Rangers have lined up a move for Ecuador international Jose Cifuentes amid reports they're closing in on Cremonese forward Cyriel Dessers.
Who will join Rangers this summer?
It's been a busy summer transfer window for the Gers and manager Michael Beale, who have already seen five major signings come through the Ibrox door.
Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell, Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima are all now Rangers players as the Ibrox side look to wrestle back Scottish football dominance from their arch-rivals.
The Hoops sealed an impressive domestic treble last season, but following the departure of Ange Postecoglou and re-appointment of Brendan Rodgers, it will be interesting to see if Rangers can usurp them.
Beale's side have held no shortage of ambition when it comes to transfers and reliable media sources claim that they're closing in on another major deal in potentially signing Dessers (as per Fabrizio Romano).
The 28-year-old is apparently on the verge of joining Rangers, and that is echoed by journalist Scott Burns in a piece for The Daily Record.
However, dropping another line in his piece, Burns claims that the Glasgow giants have "also lined up a move" for Los Angeles midfielder Cifuentes.
In a further bit of good news, it's added that the move is "expected to be completed" in this window.
Cifuentes has been heavily linked with a move to Rangers this summer and it appears they're still very much interested in signing the 24-year-old for Beale.
Who is Jose Cifuentes?
The South American ace apparently "starred" for Los Angeles over his most recent season, and with Cifuentes out of contract in December, Rangers could seemingly strike a cut-price move.
Cifuentes, who featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar last year, has also been praised by Tim Vickey for his exploits across the Atlantic.
Vickery, an expert on all things to do with South American football, called Cifuentes a "terrific" player after his 2019 exploits at the Under-20 World Cup.
"He was the beating heart of that side and I think he’s a terrific midfielder," said Vickey on talkSPORT (via footballscotland).
"He’s strong, he’s got quality, he’s got a good engine – he’s one of the best all-round midfielders, potentially, that I’ve seen come out of South America in a while.
"This fellow Cifuentes strikes the ball well, moves across the field, strong in the tackle, strong on the ball, I like him a lot."
Chelsea are set for a short pre-season after winning the Club World Cup final, with just five weeks separating their 3-0 win over PSG in New Jersey and their first Premier League game of 2025/2026 against Crystal Palace.
Chelsea hold talks with £100k-per-week England star this week
Enzo Maresca is prioritising one key area.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 17, 2025
They have scheduled just two pre-season matches as a result of their CWC triumph, needing to fit a holiday in for both players and staff after what was a successful but very long campaign.
Cole Palmer
7.33
Moises Caicedo
7.02
Enzo Fernández
6.95
Nicolas Jackson
6.88
Noni Madueke
6.82
via WhoScored
Chelsea will take on both Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan on August 8 and August 10 respectively, but as things stand, these are the only friendlies they’ll play before facing Palace in the top flight a week later.
It remains to be seen how Enzo Maresca’s side will fare given their minimal preparation, but the Italian did get a chance to try out new tactics during their CWC campaign in the US.
He also managed to give some of his major summer signings a run-out. Joao Pedro seriously impressed at the tournament in particular, scoring three goals in three CWC games, including a brace in their semi-final against Fluminense and a goal in the final against PSG.
Despite Chelsea’s need to sell players and balance out the squad due to a pact with UEFA (Kaveh Solhekol), Maresca could still add more fresh faces before their new season kicks off against Palace.
This will be dependent on departures (Simon Phillips), but perhaps Djordje Petrovic’s £25 million move to Bournemouth has freed up space for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan to come in.
The France number one was a serious target for Chelsea earlier in the window, and they tried to complete a deal for him before competing in the CWC. However, Milan and Chelsea failed to find an agreement, despite Maignan’s eagerness to join.
Despite reports to the contrary, Chelsea could go back in for Maignan before deadline day on September 1, with Robert Sanchez also told he’s free to find a new club away from Stamford Bridge (Graeme Bailey).
Mike Maignan very keen to join Chelsea, he's a top target
TEAMtalk have another update on the situation this week, claiming Maignan remains a top target for Chelsea.
AC Milan's MikeMaignanreacts
The 30-year-old is also “enthusiastic” about joining Maresca’s side this summer, even if negotiations previously failed, with the main roadblock being Milan’s £22 million asking price – a figure deemed too high by Chelsea considering both his age and his contract situation.
