY SAID

Ex-England striker Emile Heskey told when asked if Ronaldo can claim top scorer honours at the 2026 World Cup: “I wouldn’t put it past him. His sole aim is to beat records, and I think he’s got the ability and opportunity to do that again at the World Cup.

“You don’t see him running around crazy like he used to. Now, he just knows where to be in the box and the team work for that. They will put the ball in the area for him, so he can still do it. His movement in the box is still great, even if there isn’t much from him on the rest of the pitch.

“Right now, he needs to work on staying fit. He will know his body, and it’ll tell him when he’s doing too much. He will need a good relationship with his coach, so he pulls him out of games or sessions he doesn’t need to be in. It’s about managing his movement now, lasting the full 90 minutes.”

Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin has a massive task ahead of him, there is no doubt.

His first few interviews since being unveiled as the new Ibrox boss have been positive, and it is clear the former Southampton manager has a distinct style of play.

This is something that the club have lacked under previous managers, including Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Philippe Clement. Those two set up teams well in Europe, but domestically was a different story.

It may well be the opposite in Martin’s case. But given how poor the Gers have been in the Premiership since winning the title in 2021, this could well be a sacrifice many of the supporters are willing to make.

Martin will need every department to click at the start of next season, as a good start is imperative.

He needs his defence to be solid and reliable. A midfield full of players simultaneously able to win the ball back and move it forwards into the final third, and a front three able to get the better of a low block and take their chances.

In that regard, having someone of Alfredo Morelos’ ability would work wonders next season, especially as he would shine in Martin’s system.

Alfredo Morelos’ Rangers statistics

The Colombian talisman was a scourge for defenders, both domestically and in Europe, across his five years at Ibrox.

Between 2018 and 2023, he played 269 matches for the Light Blues, scoring an impressive tally of 124 goals for the club. Add in another 57 assists, and it is clear that Morelos was not only a clinical finisher, but he was also able to link play with those alongside and behind him.

Not since he departed have Rangers been able to call on a player with these abilities. Sure, Cyriel Dessers may have scored 51 times in just over 100 games, but the Nigerian striker often takes two or three chances to get on the scoresheet.

Morelos refined his game after a productive opening few seasons at Ibrox. Indeed, when the club won the domestic title during 2020/21, Morelos ‘only’ scored 11 league goals.

He played slightly deeper than in previous seasons, linking up with the likes of Ianis Hagi, Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent in order to create chances for them too.

Danilo has shown glimpses of his deep-lying abilities when given a chance, but the Brazilian hasn’t enjoyed a consistent run in the team to make a proper difference.

In Morelos, Rangers had a striker who established himself as a cult icon during his spell at Ibrox.

If Martin wishes to get the fans onside quickly, signing a player who is similar in style and stature to Morelos might be a good start.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2022/23

45

12

7

2021/22

42

18

8

2020/21

44

17

13

2019/20

47

29

9

2018/19

48

30

12

2017/18

43

18

8

He could well have some money to spend this summer thanks to the 49ers investment. This should allow the new manager to bring in several transfer targets, which will bolster the squad.

Could his first signing be a young striker who is ready to take the next step in his career?

Rangers search for a new striker

While Dessers, Danilo and Hamza Igamane are all options for Martin, it is likely one is sold this summer.

Now, according to the Daily Record, Rangers have made Maccabi Tel Aviv centre-forward Dor Turgeman their number one target 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.

The youngster could be available for a fee in the region of £4m, and reports from Israel claim that the Glasgow side have already opened talks with the player regarding a move to Scotland.

Getting deals done over the line quickly will be key for Martin, especially as the Gers face a Champions League qualifier in six weeks.

Could Turgeman be a dream first signing? He certainly has all the tools required to succeed in Europe.

Why Rangers must sign Dor Turgeman

Last season, the highest scorer for the club was Dessers with 29 goals across all competitions. The next best tally from a striker was 16 by Igamane. While Danilo could only muster six goals through another injury-ravaged campaign.

Adding in another player who has the ability to score 20 or more goals next season is vital, especially if Martin wishes to challenge for the league title.

On that note, Turgeman would be an ideal signing this summer. The 2024/25 campaign was arguably his breakout for the Israeli side. Across 44 matches, the 21-year-old netted 20 goals and grabbed six assists for his club side.

He was praised by analyst Kai Watson as far back as February 2024, who said: “He’s played mostly as a striker but can definitely do a job on the wing. He’s quick, agile and has brilliant balance when driving with the ball.

“A very exciting player to watch and one that would have fans off of their seats.”

Last season certainly proved exactly what he can do and now is the chance for him to make a move and perform at a club like Rangers.

The club needs players who are willing to fight for every ball and win every duel. His manager, Zarko Lazetić, claimed that Turgeman was a “beast on the pitch”, and this sort of profile fits in with Martin’s style.

Like Morelos, the Israeli striker is capable of dropping deeper and generating chances for his team. Indeed, in the top flight last term, Turgeman created ten big chances for Maccabi, while he also recorded three assists and averaged 0.7 key passes per game.

For a fee of £4m, it is evident that Rangers would be getting a striker who closely resembles Morelos, perhaps without the disciplinary issues.

By selling Dessers in the coming weeks, Martin will be able to clear room for the youngster, who will be hoping to make his mark on Scottish football.

If the new owners and manager are serious about taking Rangers back to the summit of Scottish football, signing Turgeman should be a priority. That’s a certainty.

