Liverpool are in the privileged position of avoiding a January panic to land reinforcements, given their spot at the top of the Premier League and place at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final, but Reds fans were hit with the shock news of Jurgen Klopp's impending exit on Friday morning.
The club have so far been back to their ruthless best in the current campaign, but now have to begin planning for a life without their most iconic manager in recent history, and could perhaps even grant him a leaving gift to help him chase down trophies in his final few months.
Liverpool transfer news
With just under a week to go before the end of the winter window, the rumours have continued to circle over just who Liverpool could still welcome this month. Reports have mentioned names such as Piero Hinacapie, having apparently had their first approach rejected by Bayer Leverkusen, and Federico Redondo, who the Reds have also reportedly made contact for. Neither of those deals have taken place as of yet, however, and instead, Liverpool's focus has been on a player who could be the perfect back-up for Mohamed Salah.
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The Egyptian suffered an untimely injury whilst at the African Cup of Nations with Egypt and is now back at Liverpool hoping to recover in time to meet back up with his country, should they reach the latter stages of the competition. Liverpool, meanwhile, have been forced to cope without their star man, turning to the transfer market as a result.
According to reports in Spain, via Sport Witness, Liverpool have made an approach to sign Takefusa Kubo from Real Sociedad, but the player did not want to listen to the offer. The Japan international, who is therefore teammates with Liverpool's Wataru Endo, has a €60m (£51m) release clause, so FSG will have to plan their next steps carefully if they want to land Klopp a parting gift to boost his squad for these final few months.
"Intelligent" Kubo can eventually replace Salah
With Salah now 31-years-old and into the last year of his current contract when the summer arrives, it may not be too long before Liverpool begin awkward discussions over seeking a replacement for Klopp's star man, as well as the boss himself.
Real Sociedad forwardTakefusa Kubo.
The 22-year-old is yet to even reach his prime and is already impressing many in the world of football, including former Manchester United man Shinji Kagawa, who said via Marca in 2019: "He’s a very good player. He already speaks Spanish because he was at the Barcelona academy for a bit and this is helping him a lot now. I think he can play well for Real Madrid. He has a very good chance [of succeeding in Spain]. He’s left-footed and very intelligent on the pitch. He always makes the right decision at the right time."
Kubo's stats so far this season speak for themselves. The winger has been involved in 10 goals in 25 appearances, with six goals and four assists to his name. It is an output that Liverpool may hope to build on even further, as they did when Salah arrived in 2017, and perhaps even welcome a replacement for the Egyptian in the process.
Glasgow Rangers have made a “genius” compared to the legendary Brian Clough a frontrunner for the Ibrox vacancy alongside former Gers boss Steven Gerrard.
Steven Gerrard holds positive talks over Rangers return
Rangers are now on the search for their fourth manager of 2025, with the 49ers Enterprises’ move for Russell Martin lasting just 123 days.
Martin was sacked by Rangers following Sunday’s 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw with Falkirk which has left the Gers on just eight points from their opening seven league games.
Rangers have recorded just one league win during that time, with chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe already opening the process of hiring Martin’s successor.
One name who has been heavily linked with a move to Ibrox is Gerrard, who enjoyed three years in Glasgow before departing for Aston Villa, winning Rangers’ only Scottish Premiership title in the last 14 years.
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It has been reported that Rangers have already held positive talks with Gerrard over a sensational return to the club, although negotiations are thought to be complex.
Gerrard isn’t the only candidate on the Rangers shortlist, though, and it has been revealed that he is joined by one manager at the top of the Ibrox wishlist.
Sean Dyche another frontrunner for Rangers job with Gerrard
According to The Scottish Daily Mail, relayed by Ibrox News, Rangers are keen to act swiftly and appoint a new manager as soon as they can.
It is claimed that as well as Gerrard, Sean Dyche is the other frontrunner for the Rangers job, with the ex-Everton manager keen on a move to Ibrox.
Dyche, called an “absolute genius”, has been out of work since January after leaving the Toffees, where he was replaced by David Moyes.
The 54-year-old, who plays a 4-2-3-1 system, has plenty of experience in England with Burnley, and during his time with the Clartes, he was even compared to former Derby County and Nottingham Forest manager Clough by ex-winger Michael Kightly.
By the looks of things, either Dyche of Gerrard could well be the manager in charge of Rangers following the international break against Dundee United at Ibrox on 18 October, providing this latest claim is accurate.
