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Bravo backed Pooran following his ball-tampering ban, saying the youngster is “far from that type of player”

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Nov-2019

Nicholas Pooran sweeps for four•Getty Images

Former West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo has called Nicholas Pooran’s attempts at altering the condition of the ball during West Indies’ third ODI against Afghanistan a “silly mistake”.”I know Pooran since he was 17 years old and he is not that type of player,” Bravo said on Thursday in Abu Dhabi where he will be playing in the T10 tournament as Maratha Arabians’ captain. “Yes, that (ball-tampering) happened, the evidence is there. But deep down inside he doesn’t mean anything [bad] to cheat or anything.”ALSO READ: Dwayne Bravo hints at international comebackPooran was banned for four T20Is after video footage showed him scratching the surface of the ball with his thumbnail. He admitted to the offence, a breach of level 3 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct, and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Chris Broad.In his defence, the young batsman said it was an “isolated” incident, which would not be repeated as it was an “extreme error in judgment” on his part.Pooran will now miss the ongoing three-match T20I series against Afghanistan and the opening match of the subsequent exchanges against India.Bravo said Pooran needed to be given time to understand his mistake. “It is just a silly mistake on his part,” Bravo said. “He accepted it. But I know the individual personally, and that is not something he will ever do or encourage anyone to do. It is just a simple mistake, he gets caught, he accepts it, but he is far from that type of player.”

Leeds United turn their attention away from Championship action as they prepare to travel away from Yorkshire to take on Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup.

The two sides held each other to a 1-1 draw in the first match and now have to go through a replay to decide who will go through to the fifth round of the competition.

Daniel Farke's side head into this game off the back of a 1-0 win away at Bristol City in the second tier, thanks to a second half goal from Wilfried Gnonto.

The Italy international came in from his position on the right flank to get on the end of a ball from Junior Firpo before remaining composed to fire his shot past the goalkeeper to secure all three points for the away side.

Farke could now look to make a few changes from the starting XI that defeated the Robins in order to offer opportunities to other players for this cup clash.

With this in mind, here is FFC's predicted Leeds line-up to take on Plymouth in the FA Cup this week…

1 Illan Meslier

The French shot-stopper – Illan Meslier – retained his place in goal for the first clash between these two sides in the FA Cup and the manager could give him another outing between the sticks on Tuesday night.

2 Sam Byram

The first change to the XI could come at right-back as Sam Byram could replace Archie Gray, to provide the teenage starlet with a rest after his start on Friday night.

Farke could unleash his former Norwich star from the start in his more natural position on the right of the defence, having been utilised on the left for the majority of this season.

The 30-year-old titan has made 24 appearances in the Championship so far this season and made 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game for his side.

3 Joe Rodon

At the heart of the defence, Joe Rodon could once again start to lead the Leeds defence. The Tottenham Hotspur loanee, as you can read in FFC's recent article below, was a colossus at Ashton Gate and will hope for a similar display against Plymouth.

"Outstanding" 99-touch Leeds titan was the hero over Gnonto on Friday

The Whites colossus produced a superb display at Ashton Gate for Daniel Farke.

ByDan Emery Feb 3, 2024 4 Liam Cooper

Alongside the Spurs ace, Liam Cooper could be the second change by coming into the defence to replace Ethan Ampadu, who could move further up the pitch.

The Leeds skipper started the 1-1 draw with Plymouth at Elland Road and produced a solid display. He won four of his six duels and made two interceptions, two blocks, and one clearance throughout the 90 minutes.

Cooper, 32, has only started seven Championship matches and this cup clash is the perfect opportunity for Farke to hand him some minutes on the pitch.

5 Junior Firpo

Junior Firpo could keep his place at left-back to avoid wholesale changes to the defence ahead of another run of key Championship fixtures in the race for promotion.

The 27-year-old dynamo has provided four assists in his last five league appearances for the Whites and could look to make an impact at the top end of the pitch in the FA Cup on Tuesday.

6 Glen Kamara

Another player who could start again is Finland international Glen Kamara. The former Rangers metronome has been a reliable presence in midfield for Leeds this season with his pass success rate of 93% in the league, which shows that he rarely gives possession away to the opposition.

7 Ethan Ampadu

Bringing Cooper in at centre-back would free up Ampadu to start in his more natural position alongside Kamara in the midfield for the Whites.

