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Kieran Powell and Chandrapaul Hemraj are no Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis, but they haven’t even gone past the mandatory Powerplay unscathed in this series

The Preview by Deivarayan Muthu31-Oct-20183:30

Dasgupta: Spin-friendly surface might prompt tactical changes for India

Big PictureWest Indies did deny Virat Kohli a hundred but a familiar Indian script unfolded at the CCI’s Brabourne Stadium: Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan provided the launchpad for a tall total. In a rather unfamiliar instance, though, an India No. 4 (Ambati Rayudu) cracked a century, as the side moves closer towards solving the middle-order jigsaw.After coming close to matching the hosts’ firepower with the bat in the ODI series opener, tying with them and later toppling them, West Indies stretched back to the stragglers, again, in Mumbai. They to win on Thursday in Thiruvananthapuram if they are to claim a share of the ODI series.For that their flimsy top order needs some stability. Kieran Powell and Chandrapaul Hemraj are no Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis, but they haven’t even gone past the mandatory Powerplay unscathed in this series. This has applied further pressure on an inexperienced middle order, which folded under relentless scoreboard pressure on Monday. And the clock keeps ticking on the 37-year-old Marlon Samuels.The 37-year old from India – MS Dhoni – seems to be fading away as well, with the bat. While his tactical nous and wicketkeeping skills are still indispensable, Hardik Pandya-less India want Dhoni to find a higher gear, which he briefly did in the IPL earlier this year.Form guideIndia WLTWW
West Indies LWTLLIn the spotlightIn the fourth ODI, Khaleel Ahmed showed why he had been fast-tracked into India’s World Cup plans. He consistently swung the white ball – with and against his left-arm angle – lending more spice to an already varied attack that has been bolstered by the returns of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The way he dismissed Samuels in Mumbai was particularly delightful. After breaching the defences of Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell with inswingers, he moved one away to catch the outside edge of Samuels.Rovman Powell is a Jr Andre Russell. He has a Mr T hairstyle like Russell, he can tonk the ball high and far, and can pitch in with handy medium-pace. He has also swiftly established himself as a T20 globetrotter. However, he has struggled against spin here, falling twice to left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav and once to Ravindra Jadeja’s left-arm orthodox in four innings. All told, he has managed only 45 runs in four innings at an average of 11.25 and strike-rate of 68.18. Among West Indies batsmen, only Samuels had fared worse than him.1:44

For the first time we have a good fast bowling quartet – B Arun

Team newsIndia had left out one of their gun bowlers Yuzvendra Chahal for batting insurance in Jadeja in the absence of the injured Pandya in the previous game. They might stick with the same combination, considering Dhoni’s form – or the lack of it.India (Probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli (capt.), 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 Kedar Jadhav, 6 MS Dhoni (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Khaleel Ahmed, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Jasprit BumrahThe visitors might consider bringing in Sunil Ambris – a dasher like Jermaine Blackwood – at the top of the order in place of either Powell or Hemraj. On the bowling front, they might swap left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Fabien Allen with the more experienced Devendra Bishoo.West Indies (Probable) 1 Chandrapaul Hemraj/Sunil Ambris, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Shimron Hetmeyer, 5 Marlon Samuels, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Jason Holder (capt.), 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Keemo Paul, 10 Devendra Bishoo/Fabien Allen 11 Kemar RoachPitch and conditionsThe Greenfield Stadium is set to host its first ODI, having made its international debut last year by hosting New Zealand in a T20I. This could be the most humid venue in this series, and the pitch appeared flat and dry on the eve of the match.Stats and triviaNo side has beaten India twice in a home ODI series since October 2016. Dhoni needs one run to become the fifth player to score 10,000 ODI runs for India after Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli. Bhuvneshwar Kumar needs two wickets to 100 scalps in ODIs.Quotes”Khaleel looks a very exciting prospect. He is sharp and has the skills to do well at the international level.”
“I like heat, especially from the point of view that I could be in the UK, where it starts to get cold. The humidity’s is what you will expect. We’re not very far from Sri Lanka, so the weather is pretty similar. This is an amazing ground. Certainly we’re very excited to be playing here tomorrow. The wicket looks good, but it’s a phenomenal ground.”