Glasgow Rangers finally confirmed the appointment of their new chief executive officer with the arrival of Patrick Stewart, who will officially arrive next month.
James Bisgrove left the role six months ago and it has taken half a year for the Scottish giants to find his successor, with this appointment of the former Manchester United chief.
He worked with the Premier League side for almost 20 years and, therefore, arrives at Ibrox with knowledge of how a big club operates and makes ruthless decisions.
Nils Koppen was recently confirmed as the club’s new technical director and Stewart will work with him, alongside the rest of the board, to make key decisions on the club’s future.
The former Manchester United chief does not come in at the easiest of times at Ibrox, however, as the team have been struggling on the pitch in recent weeks.
Rangers dropped points in the Scottish Premiership at the weekend as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee United in Glasgow, and it has led to more speculation over the future of manager Philippe Clement.
The case for Philippe Clement to be sacked
RangersReview recently reported that Stewart will have the biggest say on day-to-day operations at Rangers and that his first decision upon his arrival, in the middle of next month, will be whether or not the manager will keep his job.
Football Insider have also claimed that the Light Blues will not make an immediate decision on the head coach’s future, after the draw with Dundee United, and that could be because they are waiting for the new CEO to start.
The issue is that the Gers play six times before Stewart’s start date, including a Europa League clash with Tottenham Hotspur and a League Cup final against Celtic.
So far this season, Clement’s side have lost three times and drawn twice in their 12 Premiership games and find themselves a whopping 11 points adrift in the title race, which has led to speculation around the head coach’s position.
Motherwell
5th
2-1 win
Celtic
1st
3-0 loss
Dundee United
4th
1-0 win
Aberdeen
2nd
2-1 loss
Dundee United
4th
1-1 draw
As you can see in the table above, Rangers have only won two of their five games against the other teams inside the current top five in the Premiership, losing two and drawing one.
Clement’s team were also knocked out by Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League play-off in August, adding further fuel to the fire, and that coupled with the dismal form in the league is why Stewart must ditch the manager when he arrives next month.
It is not just the manager who should be ditched by the incoming CEO, however, as striker Cyriel Dessers is one player who must be moved on when the January transfer window opens for business in just over a month.
Cyriel Dessers' form for Rangers last season
In the summer of 2023, former Rangers head coach Michael Beale swooped to sign the Nigeria international from Cremonese for a reported fee of £4.5m.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
He ended the 2023/24 campaign with a return of 22 goals and nine assists in all competitions, which sounds like a very solid return on paper. However, the underlying numbers behind his performances suggested that it was a difficult season for the former Serie A marksman.
In the Europa League, Dessers scored one goal in seven games and struggled badly out of possession. He lost a whopping 74% of his duels in those seven outings, which shows that opposition defenders found it far too easy to get the better of him in physical contests.
Appearances
35
Goals
16
Big chances missed
27
Conversion rate
16%
Pass accuracy
70%
Duel success rate
33%
As you can see in the table above, the 29-year-old forward was incredibly wasteful in front of goal with a staggering 27 ‘big chances’ missed in the Premiership.
He was also, as was the case in Europe, dominated by opposition defenders on a regular basis, which meant that Rangers did not have a reliable outlet to hit in the number nine position.
Why Cyriel Dessers should be sold
Stewart could seal an instant masterclass at Ibrox by parting ways with the manager and then cashing in on Dessers when the January transfer window opens, as his struggles have continued into the current season.
The £27k-per-week striker has not kicked on and improved in his second campaign with the Light Blues. He is still struggling with the same issues that he had in the 2023/24 campaign, as his finishing has been wasteful and his play out of possession has left a lot to be desired.
Cyriel Dessers
In the Europa League, Dessers has scored one goal from 2.57 xG and missed five ‘big chances’ in just four outings, whilst losing 68% of his duels with opposition defenders. This means that he has scored two goals in 11 games in the competition since the start of last term.
Unfortunately, the experienced marksman has also failed to provide consistent quality on the pitch in the Premiership, with one goal in five games against the other teams inside the top five.
Appearances
12
Goals
4
Big chances missed
6
Pass accuracy
72%
Duel success rate
34%
As you can see in the table above, Dessers has only scored one goal in every three matches on average and, again, missed more ‘big chances’ than he has scored goals, whilst also being dominated out of possession.