This would also provide midfielder Ilia Gruev a rest ahead of the clash with Rotherham at Elland Road in the Championship on Saturday.

8 Jaidon Anthony

On the right of the attacking trident behind the striker, Jaidon Anthony should be brought back into the starting line-up after his sensational goal in the first game between these sides.

The on-loan Bournemouth winger was dropped to the bench against Bristol City but produced a fantastic goal, cutting in from the left to find the far corner, against Plymouth at Elland Road, and should be given another chance to catch the eye in the replay of that match.

9 Wilfried Gnonto

With the focus on getting promoted to the Premier League, cup matches are the perfect opportunity for Farke to try new things and offer mintues to players who may not play much in the second tier.

Gnonto did start, and score, against Bristol City but an interesting move the German head coach could make is to unleash the Italian forward in the number ten position.

He came over from the right and into a central role to score his goal and playing him in that area of the pitch from the start could provide him with more chances to find the back of the net, instead of being stuck too far from goal on the wing.

This change would also see Georginio Rutter ditched from the starting XI to provide him with a rest after four games without a goal or an assist in all competitions.

The French whiz has produced five goals and nine assists in the Championship this season and keeping him fresh and sharp, avoiding fatigue and injury, could be key ahead of the run-in, which is why it could make sense to drop him for this match.

10 Crysencio Summerville

Farke's options to rotate his attack are somewhat limited as Dan James is currently out injured and Crysencio Summerville could start once again as a result.

The Dutch winger has produced 12 goals and seven assists in the Championship so far this season but is yet to make an appearance in the FA Cup this term.

Glasgow Rangers managed to put four goals past fourth-tier side Dumbarton in their Scottish Cup fourth-round clash on the weekend, but it could have been more for Philippe Clement's side.

The Ibrox manager will have been pleased with the professionalism shown by his team, while a few players managed to secure some much-needed minutes following recent injury problems, most notably Ryan Jack and Borna Barisic.

Among those on the scoresheet was Cyriel Dessers, who netted his tenth goal of the season in the 4-1 victory against the Sons.

He has netted a goal roughly once every three games since joining the Ibrox side last summer and on the surface, that is a decent enough statistic, yet he has missed 11 big chances in front of goal and his performances have been poor throughout the campaign.

With the transfer window closing next week, Clement does not have long to add another striker who could be an upgrade on the Nigerian. Here are three forwards who could arrive at the Light Blues this month and replace Dessers in the starting XI.

1 Tommy Conway

First up is the latest name to be linked with a move to the Gers. According to Football Insider, Clement is reportedly monitoring the Bristol City striker ahead of potentially making a move for the youngster during the winter window.

They face competition from Old Firm rivals Celtic along with the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, and Brentford for the City hitman as he has clearly attracted plenty of attention due to his performances.

Having recently scored the winner against West Ham United in their FA Cup replay – being dubbed “clinical” by Statman Dave in the process – Conway has shown he can shine against the elite and this may tempt Clement into a move.

Although he has two goals less than Dessers this season, he has missed only five big chances in the Championship, which is six less than the Gers striker and it proves he is more accurate in front of goal.

The 6 foot 1 machine is only 21 and is eight years younger than the former Feyenoord frontman, which suggests his best years are still to come and this could very well tempt the Belgian into luring him to Scotland sooner rather than later.

He is not the only striker who has been linked with a move to Rangers as a possible Dessers replacement however as the next name on the list is from close to home…

2 Lawrence Shankland

Perhaps the player who has been mentioned the most when it comes to leaving their current club to join the Light Blues, Lawrence Shankland is a hot commodity right now.

According to Football Insider, the Gers could be looking to bring the Scot to Glasgow this month in the hope that he can continue his stunning goalscoring form that has seen him shine at Hearts since the start of last season.

He could cost around £3m potentially and while this does not appear much on the surface, Shankland will be 29 this year and paying that sort of money for a player with little to no resale value could be a mistake.

In the short term, however, he would be an upgrade on Dessers. Indeed, this season, Shankland has netted more goals (18 vs ten), along with registering more shots per game (3.6 vs 2.9), more successful dribbles per game (0.9 vs 0.4) and a better scoring frequency (a goal every 145 minutes vs a goal every 187 minutes) and these statistics show that the 28-year-old could score more regularly in Scotland than Dessers.