However, given Maignan’s pedigree as one of world football’s most commanding shot-stoppers, £22 million is surely a price worth paying – especially if they sell Sanchez.
Every title-winning side in history have one thing in common – the presence of a world-class keeper. Maignan, who’s been lavished with praise by his fellow top-level players, arguably stands out as the best option by far this summer.
“He is physical, quick, he has clean technique. He is very strong. He is one of the best in the world,” said Liverpool keeper Alisson about Maignan’s quality.
“The quality of goalkeepers has really increased – Mike Maignan is within this elite.”
Chelsea are planning a sensational midfield overhaul that could escalate their spending to unparalleled heights.
The Blues look set to resist Liverpool’s outlandish attempt to hijack their Moises Caicedo deal as they prepare to break the record Premier League transfer fee for the South American.
Furthermore, these clubs are also battling it out for Romeo Lavia’s signature.
What’s the latest on Romeo Lavia to Chelsea?
According to Sky Sports News, Chelsea are ‘close’ to an agreement with Southampton over signing Lavia, but Liverpool retains a strong interest in the youngster.
The 2021 Champions League winners remain in direct contact with the Saints, who are holding firm with their £50m valuation.
Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…
Chelsea submitted a £48m bid earlier this week, while Liverpool have had three separate offers – the latest of which was £45m – all rejected.
This outlet also revealed that the West Londoners are looking to welcome two midfielders in this window, and they feel that landing Lavia and Caicedo is a real possibility.
Why would Romeo Lavia be a good signing for Chelsea?
Although the Belgian has only played on 29 occasions in the Premier League, he has swiftly established himself as one of Europe’s most attractive and sought-after assets.
Last season, Lavia, who was described as “tremendous” by Rio Ferdinand, averaged 2.1 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, and 84% pass accuracy in the opposition half in domestic football as per Sofascore – scoring higher than Mateo Kovacic and Conor Gallagher for the aforementioned metrics.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed a quick rise to prominence with Jean Kindermans, Anderlecht’s head of Academy, eulogizing over Lavia’s composure and bright future, saying: “His best position is as a low playmaker because he can deliver passes.
“He’s always calm on the ball. You can give him it under pressure and he will solve the problem. He is going to have a brilliant career.”
Paul Scholes has followed up this praise, feeling that Lavia is someone with “so much potential.”
A player of this calibre and defensive acumen could be a pivotal figure in aiding Reece James to recapture his best form at Stamford Bridge.
The last two seasons have been difficult for the right-back – he has missed 45 games through various injuries that have massively disrupted his rhythm and consistency.
Last campaign, Chelsea failed to win in any of his final eight outings in the Premier League, and he mustered just four goal contributions in all competitions.
Nevertheless, he is one of the world’s most effective full-backs, and as the club’s new captain, he will be an imperative figure in any Chelsea revival.
Chelsea'sReeceJamesin action
James will be looking to emulate and surpass Trent Alexander Arnold’s influence. The £180k-per-week man also endured a tricky campaign, as Liverpool unexpectedly dropped out of the top four, but he still managed to hit double-digits for assists.
Both players have built formidable reputations for their awe-inspiring technical ability. Interestingly, over the past 365 days, James comfortably outranks Alexander-Arnold for progressive carries per 90 (3.51 vs 1.41), and successful take-ons per 90 (1.8 vs 0.91). Then, the latter narrowly outperforms the former Wigan Athletic loanee for shot-creating actions per 90 (3.46 vs 3.88), and progressive passes per 90 (6.29 vs 7.31).
In summary, these figures mean that James sits within the best 10% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for the aforementioned metrics. To still possess these numbers whilst going through the toughest period in your career is a testament to his quality, which could reach even more frightening heights with Lavia’s addition.
A new dawn has risen in north London with Tottenham Hotspur now under the management of the Australian Ange Postecoglou.
And the early signs of the Big Ange revolution in N17 are extremely positive with the Lilywhites impressing many in the opening stages of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
With the positivity surrounding the club comes excitement from the fans who have had to endure an underwhelming few years under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
Given Spurs fans will be keen to ride this wave of positivity, we at Football FanCast have taken a look at the social media accounts and podcasts every Spurs fan should follow to keep up to date with the latest news and views on their club.