The Nigerian centre-forward has scored 20 goals and missed a whopping 33 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, which illustrates how wasteful he has been in front of goal.
With this, and his £27k-per-week wage, in mind, one of Stewart’s first tasks must be to work with Koppen to find a suitor for the striker in January, as Rangers must find an upgrade on him in the number nine position to improve their form domestically and in Europe.
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It would be an instant masterclass from the new CEO if he can brutally ditch Dessers, alongside Clement, and land a more reliable centre-forward for the Ibrox giants.
Wolverhampton Wanderers fans will be praying that a change in manager will inspire the Old Gold players to leap out of those dreaded relegation spaces in the Premier League.
At the moment, the top-flight standings are hard to digest from a Wolves fan’s perspective, with just nine points next to their stuttering club’s name, as Gary O’Neil bowed out with just two wins
picked up from his last 16 league contests.
Now, it’s time for a fresh approach at the Wolves helm to try and save their dying season, with one name edging closer to taking over from O’Neil.
The latest on Vitor Pereira to Wolves
Various outlets are reporting the fact Al-Shabab manager Vitor Pereira is set to be the former AFC Bournemouth manager’s successor, with GIVEMESPORT stating that a deal could already be wrapped up.
Wolves certainly haven’t messed about in finding a quick replacement for the 44-year-old, with Pereira’s appointment one that will no doubt come with intrigue attached to it, considering the Portuguese manager has never graced the English game from the sidelines.
But, he could be just what the Old Gold need in attempting to resurrect their campaign, with the in-demand 56-year-old boasting seven victories from 12 this season in the Saudi Pro League.
Of course, the demands of the Premier League are a different kettle of fish altogether, but his new methods could also mean certain frozen-out individuals at Molineux gain more opportunities moving forward, including notable Wolves dud Goncalo Guedes.
He could even become the club’s next iteration of Pedro Neto if everything slots into place under Pereira, particularly when you consider his previous excellent numbers from the wings.
Pereira's very own Pedro Neto at Wolves
Away from picking up those wins for Al-Shabab this season, Pereira has also made his current employers very easy on the eye to watch, with 49 strikes flooding in from his 30 games in charge of the Middle East outfit.
Often utilising the 3-4-3 formation there – something Wolves have experience of – Guedes could be in for a shout of more first-team chances if Pereira uses this same set-up at Molineux, having once starred all across the attacking positions at Valencia before making a major £27.5m switch to England a reality.
LW
102
16
17
SS
27
13
7
CF
18
4
6
RW
14
1
0
AM
4
0
0
RW
2
0
0
But, it’s obvious his best position when at the Mestalla was down the left flank, with a stunning 16 goals and 17 assists amassed from 102 games.
Unfortunately, since his move to Wolves, Guedes hasn’t been able to dazzle in a similar way on the left, with zero goals and assists coming his way from that spot.
But, he will be gifted a clean slate in the West Midlands under the fresh reign of Pereira, as the 56-year-old is tasked with getting the best out of the “lightning” quick attacker having been labelled that by European football expert Andy Brassell. That trait is certainly one he shares with the former Old Gold winger.
Dazzling wide play isn’t the only similarity between Guedes and Neto in their approach down the wings, with the ability to score an audacious effort like the one above also linking the pair together.
Scoring twice in the EFL Cup this season, it wouldn’t be a stretch to state that the former Valencia man was just a background figure under O’Neil.
Now, however, his importance could increase as Pereira prepares to walk into the building to leave his mark on proceedings.
Perhaps he could unleash a new Neto-like figure in the much-maligned Guedes.
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The term ‘shot-stopper’ almost becomes more null and void with every passing year, for a goalkeeper is far more than that these days. They are the beginning of every manager’s system, the first pass to break a press, they get their side up the pitch, they sweep their area.
What began with Manuel Neuer has progressed into what is the expectancy of every modern-day ‘shot-stopper’. And that has seen a fresh batch of stars emerge to create history and spark the endless debate as to who takes the crown as the world’s best. Using stats such as saves per 90, save percentage, clean sheets and pass accuracy, we’ve determined our number one.
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Note: All stats correct as of 15th November 2024.