Former Rangers icon Barry Ferguson even claimed that the Hearts striker would be a good fit for the club, saying: “Let’s start with Lawrence Shankland who catches my eye every time I see him play for Hearts.

“This guy has improved his game to such an extent over the last couple of years that I’m surprised he’s not been snapped up already but, watching him on Wednesday, I saw a ready-made Rangers centre forward.”

Clement could supercharge Cantwell in Rangers move for £3m gem

Rangers could be eyeing a move to sign a Scottish striker this month

ByRoss Kilvington Jan 13, 2024

A move to Rangers could see the former Dundee United gem play in Europe and challenge for trophies. If a move was to be made, he may find it very hard to turn down, that’s for sure.

3 Emmanuel Dennis

The final name on the list is one that Clement knows very well during his spell with Club Brugge, as Emmanuel Dennis has been linked with a move during the current transfer window.

Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri confirmed earlier this month that the Gers had been offered the player, saying: “Emmanuel Dennis has been proposed to the club but there hasn’t been an official approach as of now. I can confirm the player’s interest for Rangers though.”

The Nigerian scored ten goals in 46 games under Clement at Club Brugge, netting against the likes of Real Madrid in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Europa League during his stint in Belgium.

This clearly proves he has what it takes to score against the very elite and while his form this term is hardly prolific, his ability to play across a few positions could appeal to Clement.

Indeed, the 26-year-old can operate on either the left or right wing as well as through the middle and he has even been known to play just off the main striker during his career.

A move to the Light Blues could see him reunite with the 49-year-old and this may be what Dennis requires in order to start performing at his best again.

These three players would all offer something different for Clement as he aims to strengthen his squad, but it remains to be seen whether the club manage to bring any of them to Scotland in the coming days.

If the former AS Monaco coach wishes to add more trophies to the League Cup that was secured last month, at least one other centre-forward will need to be signed and this could well be the main focus before the transfer window slams shut next week.

With series level at 1-1, both sides have one eye on next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia

The Preview by George Dobell04-Nov-2019Big pictureGiven the recent history between these teams, it’s hardly a surprise that the series is level at 1-1. For both of them, though, these games are much more about looking to the future – and the T20 World Cup in Australia, which is less than a year away – than dwelling on the past.Partly for that reason, England are using the series to take a look at fringe candidates who could force their way into that squad. So days like Saturday – when the inexperience is obvious and expresses itself in batting collapses, poor choices with the ball or, as was the case in Wellington, fielding errors – are probably unavoidable.With that in mind, they look set to continue to experiment in the third match. Tom Banton looks likely to come into the side in place of the rested Jonny Bairstow, while there may be a temptation to look at leg-spinner Matt Parkinson, too. Chris Jordan, who has been England’s player of the series, could drop out safe in the knowledge that his long-term position is secure, while Sam Curran has also made a fine impression.Even while accepting there is a bigger picture than victory in this series, England will be looking to improve markedly in the field. For while the England management will accept the odd spilled catch – there were four or five at Wellington, depending on how harsh a judge you may be – they are less likely to tolerate any sense of timidity in the field. It’s an area they will have to improve if they are to challenge in Australia.New Zealand aren’t at full strength either. With Kane Williamson to miss the T20I series and Trent Boult not expected back until the fourth match, they have relatively few options among their 13-man squad. With leg-spin proving expensive in the series to date, though, they may be tempted to play an extra seamer.They won in Wellington largely due to their superior fielding, but they may be just a little concerned by the lack of runs from their top order. Martin Guptill at least registered his highest score in 12 international matches (dating back to June 1) but none of their batsmen have yet scored more than 44 in the series. Ross Taylor, who to be fair has slipped into the middle order, hasn’t made a T20I half-century since March 2014.Form guideEngland LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand WLLWWIn the spotlightMitchell Santner is not, at first glance, an especially eye-catching cricketer. But with his excellent control, his extravagant changes of pace and his intelligence, he has developed into a fine limited-overs bowler who is currently not only the leading wicket-taker in the series (he has taken six; three in each match) but also the most economical (of those who have delivered more than two overs) going for exactly a run-a-ball. His success looks particularly admirable when compared to the other spinners, both leggies, in the series: Adil Rashid and Ish Sodhi have each taken two wickets in the series and are conceding their runs at 8.87 and 9.37 an over respectively. He was man of the match in Wellington and is currently fifth in the global T20I bowling rankings.It’s probably unfair to expect too much too soon fromTom Banton. He is just 20-years-old, after all. But such was the invention, such was the power, such was the audacity of his batting for Somerset this season, that comparisons with Jos Buttler and Kevin Pietersen have not only been made but are understandable. He showed an appetite for the big occasion when top-scoring (equal with James Hildreth) as Somerset won the Royal London One-day Cup final at Lord’s and was the highest England-qualified run-scorer in the T20 Blast with four fifties and a century from his 13 innings. His run-rate in that competition – an eye-watering 161.47 – underlined his dominance and he was named both the Professional Cricketers’ Association and the Cricket Writers’ Club young player of the year for the 2019 season. His form on this tour to date has not been especially promising – he made 6 and 11 in his two warm-up innings – but it may be some encouragement to him to recall that he made a century in his most recent Youth ODI against New Zealand in Queenstown in January 2018.Team newsWith a squad of just 13 for these first three games, New Zealand’s options are limited. They looked stronger in Wellington with the recall of Jimmy Neesham for Scott Kuggeleijn but, with an eye to the future, may be tempted to take another look at either bowling all-rounder Kuggeleijn or medium-fast seamer Blair Tickner, who has played only one international; a T201 victory over India. Ish Sodhi looks the most vulnerable if New Zealand decide they require only one spinner. Lockie Ferguson, who has bowled with impressive pace and control, is set to play his final game of the series before Trent Boult replaces him in the squad for the last two matches.New Zealand (possible): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Tim Seifert (wk), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Colin de Grandhomme, 6 Daryl Mitchell, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Jimmy Neesham, 9 Tim Southee (capt), 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Ish SodhiBanton looks set to come in for Jonny Bairstow in this game, with Dawid Malan expected to make way for the final two games. That means Malan may need to make quite an impression here if he is to see off the inevitable return of Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes et al. There may be a temptation to take a look at Matt Parkinson, too, though such has been the fate of leg-spinners in the series he could face a tough baptism. If Parkinson does play, it may have to be in place of fellow leggie Adil Rashid. Rashid still looks a bit out of sorts, leading to fears that his shoulder injury is a little worse than he likes to admit. Given Lewis Gregory’s fine start with the ball in the previous game – he became the latest man to start his international career with a first-ball wicket – Eoin Morgan may feel he can trust him to a larger role in that department.England (possible): 1 Dawid Malan, 2 Tom Banton, 3 James Vince, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Sam Billings (wk), 6 Lewis Gregory, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Tom Curran/Saqib Mahmood, 10 Adil Rashid/Matt Parkinson, 11 Pat BrownPitch and conditionsThis is very early season in New Zealand. Indeed, there had never been an earlier international game on the South Island than the series opener in Christchurch, So while the boundaries at Saxton Park – about 160 miles north of Christchurch, on the northern coast of the South Island – are not especially long and while the weather is set fair (cloudy and a bit windy but dry), it would be a miracle if the ground staff were able to coax much pace from this wicket. For that reason, there may be just a little grip for spinners or cutters and just a little difficulty in timing the ball for batsmen.Stats and trivia The mayor of Nelson, Rachel Reese, is married to former Somerset (and, briefly, Yorkshire and Central Districts) batsman Richard Harden. This is only the second T20I at the Saxton Oval in Nelson. New Zealand won the previous one, against West Indies, at the end of 2017. New Zealand have won six of the seven completed ODIs they have played at the ground; Sri Lanka beat them on New Year’s Eve in 2015 while the match between the same sides a few days later was lost to the weather. England’s men have never played an international game at the ground. The ground is named in memory of a Shropshire-born John Saxton who farmed in the region – he was something of a pioneer in realising the value of sheep farming on such land – as well as providing invaluable information for future generations as a diarist and painter.Stats that matterTim Southee requires two wickets to become the eighth man to claim 75 T20I wickets.Adil Rashid requires one more wicket to draw level with Jade Dernbach as the fourth-highest T20I wicket-taker for England. Dernbach took 39 T20I wickets. Only Graeme Swann (51), Chris Jordan (52) and Stuart Broad (65) have more for England.Colin Munro requires 41 runs to draw level with Kane Williamson’s run-tally of 1,505 for New Zealand in T20Is. The pair have played the same number of games (57), though Williamson has batted once more often. Only three men (Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor) have scored more T20I runs for New Zealand than Williamson. Eoin Morgan requires 32 runs to move equal 10th in the list of the top T20I run-scores of all time. He is currently 12th.England have won 11 and lost six of the 18 T20Is played between the nations. One game was lost to the weather.Quotes”That’s probably my most common question: have you gotten over it yet? I don’t think it’s about getting over it, it’s just accepting it. It will be there forever, you can’t change it. It doesn’t mean you have to dwell on it any more than a fleeting thought every now and then.”
“We want guys continuing to attack the ball and find themselves in hot spots if they’re good enough.”