Rangers' top 15 goalscorers of all time

Rangers have had plenty of natural goalscorers at Ibrox over the last 150 years.

ByRoss Kilvington Dec 26, 2024

Arsenal have finalised the signing of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea after activating a £5 million ($7m) release clause in his contract. This transfer marks the end of Arrizabalaga’s seven-year spell at Chelsea, during which he made 163 appearances and secured four major trophies. His initial switch to the Blues in 2018 from Athletic Club for £72m ($99m) still stands as the most expensive transfer ever for a goalkeeper.

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• Arsenal sign Arrizabalaga
• The Gunners add competition for Raya
• Spaniard ready to fight for his place

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite knowing that David Raya remains firmly established as Arsenal's starting goalkeeper, Arrizabalaga is not daunted by the competition. Sources close to the player reportedly suggest he is prepared to push hard for playing time and offer both depth and experience to the squad.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In the summer of 2024, Arrizabalaga extended his stay at Chelsea by a year, keeping him under contract until June 2026. However, shortly after renewing, he was loaned out to Bournemouth for the 2024–25 season. At Bournemouth, Arrizabalaga replaced the experienced Neto, who ironically joined Arsenal on loan, as the Cherries’ first-choice keeper. The Spaniard excelled under manager Andoni Iraola, playing 35 Premier League matches and securing nine clean sheets.

• WHAT ARRIZABLAGA SAID

  After sealing his transfer to Arsenal, Arrizabalaga wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram: "THANK YOU, CHELSEA. After seven unforgettable years, the time has come to close a very special chapter in my life. Chelsea was my home, my family, and the place where I grew both as a footballer and as a person.
  
  "I arrived full of dreams and I leave with unforgettable memories: titles like the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup… but above all, moments shared with incredible people on and off the pitch. Thank you to the coaches, the staff, my teammates, and most of all, to you, the fans. Wearing this badge has been an honour and a source of pride. Now a new chapter begins, and I face it with the same passion and commitment as always. I leave with a heart full of gratitude. With love and respect, Kepa Arrizabalaga."

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR KEPA?

  Arsenal’s technical staff have reportedly admired Kepa for years, and this move ends a long-running interest, as revealed by . The minimal release fee made him an attractive option for several clubs, but it was the north London side that ultimately secured his signature.

Aston Villa made it five wins from their last six games in the Premier League when grinding out a determined 1-0 victory away at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.

This win – which was clinched courtesy of Villa’s new all-time top-flight scorer Ollie Watkins – guarantees at least Conference League football for Unai Emery’s Villans next campaign.

But, the main prize of Champions League football is still very much up for grabs for the in-form outfit sat in sixth spot.

It wasn’t the prettiest performance by Villa on the South Coast, but at his crunch stage of the season, any win will do, with a big team effort needed to clinch the three points, especially after Jacob Ramsey was dismissed.

Aston Villa's best performers vs Bournemouth

Villa really had to dig deep during the last ten minutes of the clash after homegrown attacker Ramsey was shown his second yellow.

Thankfully, Emery’s visitors were already hanging onto a slim lead courtesy of the aforementioned Watkins, who once again came up trumps for the Villans in their moment of need.

The potent number 11 would find himself in the right place at the right time yet again to fire home his 75th career goal in the big time, with this effort ultimately being the difference-maker to the annoyance of Andoni Iraola’s frustrated hosts.

The Cherries just couldn’t find a breakthrough, with the likes of Emiliano Martinez having to stay very alert throughout with four saves made, alongside both Matty Cash and Lucas Digne down the flanks who won a combined 11 duels on the day.

But, it was once again Morgan Rogers who stood out in attack for Emery and Co, with the electric number 11 understandably a wanted man heading into the hectic transfer window.

Morgan Rogers' transfer value continues to soar

Rogers isn’t the only face that could soon be waving Villa Park goodbye, with Watkins – who the ex-Manchester City man set up for the winner at Bournemouth – also reportedly keen on a move away amidst interest from Arsenal.

For the 22-year-old, however, according to other reports, Chelsea and Stamford Bridge might well be his next onward destination, but off the back of a seriously impressive campaign for Emery’s men, the 6 foot 2 attacking midfielder won’t be exiting the building for cheap.

Indeed, it’s now being speculated that Villa would only consider parting ways with Rogers if a bumper £90m bid was put on the table, with the exciting forward menace arguably deep in the best form of his career at this point in time.

In all competitions this campaign, Rogers has notched up a ridiculous 14 goals and 14 assists from 52 overall games, leading to Jamie Carragher even hailing the four-time England international as an “unstoppable” force, on top of Villa thanking their lucky stars now that they won the 22-year-old for a modest £15m just last year.

Rogers’ numbers at Villa
Stat	Rogers
Games played	68
Goals scored	17
Assists	15
Original fee	£15m
Value now	£90m
Percentage increase	500%
Sourced by Transfermarkt

Emery’s side have had to exercise patience with the 22-year-old, considering he only chipped in with three goals and one assist last season after a January move, but it’s clear that he is destined for greatness now, whether that be with the Villans long-term or with Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.

Further lauded as “magnificent” by scout Antonio Mango after his assist away at Bournemouth, his current employers will just pray that Rogers sees Villa as his home for the foreseeable.

But, with his value increasing by that whopping 500%, Emery and Co would be mad not to sell up, particularly if that £90m does fall into their bank account soon.

Same agent as Asensio: Aston Villa join race for "outrageous" 15-goal ace

He’s a Champions League finalist.

By
Tom Cunningham

May 10, 2025