Rank
Player
Club
Alisson
Liverpool
Thibaut Courtois
Real Madrid
Mike Maignan
Milan
Ederson
Man City
David Raya
Arsenal
Jan Oblak
Atletico Madrid
Unai Simon
Athletic Bilbao
Emiliano Martinez
Aston Villa
Giorgi Mamardashvili
Valencia
Diogo Costa
Porto
10 Diogo Costa Porto & Portugal
Portugal'sDiogoCostareacts
An underrated name on this list, Diogo Costa has become more reliable than most at Porto and represents a true modern-day No 1. Rising through the ranks at the Portuguese club, Costa has more than earned his place and has even been linked with moves to the likes of Chelsea along the way.
For now, however, his main goal remains taking his boyhood club back to the top of Liga Portugal ahead of Sporting CP.
Ranked eighth in the 2024 Yashin Trophy, Costa has been forced to settle for a place in 10th in our rankings, but should hold no shame in that given the plethora of names still to come.
Saves per 90
1.77
Save percentage
70.5%
Clean sheets
20
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
42%
9 Giorgi Mamardashvili Valencia & Georgia
Ranked one place ahead of Costa in the Yashin Trophy standings, Giorgi Mamardashvili has emerged as one of the hottest prospects around between the sticks. The Valencia goalkeeper has starred even as the rest of his side continue to struggle at the bottom of La Liga and particularly stood at at Euro 2024 with Georgia.
Attracting the interest of Liverpool as a result, Mamardashvili sealed a move worth a reported £29m to Anfield in the summer before heading back out on loan to Valencia for the current campaign.
On course to become the heir to Alisson Becker’s throne, 6ft 6in Mamardashvili is one of the best shot-stoppers around, who will have a higher place on such a list once he improves with the ball at his feet at a side of Liverpool’s quality.
Saves per 90
2.5
Save percentage
67.9%
Clean sheets
16
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
28.4%
8 Emiliano Martinez Aston Villa & Argentina
Whilst some, including FIFA, may have Emiliano Martinez top on the list of the world’s best goalkeepers, he’ll have to settle for a lower place in our rankings.
The Argentinian’s place in the history books should never come into question. He proved to be one of the biggest difference-makers between glory and the ultimate heartbreak on the biggest stage for Lionel Messi when Argentina defeated France in the 2022 World Cup final.
Ask any of his international teammates – and perhaps the entirety of his home country – and Martinez may well be considered among the best in history, but outside of those international heroics, it would be harsh on others to consider the Aston Villa man far and away the best that European football has to offer, especially when considering the numbers.
Saves per 90
2.56
Save percentage
65.9%
Clean sheets
9
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
38.5%
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ByCharlie Smith Oct 29, 2024 7 Unai Simon Athletic Bilbao & Spain
Speaking of international heroics, Unai Simon more than played his part as Spain battled to victory at Euro 2024 in Berlin, eventually overcoming England in dramatic fashion late on.
Finishing second in the Yashin Trophy as a result, the Athletic Bilbao man kept a total of three clean sheets at the tournament – only second to France’s Mike Maignan.
Now battling for a place in Europe with Athletic Bilbao alongside fellow Spain star Nico Williams, Simon should be on the radar of several top clubs when the January transfer window arrives next summer.
He proved that he can perform on the biggest stage last summer and is only likely to prove it once again with a big move.
Saves per 90
2.54
Save percentage
73.8%
Clean sheets
16
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
32.4%
6 Jan Oblak Atletico Madrid & Slovenia
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak
Jan Oblak may not be at the peak of his powers as consistently now that he’s 31 years old, but he remains one of the world’s best and Diego Simeone’s undisputed No 1. When he decides to hang his gloves up, La Liga will be left with a sensational highlight reel of incredible saves. At his best, the Slovenian has been almost impenetrable at times in Madrid.
With a few years to go yet, there’s no doubt that Oblak will continue to produce the impossible when Atletico Madrid and Simeone need him most, having already kept seven clean sheets in La Liga by mid-November.
Saves per 90
2.75
Save percentage
73.8%
Clean sheets
19
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
34.6%
5 David Raya Arsenal & Spain
Ahead of his Spanish counterpart Simon for once, David Raya’s recent rise has helped to form one of the Premier League’s most impressive backlines at Arsenal.
Behind William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, last season’s Golden Glove winner remains a crucial figure on and off the ball as a classic example of the modern goalkeeper that Mikel Arteta wanted ahead of Aaron Ramsdale.
Of course, it remains a mystery as to why Simon is often preferred to Raya on international duty, but credit deserves to go to both shot-stoppers for creating such competition.