Liverpool have “concrete” interest in an “exceptional” England international and are planning an approach for him, according to a new transfer update.

Diaz out and Isak in at Liverpool?

The Reds haven’t had a summer this exciting in many years, with so much incoming and outgoing business happening since the end of last season. Luis Diaz’s time as a Liverpool player is now set to reach its conclusion, with the Colombian winger closing in on a move to Bayern Munich, following three-and-a-half years at Anfield.

Meanwhile, the Premier League champions are continuing their pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, in what could be a remarkable signing, just weeks after Florian Wirtz joined as the most expensive addition in the history of British football.

If Liverpool were able to sign Isak on top of Hugo Ekitike, with Diaz and Darwin Nunez making way, it could prove to be outstanding business, with all due respect to the two South Americans. A new centre-back will also be needed, though, and a key update has dropped regarding their search for one.

Liverpool planning approach for "exceptional" ace

According to a new update from Football Insider, Liverpool have “concrete” interest in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, as has seemingly been the case for some time now.

Similarly to Isak, the 24-year-old has “informed” the Eagles that he is “not planning to sign an extension” this summer, with the Reds now “expected to make a fresh approach to Palace in the coming weeks”.

With Jarell Quansah leaving for Bayer Leverkusen earlier this summer, Guehi stands out as the ideal choice to come in and bolster Liverpool’s defensive options. In fact, he would be an upgrade on the young Englishman.

The Palace skipper has grown so much as a player in the past year or two, standing out as arguably England’s best player at Euro 2024, with former Three Lions goalkeeper Joe Hart showering him with praise.

“Huge shoutout to Marc Guehi. I thought he was exceptional. He really stepped in and was really calm on the ball. I thought Guehi allowed John Stones to play his game. The more Marc plays, the better that [centre-back] partnership will get.”

This feels like the right time for Guehi to leave Palace and kick on at one of the biggest clubs in Europe, and while Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate will make it hard for him to be a regular starter, plenty of minutes should still come his way.

Liverpool now in contact to sign £17m forward who Man Utd are in talks for

The Red Devils could be hijacked by those at Anfield.

ByCharlie Smith Jul 27, 2025

The £50,000-a-week defender’s price tag is one drawback, especially as Liverpool have already paid huge money on signings this summer, but if FSG make the funds available, the Reds should view him as a fantastic option.

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Glasgow Rangers restored some pride when they avoided defeat to their city rivals in their last match in the Scottish Premiership last weekend.

The Light Blues had already had their second-placed finish confirmed, as Celtic won the league title at the end of last month, but they avoided their misery being compounded with a defeat.

Cyriel Dessers opened the scoring for the Gers in front of their home supporters with a composed finish before the break, but Adam Idah secured a point for the away side with a clever turn and finish inside the box in the second 45.

Whilst it was a decent point for the Light Blues, that result did extend Barry Ferguson’s winless run to six matches in all competitions, and he has won just four of his 12 games in charge so far.

There were some more positives to extract from the 1-1 draw with Celtic, though, including the performance of central midfielder Mohamed Diomande.

The Ivorian star assisted the goal from Dessers and won nine of his 12 duels throughout the game, as he showed that fans can be excited about what he could produce next season.

Why Rangers fans should be excited about Mohamed Diomande

The 2024/25 campaign has been the left-footed star’s first full season at Ibrox, having joined on a permanent deal last summer after his initial five-month loan, and he now has plenty of experience under his belt.