A win is vital for the home side if they are to retain hopes of reaching the final

AAP03-Mar-2024Daniel Hughes and Oliver Davies struck fighting centuries to give New South Wales a chance to secure victory in their Sheffield Shield encounter with South Australia in Sydney.NSW went to stumps on day three with an overall lead of 178. Hughes (114 off 180 balls) and Davies (116 off 166 balls) were the standout performers on Sunday.Related

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Given NSW entered the penultimate round in fourth spot, they will fight tooth and nail to secure an outright win on Monday in order to keep alive their hopes of reaching the Shield final.”I think we’ll look to bat on a little bit in the morning, and try to get that lead upwards of 220ish,” Davies said. “I think it’s a 104-over day tomorrow, so [we will try to] give ourselves 90 to 96 overs to try to rock and roll them.”Hughes started Sunday on 71, and brought up his ninth first-class century during the morning session before his knock was brought undone by a sharp diving catch by Jake Lehmann.When NSW slipped to 213 for 4, the Redbacks had a chance to get themselves back into the contest. But the door was slammed firmly shut as Davies, Moises Henriques and Jack Edwards all dug in.Chris Green and Ryan Hadley made it to stumps, and will look to pile on some quick runs on Monday.Nathan McAndrew was the pick of the Redbacks bowlers with 3 for 63 to lift his season tally to 40 wickets, while Ben Manenti snared 2 for 114.”It was a tough day,” Manenti said.  “I thought we toiled pretty hard all day. Credit to Hughesy and Ollie, they batted well and got nice hundreds, and were chanceless. The wicket flattened out, so I think it will be a good wicket to bat on tomorrow.”For 23-year-old Davies, it was his second Shield century of the summer.”To not be picked at the start of the season to scoring my second century, it’s a very good feeling,” Davies said.  “Hopefully I can keep carrying this on.”I felt really good out there. I waited for bad balls, and thought I batted very well. I thought I was a lot more patient than I am in most other innings.”

Leeds United’s late show against Sunderland on Monday night handed Daniel Farke’s side a huge step towards ending their stint in the Championship come the end of the season.

The victory over their promotion rivals moved them seven points clear of third place, with just 13 games to go, extending their unbeaten run in the league to 15 in the process.

Pascal Struijk’s two efforts off the bench demonstrated the importance of substitutes for the Whites this campaign, with every player, whether it be a starter or an impact player having a say in their ambitions of returning to the Premier League.

It’s safe to say the disappointment of last season’s play-off final defeat is firmly in the rearview mirror, potentially going one better in securing automatic promotion given the current buffer they’ve built in recent weeks.

However, the fact Farke has been able to do so after numerous key departures over the summer has made the German’s job at Elland Road all the more impressive.

Crysencio Summerville’s stats at Leeds in 2023/24

After relegation to the second tier in 2022/23, winger Crysencio Summerville was handed a crucial role in the first team to try and secure Leeds an immediate return to the top flight.

He’d previously been an impact player in the Premier League the season prior but cemented his place as a key performer for Farke in his debut campaign at the helm.

The Dutchman would register 20 goals and nine assists in his 46 league outings, producing countless moments of magic and subsequently claiming the Championship Player of the Year award.

However, after such a successful stint, coupled with the failure to claim promotion, Summerville would depart to join West Ham United last summer in a deal worth £25m.

Losing such a talented player was always going to be a blow for the supporters, but it appears that the club have done a superb job in landing a replacement for the youngster – aiding their chances of returning to the top flight this year.

The Leeds star who’s now a £25m star in the making

Players like Summerville don’t come around very often possessing a skill set that not many talents are capable of replicating – making any replacement have a huge task on their hands.

However, Manor Solomon arrived on loan from Tottenham over the summer, with supporters not knowing what to expect after his lack of impact in North London.

Regardless of the expectations placed on his shoulders, it’s safe to say the Israeli international has exceeded beyond anyone’s imagination, registering seven goals and seven assists in his 26 Championship games to date.

The 25-year-old has popped up at key moments for Farke, including the 2-0 win over Norwich City, in which he registered a goal and an assist, playing a vital role in the triumph against the manager’s former side.

Despite his lack of impact in previous seasons, he was labelled as a similar player to Summerville in 2022/23 by FBref, matching or bettering the Dutchman in numerous key areas.

Solomon, who’s previously been dubbed a “monster” by one analyst, matched the former Whites fan-favourite for goals, whilst also posting a higher shot-on-target rate – showcasing his clinical edge in attacking areas.