At 29 years old, however, Raya should be desperate to move Simon aside in a similar fashion to how he dislodged Ramsdale at Arsenal in order to become the undisputed No 1 for Spain ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Saves per 90
2.25
Save percentage
68.7%
Clean sheets
19
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
37.1%
4 Ederson Manchester City & Brazil
Into the top four, this ranking could quite easily be Manchester City’s penalty order, which in many ways sums up just how unique Ederson is. The pure definition of a modern goalkeeper, the Citizens’ No 1 has the flair of a Brazilian forward and the passing range of an NFL quarterback, all whilst maintaining his shot-stopping standards.
The most composed player on the pitch even as several hearts skip a beat, Ederson is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers to ever step foot in the Premier League and arguably the best in Manchester City’s history with countless honours to his name.
Saves per 90
2
Save percentage
67.8%
Clean sheets
12
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
46.5%
3 Mike Maignan Milan & France
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Spearheading Milan’s return to the top of Italian football in the 2021/22 campaign before becoming France’s No 1 and winning the Golden Glove at Euro 2024, Maignan’s place among the world’s best goalkeepers is no longer a debate. In fact, it could even be argued that he should be higher on the list. For now, however, the Frenchman sits third here – and respectably behind some elite shot-stoppers.
He simply ticks every box for a modern goalkeeper and has shown that on the biggest stage. There’s not many sides in Europe’s top five leagues who wouldn’t take the 29-year-old as their No 1, including those at the very top.
Saves per 90
2.67
Save percentage
70%
Clean sheets
14
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
40.3%
2 Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid & Belgium
From his Atletico Madrid days to winning the Premier League at Chelsea and now starring at Real Madrid, Thibaut Courtois has been around for the last decade and has probably never dipped outside the top 10 goalkeepers in world football. He’s simply been that consistent and that much of a standout.
On the big stage, he’s among the players that most clubs would pick between the sticks on the shot-stopping front. It’s no surprise that even Real Madrid, with all the stars that they have, are struggling in the Belgian’s recent absence as of late.
What summed up his quality more than ever last season, however, was how he slotted straight into the Champions League final on his return from a long-term injury and didn’t miss a beat.
Saves per 90
2.96
Save percentage
77.1%
Clean sheets
16
Passing accuracy (40+ yds)
37.7%
1 Alisson Liverpool & Brazil
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Whilst Real Madrid were quick to suggest that Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win over Vinicius Junior was the most controversial moment of the ceremony, Alisson has quite the case for himself after failing to even make the rankings for the Yashin Trophy.
Top of our rankings nonetheless (in what is of course the ultimate consolation), the Liverpool star has arguably been the world’s best goalkeeper for a number of years.
One of the all-time Premier League greats, what makes Alisson stand out is how he simply does not perform for the cameras. The Brazilian excels at making even the most ferocious strikes seem routine, and perhaps those who decide the Yashin Trophy were simply looking for picture-perfect rather than efficient.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will ignore any such award and settle for a goalkeeper who has been at the centre of some of their most historic moments in recent memory.
Arsenal's win over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon has blown open the Premier League title race.
Mikel Arteta's men were spectacular on the night and managed to amass an awe-inspiring expected goals figure of 3.76 – the most the Reds have conceded under Jürgen Klopp.
Yet, there were still a couple of notable misses from the home side, such as the header from Bukayo Saka in the first half and the one from Jakub Kiwior in the second 45 that highlighted the team's need for a clinical number nine.
Former Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema was heavily touted for a move to N5 last month, and while some fans would have been understandably disappointed that he wasn't signed, his absence means there is still a chance for one of Hale End's most impressive graduates to make his way into the team.
The Gunners' interest in Benzema
Historically speaking, the north Londoners have been interested in signing the French number nine for well over a decade at this point, with stories from 2013 touting him for a move to the Emirates when it looked as if it wasn't going to work out for him at the Bernabéu – how different things could have been.
However, in this instance, the links to the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner originated last month when a flood of stories claimed the striker was unhappy in Saudi Arabia and was seeking a move back to Europe.
A number of clubs were linked, including Chelsea, Lyon and Arsenal, but in the end, the Frenchman remained with Al-Ittihad – an outcome his accountant surely celebrated.