Diomande has played 70 matches in all competitions for the Light Blues to date, including 51 in the current campaign, and is now primed to kick on as a star for the club next term, having had 18 months of experience in Glasgow.

It did not take too long for the central midfielder to announce himself in Scottish football after his initial loan move from FC Nordsjælland, as he scored against St. Johnstone in February 2024.

His performances in that loan spell led to the club deciding to sign him on a permanent deal in the summer of 2024, with Philippe Clement in charge, and he has kicked on to become a key player in the current campaign.

Diomande showed potential as a goalscorer, as shown by his stunning strike against St. Johnstone, and as an all-action defender in his time on loan, but his creative quality has shone through this term.

Appearances

13

33

Goals

2

4

Big chances created

1

10

Assists

0

7

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.3

1.8

Ball recoveries per game

4.8

4.3

Duel success rate

52%

55%

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed star has created nine more ‘big chances’ and delivered seven more assists than he did in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign for the Light Blues.

Rangers fans should, therefore, be excited about what the £12k-per-week star could do next season, after 18 months of adjusting to Scottish football, as he has already shown plenty of signs of promise in the Premiership with his work in and out of possession.

Diomande provides great value for money, given that he is the 12th-highest earner at Ibrox, but that is not the case for every player in the squad. In fact, one of the players who should be sold by the 49ers this summer, Kieran Dowell, earns even more than the Ivorian.

Why Rangers should sell Kieran Dowell

The English attacking midfielder reportedly earns £16k-per-week, which is more than the likes of Diomande, Hamza Igamane, Jefte, and John Souttar, among others.

He has, however, not provided value for money for those wages because the former Norwich City man was deemed not good enough for the squad in January and was loaned out to English League One side Birmingham City.

Dowell enjoyed a successful second half of the season with the Blues, who won the League One title with a staggering 111 points, as he caught the eye with goals and assists.

The left-footed star ended the campaign with five goals, nine ‘big chances’ created, and four assists in 19 appearances in the third tier of English football, and is now set to return to Ibrox this summer.

Birmingham do not have an option to make the deal permanent but manager Chris Davies revealed that they will explore the possibility of a move to bring him back to England ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The 49ers, once the takeover is finalised, and sporting director Kevin Thelwell must take advantage of this interest from the Blues in order to ensure that Dowell never plays at Ibrox again.

He has one year left on his contract in Glasgow and this means that the upcoming summer transfer window would be the best time to cash in on the attacking midfielder if they are not planning to extend his contract beyond next year.

Dowell’s performances for Rangers since his move to Scotland on a free transfer from Norwich City in the summer of 2023 do not suggest that the 49ers should be aiming to extend his deal.

Appearances

12

12

Starts

5

2

Goals

2

0

Big chances created

1

4

Assists

2

0

Duel success rate

49%

46%

As you can see in the table above, the 27-year-old flop failed to nail down a place in the starting XI on a regular basis under Michael Beale or Clement, and only contributed two goals and two assists in 24 appearances in the Premiership.

His underperformance on the pitch for the Light Blues in his first 18 months at Ibrox led to him being loaned out in the January transfer window, which shows that he was deemed surplus to requirements at the start of the year.

Therefore, Dowell has not done enough to justify his £16k-per-week wages, particularly when the impressive Diomande earns even less than him in Glasgow, and that is one of the reasons why the 49ers must ruthlessly cash in on him this summer.

The Gers should attempt to extract a fee from Birmingham for the English dud and ensure that he does not play for Rangers at Ibrox ever again, because the midfielder has not done enough in a Light Blues shirt to suggest that he would be a key player for the next manager coming in.

Not just Gerrard: "Error prone" Rangers star must not be part of 49ers era

Steven Gerrard is not the only big name who should not be part of the 49ers era at Rangers.

ByDan Emery May 8, 2025

At face value, David Moyes’ tactical vision doesn’t strain too far from the blueprint that prompted Farhad Moshiri, two years ago, to bring Sean Dyche to the Everton helm.

Frank Lampard had been dismissed, Everton needed greater steel-backed resistance, Dyche fit the bill. It worked, for a time, but the Toffees could only stretch so far under the pragmatic boss’ wing. Thus he departed several weeks ago after reportedly informing the new owners, The Friedkin Group, that he felt he had taken the project as far as he could.