Journalists Alasdair Gold Youtube & Twitter
Perhaps the most well-known Tottenham Hotspur journalist, Alasdair Gold has racked up over 230k followers on the social media platform X.
The football.london journalist often provides the inside scoop on all things Tottenham ranging from transfer news to injury updates and provides a range of content across multiple channels.
Indeed, Gold’s work spans from live blogging from Spurs matches home and away to his hour-long videos posted to his YouTube channel.
If you want to keep up with all things Spurs, this man provides content accessible through almost every means – even a WhatsApp update feed.
Charlie Eccleshare, Athletic correspondent
One of The Athletic’s Tottenham correspondent’s, Charlie Eccleshare also provides a range of written content which caters for just about every Tottenham fan’s need.
The journalist provided breaking transfer news over the summer but also offers longer-form articles which take a deeper dive into some of the underlying topics concerning the north London club.
Fans can find Eccleshare on the social media platform X as well as The Athletic’s weekly Spurs podcast.
Dan Kilpatrick Twitter
Similarly to the likes of Gold and Eccleshare, Dan Kilpatrick is one of the most well-known Spurs correspondents with a significant following on the likes of X.
Kilpatrick covers the north London side for the Evening Standard and also writes a variety of articles which span from the latest information coming out of the Premier League club to how Postecoglou has transformed the side he inherited – for example.
As is the case with most of the well-respected journalists, Kilpatrick can also be found speaking all things Tottenham on The Tottenham Way podcast.
Michael Bridge from Sky Sports
Self professed Tottenham fan, Michael Bridge is often seen hitting the screens on Sky Sports News where he is frequently providing his insight into the latest rumblings around N17.
As well as providing the latest news coming out of Spurs, Bridge is no stranger to providing his personal opinion on what is happening around the club.
As well as featuring on the UK’s biggest sports broadcast, Bridge can also be found on X and often featuring on the Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel.
Social Media
Cristian Romero
The Spurs Web Twitter
Football news is a constant cycle and keeping on top of the latest breaking news can prove to be a daunting task – especially in the transfer window.
However, X’s biggest unofficial Tottenham news account remains The Spurs Web who provide a range of posts to accommodate for every Spurs fan’s needs.
The account aggregates news from a huge variety of news outlets from across the globe as well as providing fans with topical discussions and even throwback clips to remind fans of some of the club’s best moments.
Even the likes of former Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen are known to like the occasional post from this account.
The Spurs Express Twitter
Similarly to The Spurs Web, The Spurs Express account aims to provide their followers with the latest news surrounding the club from across the world.
Across the international break, the account looked to offer fans an insight into how some of their players were performing for their respective countries with a statistical breakdown of some of their performances.
There is very rarely a quiet day when it comes to Tottenham Hotspur and following accounts such as this feels like a necessity for any Spurs fan.
Lilywhite Rose Twitter
There are a number of big Tottenham news accounts out there who offer a similar service, however, Lilywhite Rose does provide fans with something completely different.
It can be easy to get caught up in the big signings clubs make in the transfer window, but it is important to consider the next big talents coming through the club’s ranks.
The likes of Harry Kane have emerged through Tottenham’s youth system and the Lilywhite Rose account on X aims to keep on top of the latest news coming out of the club’s academy.
Ran by BBC contributor John Wenham, the account provides a keen insight into the latest news to emerge from the youth levels, youth players away from the club on loan and even offering debate on matters concerning Postecoglou’s first team.
Chris Cowlin Youtube & Twitter
Potentially best known for his content produced during the construction of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Chris Cowling is a match-going fan who provides a range of content from that very perspective.
On top of providing videos from the stands, Cowlin also provides a variety of Spurs-related content on his YouTube channel and relays the latest news and quotes involving the club on his X account.
A Spurs content creator who covers just about all bases.
Matt Hayes Youtube & Twitter
If the likes of Charlie Eccleshare’s work does it for you, then dropping Matt Hayes a follow will likely cure your fix for detailed analytical pieces concerning the Lilywhites.
Indeed, this Spurs fan often takes a deeper look into topical discussions surrounding the north London club to provide fans with a more in-depth understanding of the club they love.
As well as sparking debate on X, Hayes is also a frequent panelist on the Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel.