While the arrival of a veteran who scored 19 goals in 24 La Liga appearances last season would have undoubtedly improved the Gunners in the short-term, his absence could pay dividends in the long-term.
Arsenal's great hope
Hale End has long produced some brilliant talent for the Arsenal first team – look at Saka and Emile Smith Rowe – and it seems like it has created another star in the making, Ethan Nwaneri.
Now, the first thing to note is that, yes, the 16-year-old is currently considered to be an attacking midfielder and not an out-and-out number nine like Benzema is, but there is no apparent reason as to why he couldn't be given a chance to play there; after all, Harry Kane started out as a deep-lying midfielder as a youth player.
Moreover, the London-born gem is no stranger to the centre-forward role as it's his second most played position with Arsenal's youth sides, and his goal record suggests that he should be playing higher up the pitch to boot.
Described as "a true goal-scorer" by data analyst Ben Mattinson, in his 42 appearances for Arsenal across the U18, U21 and UEFA Youth League sides, Nwaneri has scored 20 goals and provided nine assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.44 games – a genuinely impressive return for a 16-year-old.
Ethan Nwaneri's Youth Career
Club
Arsenal
Appearances
42
Goals
20
Assists
9
Goal Involvements per Match
0.69
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Arteta clearly sees a bright future ahead for the "sensational" youngster, as dubbed by Mattinson, as he made him the youngest Premier League player of all time when he gave him his debut against Brentford last season at just 15 years and 181 days old.
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Ultimately, the chance to sign Benzema is gone, and while the club might finally add an experienced number nine to the team in the summer, the emergence of Nwaneri is something that should excite fans, and if he is given a chance to prove his abilities in the first team he could go on to do great things in north London.
With the 36-year-old Benzema would have been an eye-catching short-term fix for the title hopefuls, Nwaneri could represent a sparkling long-term solution for those at N17…
Brendan Rodgers and Celtic have made three loan signings this season, most recently recruiting Adam Idah from Norwich City on the final day of the January transfer window. The Hoops fended off competition from clubs in Serie A and the English Championship to land the Irishman until the end of the campaign, but the agreement doesn't include an option to buy.
Last summer, Rodgers made two temporary additions, one of which saw defender Nat Phillips join from his former club Liverpool. Phillips, however would only play eight games in the first half of the season before being recalled to Anfield and sent to Cardiff instead.
Nat Phillips in action for Celtic.
Then there's Paulo Bernardo, who arrived on deadline day in September on a season-long loan from Benfica that did include the option to buy. Now, some key details around that detail and the player's future in general have emerged.
Celtic given Bernardo opportunity
According to The Daily Record, via Sports View, Celtic have been told by Benfica that they can sign Bernardo for a fee of £6m come the end of the season, putting them in pole position to be his next club.
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Bernardo is happy at the club and will seek a permanent transfer, but it remains to be seen whether Celtic are willing to fork out the 10th-biggest transfer fee in their history to get the move done.
"Tenacious" Bernardo winning Rodgers over
Having only started two of the first 13 Scottish Premiership games for which he was available, Bernardo has now been in the line-up for the last six in succession. The absence of Reo Hatate has played a big part, with the midfielder only able to play one game since October as a result of injury and his international commitments at the Asian Cup.
After a fresh setback with Japan, Hatate is now facing a further six weeks out, offering Bernardo the opportunity to make the spot his own. He's certainly grasped his chance in recent weeks by notching four goal involvements across his six-game run, including a memorable opener in the Old Firm derby against Rangers.
Dundee
1
–
7.8/10
Rangers
1
–
7.5/10
St Mirren
–
2
8.5/10
Ross County
–
–
6.8/10
Aberdeen
–
–
7.2/10
Rodgers has spoken glowingly of the Portuguese as both a footballer and an individual, hailing his maturity and "great attitude at training" as well as his appetite on the field.
"He has come in in these last few games and created goals and scored goals and he has put his foot in too," he said at the start of last month. "He is tenacious. I'm absolutely delighted for him. It is now about consistency."
Based on that verdict, Rodgers may push for Celtic to pay up, but Bernardo will have to show that "consistency" for the remainder of the season to earn the faith of the Parkhead hierarchy.
Glasgow Rangers may have lost the League Cup final on penalties last weekend, but there were plenty of positives to take from the display at Hampden Park.
Indeed, Philippe Clement’s men drew on their fighting spirit to return from the dead not once, but twice, forcing extra time courtesy of a late Danilo equaliser.