At face value, Moyes also employs a drilled and defence-heavy style, but just ask Spurs about the Scot’s attacking credentials, and they’d be sure to concede that the Blues tore them to shreds with startling bite.

It was hardly the look of a side previously scoring only 15 Premier League goals, the second-lowest tally in the division. Nor was it the feel of a side that had just welcomed a manager with a reticence toward attacking play.

Admittedly, though, 16th-placed Everton need to dip into the January transfer window to maintain enough firepower over the business months of the term.

Everton pushing for January signing

As per The Daily Telegraph, Everton have added Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil to their shortlist of transfer targets, though snapping him up this month may prove difficult.

Moyes, who used to manage the Black Cats, is a big admirer of the 23-year-old and is believed to have tracked his career ever since.

While Everton scouts have been keeping a close eye on Neil, Sunderland are certain to play hardball at the season’s midpoint, especially as they are fourth in the Championship, pushing for promotion.

He’s been priced in excess of £15m, which is big money for an up-and-coming talent in the second tier but a marker of Neil’s quality, and why Everton should pull no punches in getting the deal done.

Why Everton are interested in Dan Neil

Everton clicked together against Tottenham; play like that every single week, and Goodison Park would be throwing down with the best that the Premier League has to offer.

Consistency is key, though, and players like Neil work wonders in knitting fluency into a squad’s fabric to create a ripple effect for players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who snapped a 16-match goalless run in the top flight on Sunday.

Having risen through the Sunderland youth ranks, Neil has chalked up 177 senior appearances for the club, notching 11 goals and 20 assists during his journey so far.

Neil recently dominated for his side as they defeated Derby in the league, keeping their foot on the pedal as they chase automatic promotion.

Reporter Ethan Todd was among those to have been coloured impressed, saying that Nail: “Has absolutely controlled and dictated the whole game, with great forward passing and drives whilst keeping things tight in midfield. Constantly instructing the team, proper captain’s performance.”

It goes to show that Everton would not only be signing a player capable of injecting some dynamic quality into the middle of the park but a leader too, someone who could galvanise and inspire, berate and demand. It’s what Everton need.

Here is a team that has proved its attacking flair has not been negligible under Dyche’s wing, merely latent, languishing in the subterranean part of Goodison Park. The Merseysiders blew Tottenham away; we keep coming back to it but it was such a marvel, such a spectacle, that it revealed the true capacity of this team.

Neil may well be the architect, hailed as a “brilliant footballer” and a “real leader on and off the pitch” by his teammate Patrick Roberts. As you are about to see from his match metrics in the Championship this term, there are few who play a more complete role in the engine room, balancing his product and covering so much ground across the field.

Matches (starts)

27 (27)

Goals

1

Assists

3

Touches*

57.9

Pass completion

84%

Key passes*

0.8

Dribble (success)*

0.8 (51%)

Ball recoveries*

5.7

Tackles + interceptions*

3.2

Total duels (won)*

4.5 (51%)

Moyes might even be able to sign his next version of Mikel Arteta by bringing Neil to the fold, such is the rounded nature of his skill set.

Everton signed Arsenal’s manager during his playing days, bringing him in from Real Sociedad for a £3m fee in August 2005, proving to be one of the finest signings of his distinguished Toffees tenure.

He eventually joined the Gunners in a £10m deal, six years on, but Arteta had already featured 209 times for the Merseyside unit, scoring 35 goals and supplying 36 assists, contributing centrally to the most prosperous era in their modern history.

But hang on a moment, how does this pertain to present interest in Sunderland’s Neil? Well, aside from Moyes repeating his trick by bringing the player to Goodison – as he did with Arteta way back when – Neil has sharp playmaking skills while also excelling across the gamut of midfield duties.

The Spaniard was typically deployed in midfield alongside an anchor, allowing his creativity and ability on the ball to be properly showcased. He would dictate play and control the pace of the game, acting as a metronome of sorts.

Arteta added something different to the Everton midfield, a different dimension that Neil could replicate, sitting alongside players such as Idrissa Gueye, Orel Mangala and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Moyes once claimed that his former midfielder was “head and shoulders” above his peers, and you just get the sense that Neil could be too, 15 years later, Moyes back in the Everton dugout.

Talk about circularity.