Ricky Sacks Twitter
Host of the Last Word on Spurs, Ricky Sacks is a regular face on Sky Sports when it comes to providing the voice of the fans on all matters Tottenham.
The podcast host can be found on X where he shares links to the latest shows coming to the LWOS channel as they host some familiar names to discuss the latest happenings in north London.
While United's manager has used his selection headaches as an excuse for failure, the Merseysiders brushed aside their injuries to win another trophy
Liverpool's Carabao Cup win over Chelsea was a tale of both senior leadership and youthful exuberance. One defining image was the sight of Jurgen Klopp and Virgil van Dijk lifting the trophy together. Klopp shook the club up and rebuilt it in his image while Van Dijk's defensive steel completed their transformation, delivering the latest in a long line of trophies with a towering header deep in extra-time.
The other takeaway was Liverpool's long cast of academy graduates, all born in 2003 or after, streaming off the bench and being utterly unawed by the occasion. As Gary Neville put it so succinctly: "Klopp's kids against the billion pound bottle jobs." Liverpool resembled the walking wounded last week, losing Diogo Jota, Cutis Jones, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah in the days before the final, in addition to the already-missing Dominik Szoboszlai, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker.
And their injury crisis was aggravated during the game as Ryan Gravenberch, Andrew Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister were all forced off. But far from being knocked down by the absence of their best players, Liverpool rose to the occasion. "Liverpool have been absolutely sensational," Neville added. "Those young players have been incredible. Klopp must be so proud."
What a contrast to Neville's own club Manchester United, who had fallen apart against Fulham a day earlier after losing two players to injury. Erik ten Hag pointed to the key absences of Luke Shaw and Rasmus Hojlund as he sought to explain their latest dire home display this season, but he is beginning to sound like a broken record.
After all, Liverpool have demonstrated that injuries do not matter if you have a clear playing identity and rally behind your coach.
GettySenior players not helping out
Ten Hag had taken a chance on youth the day before by handing 19-year-old Omari Forson his full debut against Fulham to cover the absence of Hojlund. It meant there were four academy graduates in the line-up (including three from the 2022 FA Youth Cup winning side) and four more on the bench.
No one could accuse the Dutchman, whose young Ajax team took the Champions League by storm, of not believing in young players. The difference was that while the likes of Van Dijk, Wataru Endo and Luis Diaz led the way for Liverpool, United's senior players shrunk.
Marcus Rashford was anonymous at centre-forward and Bruno Fernandes was incapable of sparking any danger, save for long-range shots. Casemiro and Harry Maguire were clumsy in the tackle and Victor Lindelof again looked lost trying to deputise for Shaw, whose absence for several months has left United with no natural left backs.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesYou win nothing with (just) kids
After the Carabao Cup triumph, Klopp said: "I got told outside you don't win trophies with kids. Write it new." The German was referring to former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen's infamous declaration on in August 1995 after watching United sink to a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa on the opening day of the season.
Those words came back to haunt Hansen at the end of that season when a United team containing David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt went on to win the Premier League title and FA Cup.
But Hansen's words have been taken out of context. He meant you can't win anything with kids. The catalyst of that great double winning side, after all, was Eric Cantona, who was still suspended at the time for kicking a fan but who galvanised the team when he returned in October.
United have a lot of exciting young players such as Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Hojlund, but they badly lack a talismanic figure like Cantona. Current captain Fernandes has not scored a league goal since November, while Rashford is a shadow of the brilliant player who scored 30 times in all competitions last season.
Getty ImagesPressing problems
Another huge difference between United and Liverpool could be seen in the way the two teams are set up and work as a unit. Reds youngsters are educated in the art of 'Gegenpressing' from an early age, allowing the likes of Bradley and Bobby Clark to fit so seamlessly into Klopp's team. But United's senior players seem incapable of pressing together, allowing Fulham to repeatedly play their way through them at Old Trafford.
Fernandes is a big part of the problem as he is a free spirit, often blindly chasing down opponents and ruining United's shape. Jamie Carragher said recently: "He's emotional. He runs 30 yards to close the goalkeeper down. People sometimes get kidded by it and say, 'look at him working hard'. No, he's killing the team."
Neville has also criticised Fernandes' free role. "He must be told to go and do what you want. Ten Hag is giving him the freedom to go there, there, there. And that means you can never have a combination or a pattern because you've got your main midfield player everywhere on the pitch."