Games played

19

28

Goals scored

4

4

Shot-on-target rate

64%

31%

Pass accuracy

85%

75%

Progressive passes

3.8

2.9

Take-ons completed

3

1.5

Take-on success rate

51%

40%

He also completed more take-ons per 90, subsequently achieving a higher success rate, evidently a better dribbler than Summerville – something which has aided his efforts in the final third this season.

Whilst he’s only on loan in Yorkshire this campaign, supporters will be hoping that, regardless of which division they will be playing in next year, Solomon joins the club on a permanent basis.

Should he do so, the Israeli could well be the club’s next big-money sale, following in the footsteps of Summerville – having a huge impact on the first-team, whilst also pocketing a pretty penny in the process.

Mateo Joseph 2.0: Leeds could hit gold with "clinical" & "exciting" teen

The Leeds United youngster has caught the eye with his performances at youth level.

ByDan Emery Feb 19, 2025

Last night was one to forget for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s side had a chance to turn their season around and put a massive dent in Arsenal’s ambitions simultaneously, but ultimately gave up a 1-0 lead to pick up their 11th Premier League defeat of the campaign.

Impressively, it was the youngsters like Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall who put in the best performances for the Lilywhites, while the senior players were painfully ineffective or practically anonymous.

Even goalscorer Son Heung-min was disappointing for the majority of the game, so recent reports linking the club with a potential replacement this month shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

Tottenham chase Son successor

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Tottenham are one of several high-profile clubs interested in signing Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho this month, whose sale is not off the table.

Transfer Focus

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

In fact, the report has revealed that the Lilywhites have ‘set their sights’ on the winger, have made a ‘concrete enquiry’ about his availability and may now be prepared to test the Red Devils’ resolve with a bid in the region of €70m, which is about £59m.

However, fans shouldn’t get too carried away just yet, as the report has also named European giants Napoli and Atlético Madrid as some of the interested parties.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Garnacho’s current ability and the potential many believe him to possess, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as Son cannot be relied upon long-term.

How Garnacho compares to Son

Now, the first thing to say is that over the last decade or so, there have been few players as consistently brilliant as Son in the Premier League, and when he does finally hang up his boots or move on, he’ll be rightly remembered as a legend of the league.

With that said, time catches up with us all, and with him set to turn 33 in the summer, the club need to find a long-term replacement and fast, as even though he can still chip in with a goal here and there, most fans will attest to the fact that he’s having less and less impact in games with every passing campaign.

So, with that in mind, how does he stack up against the young Garnacho? From a pure output perspective, it’s a very closely fought affair.

For example, in 26 appearances totalling 1825 minutes this season, the Spurs captain has scored eight goals and provided seven assists for Postecoglou, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 121.66 minutes.

In contrast, the young Argentine has scored as many goals but provided five assists in 30 appearances, totalling 1641 minutes, so he’s averaging a goal involvement every 2.30 games, or every 126.23 minutes.

So, with there being little to separate the pair with their output, how do they stack up against one another when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers?

Interestingly, while the South Korean international comes out ahead in a number of metrics, such as progressive passes, shot and goal-creating actions, passing accuracy and key passes per 90, he comes out second-best overall.

For example, the “dangerous” United gem, as dubbed by Paul Scholes, does better in a multitude of offensive metrics such as non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target and carries into the penalty area per 90, but also does significantly better for the defensive ones as well.

Not only does he make and win more tackles, but he wins more aerial duels, completes more ball recoveries and makes more interceptions and blocks, also all per 90.

What makes this even more impressive is the fact that he’s so young and has years to go until he reaches his peak, which for a wide attacker is about 26, according to research carried out by The Athletic in 2021.

Ultimately, Son is a bonafide legend, but he is nearing the end of his top-flight career, and Spurs need to find a dynamic and potentially game-changing replacement, which by all accounts may well be Garnacho.

A big Solanke upgrade: Spurs offered one of the best forwards in the world

The incredible forward would supercharge Spurs, subsequently replacing Solanke.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jan 16, 2025

Chelsea have emerged as the frontrunners to potentially strike a head-turning transfer deal, following some intriguing news out of the Premier League this week concerning an England star.