Glasgow Rangers striker Danilo.
In the end, scoring three goals against Celtic isn’t something Rangers have done too often in the previous few years, but hopes will be high going into the Old Firm clash at the start of 2025.
The Belgian appears to have certain members of his first-team squad firing on all cylinders lately, which is a big bonus.
The likes of Ianis Hagi, Vaclav Cerny and Nedim Bajrami are all pulling the strings going forward, while Nico Raskin has emerged as a player who can dominate games, both domestically and in Europe.
Hamza Igamane has been the major surprise package, however. The young forward is finally settling into life in Glasgow, and he could be vital for the club between now and the end of the season.
Hamza Igamane’s stats this season
It may have taken a few weeks for the Moroccan to get over an injury before making his debut for the Light Blues, yet he has made up for lost time over the previous few months.
Across 17 appearances for the Gers, Igamane has netted six goals, with four coming in the Europa League, while grabbing a further two assists.
His game is certainly built for the European scene, evident by his well-taken finish against Tottenham Hotspur last week which saw the Ibrox side take the lead against the North Londoners.
Along with his four goals, the youngster has also averaged 1.3 key passes per game and succeeded with 1.3 dribbles each match.
Igamane’s strike rate is also impressive, netting a goal every 48 minutes, and if he can keep that sort of rate up, Rangers have an excellent chance to go quite deep in the competition.
Metric
Europa League
Premiership
Goals
4
2
Assists
1
0
Key passes per game
1.3
0.7
Successful dribbles per game
1.3
0.8
Total shots per game
1.5
2.2
These performances have seen his market value soar in recent weeks, while even attracting attention from down south in the process…
Hamza Igamane’s market value at Rangers
Eyebrows were raised when Clement paid around £1.7m in the summer to bring the striker to Glasgow, but that could soon turn into a bargain.
Indeed, according to reports, Everton reportedly sent scouts to Ibrox to take in the Europa League clash between Rangers and Spurs, keeping a close eye on Igamane during the game.
It is clear the Toffees need some added firepower, and it looks as though they have earmarked Igamane as a player of importance.
According to Transfermarkt, the African centre-forward is now worth €2.5m (£2m), which is a slight increase on the fee the club paid for him just six months ago.
There is no doubting this valuation will soar in the coming months, especially if he keeps up his level of performance, indicating that he could make the Gers a fortune.
Clement has a few players in his squad who are worth more than Igamane, with Rabbi Matondo still holding a decent valuation despite a poor season mixed with injury issues and a lack of starts.
Rabbi Matondo’s Rangers statistics
When the Welshman arrived at Ibrox in the summer of 2022, hopes were high that he could be an exciting addition to the squad, especially given his sheer pace and ability to take the ball past opposition defenders.
Unfortunately, he didn’t quite get the chance to showcase his abilities during his first campaign, making just 28 appearances in all competitions, registering a paltry five assists in the process.
Journalist Josh Bunting was critical of the winger halfway through his maiden campaign, saying in December 2022: “Rabbi Matondo with probably the worst 23 minutes I’ve seen this season, just hasn’t worked out and I said when he signed I wasn’t convinced. Has the pace but the intelligence and the awareness just really lack. His crossing really poor, no quality in it at all it was more hopeful.”
At the start of the 2023/24 season, it looked as though Matondo had made a breakthrough. Not only did he score his first goal for the club against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, but he began to emerge as a key starter under Michael Beale.
It didn’t take long for injuries to rear their head again, as the former Schalke youngster spent large sections of the campaign on the sidelines, although he did net a stunning equaliser against Celtic in March 2024.
Two goals and three assists in his first six games of the current season appeared to show a more mature Matondo, one that was capable of staying fit and forcing himself into Clement’s plans.
Like the previous two campaigns, he suffered yet another injury and has been missing since the start of September.
Rabbi Matondo’s market valuation
Despite his lack of input on the pitch in recent months, Matondo is currently valued at €3m (£2.5m) according to Transfermarkt, which suggests the Gers could sell him on for a decent price should there be any interest in the winger.
If Clement is aiming to bolster his squad during the January transfer window, then selling a few players who aren’t contributing makes a lot of sense.
On the left flank, the Belgian can utilise Oscar Cortes, Nedim Bajrami and even Igamane, which demonstrates just how far down the pecking order Matondo finds himself.