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(C)Getty ImagesLost without Martinez
Ten Hag has acknowledged that not all of his squad fully get his methods or understand what he wants them to do, which becomes a huge problem when just a few key players like Shaw, Hojlund or Lisandro Martinez are unavailable.
"They know what the routines are but definitely things are changed [with injuries]," he said after losing to Fulham. "Not everyone [gets the ideas], other players coming in, different identities, different skills, that is what we have to adapt as a team."
But the fact that a number of players are unable to implement his style and demonstrate the 'automatisms' he talks about ultimately falls on him. More than 18 months into the job, it is still unclear what Ten Hag's playing philosophy is. It seems that with a full squad available, he wants his team to play on the front foot, with Martinez and Andre Onana starting moves from their own area.
But when the Argentine is absent, as has been the case for most of the season, United seem only capable of playing on the counter, leaving Onana with little option but to launch the ball forward with long punts.
And without Hojlund, they have no one capable of holding the ball up and bringing others into play, leading to the hurried attacks they fashioned in the closing stages of each half against Fulham.
Wrexham have confirmed that Jake Bickerstaff has joined Accrington Stanley on loan for the rest of the season.
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Bickerstaff joins Accrington StanleyPart of a clearout at the club Will not be allowed to play against Red DragonsWHAT HAPPENED?
Bickerstaff has left on loan for the rest of the season as part of the clearout at Wrexham as they can only register 21 players. With the signings of Luke Bolton, Jack Marriott and Luke McNicholas and the return of Scott Butler from his loan, they needed to offload a few players.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
In his 15 appearances this season, including eight starts, centre-forward Bickerstaff has scored twice. He scored his first EFL goal during the club's win over Walsall in August and then got his second the following week as they drew 5-5 with Swindon Town. In 28 games throughout his Red Dragons career, he has scored six goals.
DID YOU KNOW?
Wrexham have also announced that the striker will not be allowed to play against Phil Parkinson's side as the club has included a clause in the contract with League Two rivals Accrington.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BICKERSTAFF?
It is not known if the 22-year-old will be in action with Accrington in their next game when they take on Grimsby Town on Saturday, February 3. They will play against Wrexham on March 3.
Fifties from three India A batsmen and impressive returns from Shahbaz Nadeem and Siddarth Kaul helped the hosts claim the five-match series with one match yet to be played
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2017 ScorecardGeorge Worker scored his 11th List A hundred•AFPSeven wickets between Shahbaz Nadeem and Siddarth Kaul helped India A clinch the series with a 64-run win over New Zealand A, despite a century from opener George Worker. Propelled by three half-centuries, India A scored 289 for 6 and dismissed the visitors for 225 to take a 2-0 lead with one match to go in the five-match series.Left-arm spinner Nadeem scythed through the New Zealand A line-up with returns of 4 for 33 off his 9.1, assisted by a handy three-for from Kaul, skittling the opposition inside 46 overs. A 113-ball 108 from Worker proved insufficient as lack of support from the rest of the line-up yielded a second-highest score of 37. Having lost their top three inside 15 overs for only 50 runs, the major part of the resistance came in the form of a 74-run fourth-wicket stand between captain Henry Nicholls and Worker, who added another 63 for the fifth wicket with Tom Blundell (31).Kaul, who triggered the slide with the top-order wickets of Glenn Philips and Will Young, also took out Blundell to finish with 3 for 25 from seven overs. Nadeem, on the other hand, accounted for Nicholls in the 25th over before removing Colin de Grandhomme and Worker in consecutive overs, leaving New Zealand A on 217 for 7.India A’s decision to bat found validation as opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, playing his first match of the tour, scored his seventh List A half-century en route to a 104-ball 83. He peppered seven fours in his knock, anchoring two 50-plus stands, with Ankit Bawne (39) and Deepak Hooda (59), for the second and fourth wickets respectively.While Easwaran’s opening partner Prashant Chopra and captain Rishabh Pant fell cheaply, Bawne and Hooda’s contributions helped the side past the 200-run mark. Hooda hammered five fours and two sixes and found able support in No. 6 Vijay Shankar, who put on 45 runs for the sixth wicket and 55 for the seventh with a 33-ball 61. His knock featured five sixes and four fours, setting up a competitive total, as Scott Kuggeleijn (2 for 37) finished with the best figures for the visitors.