A better signing than Nuamah: Everton make enquiry to sign English talent

Everton are looking at a “Messi-like” star who would be even better than Nuamah

ByConnor Holden Jan 22, 2025

Although the Liverpool machine continues to power on, as seen in Arne Slot’s side picking up a straightforward 4-0 win in the FA Cup over Accrington Stanley, this month could still prove to be a sticky time for the Reds.

After all, the futures of Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain up in the air, with some nerves at least quelled in this department when reading that Virgil Van Dijk reportedly looks set to pen a new Anfield deal shortly.

Alongside all this contract talk, there is another surprise player who could be set to leave Merseyside behind very soon, even as his current deal remains in play until 2028.

Liverpool star could be heading for Saudi

As per a report by Anfield Watch, Darwin Nunez could now be on the move this January as new suitors eye up the hot-and-cold Uruguayan.

One of those fresh outfits preparing to try and snap up the 25-year-old is money-rich Al-Hilal, with the Saudi side wanting to offload former £200m man Neymar for some new star power.

After all, Al-Hilal are currently under the managerial guidance of ex-Benfica boss Jorge Jesus, who managed to turn Nunez into a revered goal machine in Portugal.

Moreover, with Nunez sliding further and further down the pecking order under Slot – with ex-Reds great Robbie Fowler stating prior to his Accrington duck that he’s “not a Liverpool player” calibre-wise – this might well be a move that suits all parties, especially if Al-Hilal cough up some mega bucks similar to the £85m once forked out for the forward.

Liverpool have been here before in terms of losing an attacker who had left his mark on proceedings at Anfield, only for the Reds to recover easily from this departure with Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and more now lighting up the Premier League.

A Sadio Mane-like exit for Liverpool

Whilst it’s clear that Nunez won’t go down in the same legend’s bracket as Sadio Mane when he does exit, it would still be a knock to lose the Uruguayan, especially when you consider the amount of cash that was splashed to land him.

Additionally, he has shown his class in spurts for the Reds, with 37 strikes picked up in total for the Merseyside giants resulting in Jurgen Klopp labelling the 6 foot 2 attacker as “outstanding” when he still steered the Liverpool ship.

But, after his goalless showing against League Two opposition on Saturday, patience will be wearing thin on Slot’s end who might sense a departure is the most logical next step, with the Reds having to give in regarding a sale of Mane too after the Senegalese ace rejected a new contract.

Whilst that development was initially demoralising – considering Mane bowed out of Liverpool with a stunning 120 goals next to his name – the Reds have more than bounced back with Salah ageing like a fine wine, alongside the heroics of other stars up top.

Cody Gakpo

75

21

10

Diogo Jota

55

21

9

Luis Diaz

72

20

9

Mohamed Salah

89

55

35

As can be seen above, Slot has a whole host of exciting players in attack he can choose from, with Salah chipping in with an outrageous 90 goals and assists since Mane’s exit, with the ex-Reds forward now forgotten about playing in Saudi Arabia.

The same could soon happen to Nunez if he makes an Al-Hilal move a reality, with Liverpool no doubt using the millions they would recoup to add another frightening attacker to their already star-studded arsenal.

Forget Kvaratskhelia: Liverpool could land star with 'Mane at Saints vibes'

Liverpool are looking to strengthen their frontline this year.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 10, 2025

Aston Villa and Tottenham are looking to battle Liverpool to the signing of Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, a report claims.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Gomes signed new Wolves deal this week
• Premier League sides still want to sign him
• Liverpool, Spurs & Villa all eyeing midfielder

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The midfielder signed a new contract with Wolves on Tuesday, tying him to the Premier League team until 2030. Nevertheless, reports that a few Premier League teams are still determined to lure him away from Molineux Stadium in the summer.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The report says that Gomes has no release clause in his new contract, giving Wolves the power to demand a large fee for his services, with Spurs, Villa and Liverpool all said to be eager to snap him up.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 24-year-old joined Wolves from Brazilian side Flamengo in January 2023 and quickly established himself as a first-team regular. He is aiming for a starting spot in Brazil's starting XI at the World Cup in 2026. He has 10 caps to his name, last starting for the Selecao in July last year.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  With Wolves lingering near the bottom of the Premier League, Gomes could feel he would benefit from a step up in the near future, especially with the World Cup on the way.