Chelsea planning to sign new defender for Maresca in January

Credible media outlets and respected journalists are claiming that Chelsea are seriously considering the addition of a new centre-back in January, amid Wesley Fofana’s long-term injury and Benoit Badiashile’s absence.

Chelsea entering pole position to sign £38m midfielder after making contact

The Blues have been courting him for over a year.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jan 7, 2025

A report from The Sun this week even stated that Chelsea have already had a low-ball offer rejected by Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi, but this is yet to gain traction among the national press.

What appears certain, though, is Chelsea’s serious interest in a January deal for Guehi, with renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano and respected colleagues sharing news that the 24-year-old Selhurst Park star is a serious transfer target for this month.

Romano says that the Blues are also now in contact with Palace over a deal for Guehi, but it won’t be easy, despite the Englishman having just 18 months left on his current deal.

Other rumoured central defensive targets for Chelsea include Tomas Araujo [Benfica], Antonio Silva [Benfica], Ousmane Diomande [Sporting], Illia Zabarnyi [Bournemouth] and Dean Huijsen [Bournemouth] – as per reliable Stamford Bridge reporter Simon Phillips – so the club bringing in a big-name new defender certainly looks like one to watch before deadline day on February 3.

In terms of other positions, Chelsea did consider signing River Plate’s midfield sensation Franco Mastantuono this month, and they remain hard at work to sign the Argentine, but it is a move more likely for the summer as things stand – mainly due to the costs involved in a winter deal.

That being said, Enzo Maresca’s side now sense another golden opportunity to bring in one of world football’s most exciting young midfield starlets.

Chelsea emerge as favourites to sign Man United star Kobbie Mainoo

Indeed, according to The Daily Mail’s Chris Wheetley, Man United star Kobbie Mainoo is at the centre of a contract stalemate at Old Trafford.

PSR issues are making it hard to tie the teenager with a new and improved deal to reflect his status as a key Red Devils mainstay and England international, with the 19-year-old rising star unbelievably earning a meager £20,000-per-week right now.

This has put BlueCo on red alert over a potential opening to tempt Mainoo down south, and it is believed that Chelsea are now favourites to sign Mainoo from Man United, if he decides to leave over the next two transfer windows.

Wheetley describes this as a “sensational deal” if Chelsea manage to pull it off, and it is hard to disagree with the reporter who broke the news on Tuesday. Since this report broke, GOAL suggested that both Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are valued at around £70 million.

Durham made to battle for wickets after Robinson leads imposing first innings

ECB Reporters Network26-Jun-2023A century by Colin Ackermann against the county he will be representing next season led a solid Leicestershire response after Ollie Robinson’s career-best unbeaten 167 had set up a Durham declaration at 517 for six on day two of their LV= Insurance County Championship meeting at the Uptonsteel County Ground.Ackermann, who will move to the North East at the end of the season along with Leicestershire team-mate Callum Parkinson, is 104 not out as his current side ended the day 335 for four. The 32-year-old all-rounder shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 117 with Australian international Peter Handscomb, who made 55 after opener Sol Budinger’s 51 earlier.Matt Parkinson, the leg-spinning twin of Callum who is currently with Durham on loan from Lancashire but will play for Kent in 2024, took two for 91 on a pitch likely to favour the spinners increasingly over the last two days, and with a lead of 182 the Division Two leaders still hold the upper hand.Durham declared approximately half an hour before lunch, having added 95 to their overnight score, Robinson returning to the visitors’ dressing room to pats on the back from everyone with the possible exception of Graham Clark.Clark had looked nailed on for a second hundred in three innings only for his partner to run him out on 92, chancing a quick single off a dab into the off side only for Ackermann to swoop at point and score a direct hit with his throw as Clark tried in vain to get home. With the fifth batting point effectively in the bag, it was hardly a necessary gamble.The partnership had added 227 runs, and while Robinson initially threw back his head in disbelief at what he had done, he regained his composure to equal his previous best of 143 by driving Matt Salisbury to the cover boundary before he and Liam Trevaskis upped the tempo to blast 69 in nine overs before the wicket of Trevaskis, caught on the boundary as he swept Callum Parkinson, prompted the declaration.Parkinson’s two wickets cost 107 runs. Among the suffering seamers, Ed Barnes was the tidiest, going for what in the circumstances was a paltry three an over in his first Championship match since breaking a foot in the last week of April.The Durham seam attack, short on experience due to injuries and international call-ups, included the debutant Raymond Toole, a South African-born left-arm seamer who plays for Central Districts in New Zealand, signed in part for his experience bowling with the Kookaburra, although he has more recently seen action in the North East Premier League with Shotley Bridge.Yet he struggled to make an impression on this placid pitch, as Leicestershire openers Budinger and Rishi Patel progressed without alarm to lunch and beyond. Moments after Budinger completed his second fifty of the season, however, they were out to consecutive balls.Ben Raine, once of this parish, snared Patel, posting a short square leg to whom the batter obligingly popped up a simple catch off a miscued pull, after which Budinger, rocking back to cut the leg-spinning Parkinson, feathered the ball into the gloves of Robinson, who held it at the second attempt.It was still essentially a good pitch but there were signs now and again of deterioration. Parkinson picked up a second wicket when he drew Lewis Hill into reaching for one outside off stump that turned enough to find the edge, slip taking the catch.At 124 for three, Leicestershire’s initial target of reaching 368 to avoid the follow-on looked some way off. By tea, it was a little closer, at 203 for three after Ackermann had passed fifty for the fifth time this season.Peter Handscomb, who had the good fortune to benefit from one of Parkinson’s not infrequent no-balls when he edged to slip on three, reached the same milestone seven overs into the final session only to run out of luck moments later when his attempt to paddle-sweep Trevaskis’s left-arm spin ballooned gently off the top edge to give Robinson a simple catch behind the stumps.Ackermann’s 22nd career first-class hundred came inside the final three overs of play when he pulled Toole for his eighth boundary. Unfazed by a blow on the helmet from a short ball by Raine shortly afterwards, he and Wiaan Mulder (49) have so far added 94. Leicestershire still require another 33 to avoid being asked to follow on.