Manchester United have put a poor start to the season behind them as they have won successive matches for the first time, defeating Burnley and Crystal Palace and this should give them confidence.
Erik ten Hag would’ve hoped his side were going to kick on from a positive maiden term in Manchester for the Dutchman, yet it hasn’t quite gone to plan.
His summer arrivals haven’t really hit the ground running while a series of injury problems has left United short in key areas, most notably the defence and attack.
This has led the former Ajax boss to utilise the services of several youngsters in his first team so far, as Alejandro Garnacho, Hannibal Mejbri and Facundo Pellistri all stepping up when it matters most and giving Ten Hag something to think about.
The Old Trafford side are of course, famous for believing in young talent since the days of Sir Matt Busby and a plethora of academy graduates have played a key role in United’s success over the years.
Marcus Rashford has arguably been one of the finest players to emerge from the youth ranks in the previous decade as he has established himself as one of United’s best players and the Red Devils have certainly struck gold on him, especially considering his market value.
When did Marcus Rashford make his Manchester United debut?
During Louis Van Gaal’s final season in 2015/16, United dropped from the Champions League into the Europa League and headed into their second leg tie against FC Midtjylland trailing 2-1 from the first leg.
Due to various injuries, the Dutchman gave Rashford his first start for the club and he went on to score twice as the Red Devils won 5-1 on the night, and it was certainly the catalyst which sent the youngster on his way to stardom.
Indeed, just three days later, he netted a double on his Premier League debut against Arsenal to secure a 3-2 win, and it was looking like the teenager was going to be a regular fixture until the end of that season.
These performances laid the foundations for the career the Englishman has gone on to have, while his value has since skyrocketed following his embryonic stages at the club.
What is Marcus Rashford’s market value now?
Having cost United nothing due to working his way through the youth ranks, the winger is now currently valued at €62.3m (£54m) according to Football Transfers and this represents a stunning rise over the previous few years.
Marcus Rashford
His value actually peaked at €82.7m (£71.5m) back in November 2021, yet if he continues to showcase the form which has turned him into one of United’s main goal scoring outlets since Ten Hag arrived, his value could return to this figure, or even surpass it.
The Dutchman won't be looking to sell him anytime soon, yet if the player wanted a move away from Old Trafford, they would stand to rake in a momentous profit on the 25-year-old as he looks to be heading into the prime years of his career.
Why is Marcus Rashford worth this much?
Although the 5 foot 10 sensation enjoyed a breakthrough first few months in 2016, it took him a few years to finally remain consistent enough in order to score ten or more Premier League goals during a single season.
This came during the 2018/19 campaign, scoring 17 goals across all competitions, and it was clear that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – who took charge midway through that term – had a player he could trust to score 15 or more goals every season.
Returns of 22 and 21 efforts over the next two seasons indicated that Rashford was becoming the main man at the Red Devils, yet his form dipped during 2021/22, scoring only five times all season which saw the Norwegian sacked as the manager.
With a new era set to begin following the appointment of Ten Hag ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, it represented a fresh start for the 25-year-old, and it was one that he relished.
Across a total of 56 matches, Rashford scored 30 goals and grabbed a further 11 assists and this was his best total in a single season since he broke onto the scene at the back end of the 2015/16 campaign.
He ranked first across the United squad in the league for goals and assists (22), while also finishing top of the pile for shots on target per game (1.4) and successful dribbles per game (1.5) as he was arguably the star of the season for Ten Hag.
When compared to positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Rashford’s performances ranked him in the top 1% for total shots per 90 (3.84), the top 3% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.53) and the top 9% for touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 (6.39) which is further proof that he is one of the finest forwards on the continent.
Although he has only scored once and registered two assists in seven games this term, he has been hailed for his performances, with analyst Statman Dave dubbing him “electric” due to his impressive first-half performance against Brighton and Hove Albion a few weeks ago.
If Ten Hag wants his reign at United to be a success, keep Rashford motivated will surely be his main task and this includes keeping him fit and happy while deploying him on his favoured position – the left wing.
Throughout his career, he has played 182 matches on the left wing, contributing 62 goals and 41 assists during those ties, and it is imperative that he continues to get utilised in this role.