Matondo is even valued more than the young Gers sensation, although it surely won’t be long before he is overtaken. With just 18 months left on his current contract, January represents an ideal opportunity for Rangers and the Welsh winger to find a way of sorting out a deal which benefits both parties, no doubt about that.
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Journalist Beren Cross has provided a significant injury update regarding an influential Leeds United player, ahead of their Premier League clash with Burnley.
Farke expecting "tight" Burnley-Leeds clash
The Whites head to Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon knowing that the result could ultimately prove key in the relegation battle come May.
Speaking to the media ahead of the weekend action, Leeds manager Daniel Farke said he is expecting a “tight” battle away to the Clarets.
“I want to be there with a good performance. So, again, Burnley, what they have done in the last season is fantastic. Also a good start, especially performance-wise, to the season and I expect a pretty, pretty tight and competitive game. Out of these four games until the next international break, we want again to win as many points as possible.
“I would judge it as a difficult period because we have three away games, just one home game and we take it step by step. So right now we are just focused and concentrated on this Burnley game and to give ourselves a chance with a top performance again to win points.”
Farke will want as many players fit as possible for Saturday’s game, and it looks as though he could have a key man back in the fold, following a new update from Thorp Arch.
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Writing on X, Cross claimed that Leeds winger Dan James is making “immense progress” in his injury recovery and “would befive weeks ahead of schedule” if he features against Burnley. Farke said in his pre-match press conference that there is a chance he makes the squad at Turf Moor.
“Very positive and good news was Daniel James because he is a bit ahead of schedule in his rehab, so a compliment also to our medical department, our rehab coaches. He was even involved already, I would say, in major parts of team training during this week but he is definitely not in contention for the starting line-up.”
Having James back would feel like a massive shot in the arm for Leeds, with one of their record signings such an important figure with his blistering pace and improved end product, even though he is still searching for his first Premier League goal of the season.
The £75,000-a-week ace has the match-winning ability to decide what promises to be a close game away to Burnley, and even if he comes on as an impact substitute, simply having him in the squad will give the Whites a better chance of victory.
Leeds United and the 49ers are interested in a move to sign an exciting attacker in January, according to a new report. The Whites picked up an impressive win on Tuesday, beating Middlesbrough 3-1 at Elland Road, which has lifted them to second place, a point behind leaders Sheffield United.
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It’s been a good week of results for Daniel Farke and his team, but it has come at a cost, as the German revealed that Junior Firpo is going to be out for six weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury, which he describes as “heartbreaking”.
Fellow defender Joe Rodon also suffered a “painful” blow on Tuesday, as Farke revealed after the game, which could put him in doubt for the game against Preston. He said: “He was hit on his knee, and I think there’s a bruise, and it’s pretty painful. But he’s also a warrior, and we couldn’t afford to lose him.”
But there was good news for the Whites, as they were able to welcome back full-back Sam Byram, who played 85 minutes in the win over Boro. They also welcomed back midfielder Ethan Ampadu, who came on to replace Byram and see out the final moments of the match.
Leeds interested in move to sign Louie Barry
According to TEAMtalk, Leeds United have joined the race to sign Louie Barry from Aston Villa in January. The 21-year-old is currently on loan at League One side Stockport County from the Premier League side and has been in impressive form throughout the campaign.
The young forward has been with the Midlands side since 2020 but has only made one appearance in the first team, as he’s spent most of his time on loan elsewhere. Barry was at Stockport during the 2023/24 season and helped them seal promotion to the third tier, and it was agreed in the summer that he would rejoin them for this campaign.
He has since bagged 14 goals, making him League One’s top goalscorer this season, and that has alerted Villa to the idea of sending him on loan to a higher-level team in the New Year. Leeds have now joined the race to sign Barry on loan in January, but they are not the only team keen on a transfer.
Apps
42
Goals
24
Assists
5
The report states that a number of their Championship rivals are also keen on securing his signature in 2025. It was reported earlier this week that Middlesbrough were the front runners to secure the signing of Barry ahead of Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday. Villa do have a release clause in Barry’s loan deal with Stockport, which means they can terminate the loan without paying a fee and then can send him elsewhere for the second half of the campaign.
Leeds do already have players like Daniel James, Wilfried Gnonto, Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon who play out wide, but the latter could be recalled by parent club Tottenham Hotspur in January if they feel he isn’t being used enough.