With the extent of Ruben Amorim’s task becoming clearer by the day, Manchester United are now reportedly interested in beating Liverpool to one of their priority targets in 2025.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils very nearly made it a third-straight game without victory against Viktoria Plzen, only for Rasmus Hojlund’s late second to snatch all three points to avoid what would have been a disaster start under Amorim. The former Sporting boss has so far struggled to make an instant impact, but given the mess left behind by Erik ten Hag, United’s struggles have come as little surprise.

It doesn’t get any easier for Amorim’s side either, who square off against Manchester City in the Manchester derby this weekend in a battle between two sides growing more and more desperate to turn their recent slumps around.

Meanwhile, as the action continues on the pitch, the Red Devils have seemingly turned their attention towards potential reinforcements. According to Brazilian outlet UOL, INEOS are now interested in signing Joao Pedro ahead of Liverpool, who have reportedly made the Brighton & Hove Albion forward a priority target ahead of 2025, hoping to sign an upgrade on the struggling Darwin Nunez.

As bad as Rashford: Amorim must axe 3/10 Man Utd dud who left him dismayed

Manchester United secured a third consecutive Europa League victory last night.

By
Ethan Lamb

Dec 13, 2024

Manchester United already know all about Pedro’s quality, given that he’s scored three goals in five games against them, including a last gasp winner over the Red Devils from the penalty spot back in August. A thorn in Harry Maguire’s side, the Brazilian came away with the winning goal to his name and on the right end of five duels, whilst his defensive opponent made just one block and was hooked in the 79th minute, as per Fotmob.

"Leader" Pedro would hand Amorim instant Zirkzee upgrade

Whilst Hojlund is beginning to benefit from the arrival of Amorim, the same can’t be said for Joshua Zirkzee, whose best role is yet to be defined as the rumours over a potential exit already commence. By signing Pedro, however, Manchester United would end any attacking doubts and put an end to what is a failing Zirkzee experiment at Old Trafford.

Brighton, like they have been with a number of players so often in the past, will be keen to keep hold of Pedro amid such interest, especially following Fabian Hurzeler’s recent verdict.

The Brighton boss told reporters as relayed by The Guardian after his side defeated Bournemouth: “In possession he is unbelievable. He makes the difference for us today. It’s also very important to see how he works against the ball. He invests a lot out of possession. He does a lot of work in the shadow and the work that is unseen. That’s why it is very good to have him as a leader on the pitch.”