The Old Trafford side have hit the jackpot on the talented winger, there’s no doubt about that and his rise from rough diamond into one of the best performers in the top flight suggest that there is hope for the majority of young players who are trying to emerge from the United academy.
Rashford is a beacon of hope for many people, both inside and outside the club and his value rising to stratospheric levels indicate that the club are still doing some things correctly.
Aston Villa have had an impressive summer of transfer movements, however nothing could’ve prepared Unai Emery for the misfortune set to hit the club at the start of the league campaign.
An opening day 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United was the least of the Spaniard’s problems, as both Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings suffered extensive knee injuries that will leave the pair away from the action for the foreseeable future.
The Villans must now look for further reinforcements following the double injury blow, with one target expected to be close to joining the club according to the latest update.
Who could Aston Villa sign to solve injury woes?
As widely speculated, the Midlands club are closing in on their fourth summer signing, with Galatasaray forward Nicolo Zaniolo set to be unveiled as a Villan in the coming days.
Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…
As reported by the Daily Mail, the Italian will sign on an initial £3m loan deal at Villa Park, with an option to buy included, which is said to be in the region of £19m.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano speculated that the 24-year-old will undergo a medical on Wednesday with personal terms already agreed between club and player.
Is Nicolo Zaniolo the right move for Villa?
Once hailed as a “lethal playmaker” by journalist Zach Lowy, Zaniolo could be an exciting new addition to the squad constructed by Emery.
Deployable as both an attacking midfielder and on the right flank, the skilful Italian made the move from his homeland to join Galatasaray in February, signing from Roma.
After just six months with the Lions, the 24-year-old is set to be on the move again, with Villa knocking on his door, but in such a short period of time, Zaniolo made quite the impact in Turkey.
In 10 Super Lig appearances, the Fiorentina youth product netted five goals, to showcase just how prolific he can be in the final third, posing a strong option for Emery to consider replacing the injured Buendia.
Positionally, the Italy international seems the perfect fit to fill the void left by the Argentine, however, there is far more to be considered than his on-field ability.
In fact, Emery could be in for a nightmare, with Villa obtaining a player full of potential, but cursed by recurrent injury throughout his still developing career and described as “injury-prone” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley.
With Mings and Buendia out with worrying knee injuries, there are not many players that would understand the pain and misfortune of suffering extended periods on the sidelines than Zaniolo.
The 24-year-old has missed more days in his career due to injury than he has made domestic appearances, being absent for a recorded 575 days throughout his career so far, compared to his 226 match appearances.
Like the player he will be fielded to replace, the Italian missed a hugely significant period of his development to two anterior cruciate ligament ruptures, both agonisingly coming in 2020.
While his talent is attractive, Emery could be leading Villa towards another injury nightmare by signing Zaniolo, who is currently out of action and nursing a groin strain.
With the season only just underway, the club must avoid further injuries, especially European football incoming and league and cup fixtures set to come thick and fast, with the pending arrival sadly posing to be a huge risk of absence.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened his scoring account for 2024 with the winning goal for Al-Nassr against Al-Fayha in the Asian Champions League.
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Ronaldo was on target against Al-FayhaFired Al-Nassr to a crucial victory in the ACLShowed off a new celebrationWHAT HAPPENED?
Ronaldo combined with team-mate Marcelo Brozovic to find space in the penalty box and clinically finished to fire his team to a slender victory at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahad stadium on Wednesday evening. It was a cagey affair in the first half but the Portuguese forward broke the deadlock in the 81st minute to secure a crucial first-leg victory for Al-Nassr.
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What caught the attention of fans was Ronaldo's new celebration. Instead of his iconic "SIUUU" move, he opted for a different gesture, crossing his hands over his chest and closing his eyes after his usual jump in jubilation. It was fairly similar to the 'nap' celebration that he introduced during his second spell at Manchester United.
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GOAL AR / GettyWHAT NEXT?
Ronaldo made headlines for his reaction to Al-Nassr's defeat in the Riyadh Seasons Cup final, where he expressed frustration by launching his runners-up medal into the stands. However, after today's victory, Ronaldo was spotted in a jovial mood participating in the Viking clap celebration with the fans. He will next be in action against Al-Fateh in the Saudi Pro League on February 17 before facing Al-Fayha again in the second leg at home on February 21.