Stats highlights from the third day at Edgbaston, when England recovered after conceding a first-innings lead of 103

S Rajesh05-Aug-201637 Attempts without a first-wicket century stand for England in their second innings, before the unbeaten 120-run stand between Alastair Cook and Alex Hales at Edgbaston. The last century stand for the opening wicket in the second innings was in March 2013, when Cook and Nick Compton added 231 against New Zealand in Dunedin. Since then, in 37 attempts, England’s average opening stand in second innings was 22.75, poorer than all teams except Zimbabwe and India in this period.24 Innings since England last had a century stand for the first wicket, when Cook and Moeen Ali added 116 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi last year. It is also the first century stand in 18 partnerships between Cook and Hales.136 Overs that Pakistan’s first innings lasted, their second longest in their last 15 Tests in England. The last time they batted longer was at Headingley on the 2006 tour, when they scored 538 in 141.4 overs.14 Instance of both the England openers passing 50 in a Test innings against Pakistan. The last such instance was almost exactly a decade ago, in August 2006, when Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick both passed 50 in England’s second innings of the Headingley Test.9 Instances of Pakistan taking a first-innings lead of 100 or more against England in England, before today’s effort: five times when batting first, and four times when batting second. In these nine Tests, Pakistan have won four and drawn four, while one was forfeited, at The Oval in 2006.14 Fifty-plus scores for Misbah-ul-Haq after the age of 40, the third best in Test history. He is within one such score of equalling Patsy Hendren’s 15, while Jack Hobbs is the all-time leader with 19 fifty-plus scores in Tests after turning 40.3 Century opening stands in Tests in 2016, of which this unbeaten 120-run between Cook and Hales is the highest. The average opening stand in Tests this year is 28.44, the lowest in any calendar year since 1963.5 Instances of Younis Khan scoring between 25 and 31 in his last six Test innings. His scores during this period are: 31, 25, 33, 28, 1, 31.2/358 Yasir Shah’s bowling figures since his ten-wicket haul in the first Test at Lord’s.

Nottingham Forest are interested in signing a £25 million international defender ahead of Premier League rivals Newcastle United, according to a recent report.

It has been an excellent 2024/25 season for the Reds so far, as they are probably the surprise package of the campaign, but with January not that far away now, Nuno Espirito Santo and co seemingly have their eye on potential transfer targets.

Nottingham Forest and Marinakis want to sign 20 y/o int'l forward for Nuno

Nottingham Forest are interested in signing an unknown forward to improve their attacking options.

1

By
Brett Worthington

Nov 19, 2024

Nottingham Forest transfer news

Forest will hope that when January arrives, they are still in the top half of the table and are mounting a challenge for what could be an unexpected European spot. Nuno will not want to disrupt the squad too much, but adding one or two players may be on his mind.

The Reds are reportedly interested in signing Marwan Al-Sahafi from Al-Ittihad. He joined Belgian side Beerschot on loan in the summer and has been catching the eye with his performances, so much so that Forest and La Liga side Real Sociedad are keeping a close eye on him. As well as Al-Sahafi, it has recently emerged that Forest are interested in signing Manchester City’s James McAtee.

There are a host of clubs from England and abroad keeping an eye on his situation at the Etihad, but given his lack of game time, he could be allowed to leave in January for a fee of roughly £20 million. This has got Nuno’s side interested, but as well as looking at improving the team going forward, the Forest boss also has his eye on adding more options to his defence.

Nottingham Forest eyeing move to sign £25m Joel Ordonez

According to TBR Football, Nottingham Forest are eyeing a move to sign Joel Ordonez from Club Brugge in January. The Ecuador international, who has four caps to his name, has been playing in Belgium since 2022 but only joined Brugge last year and is also wanted by Newcastle.

The Belgian side were patient with the 20-year-old last season, but in this current 2024/25 campaign, he has become a key player, starting 13 of the 14 games he has played in all competitions. Ordonez has performed very well in Europe as well, starting all four of Brugge’s Champions League fixtures, two of which they have won, and one was against Aston Villa.

Villa have also been mentioned with an interest in Ordonez, but this new report adds that Forest are also interested in signing the centre-back. The Reds, Newcastle and Villa are not the only teams keen, with Brentford, Wolves and Brighton also named in the update.

Forest could be interested in making a move in January, but it would be an expensive capture, as it’s been claimed that Brugge values Ordonez at €30 million, which is roughly £25 million. This would be a risky signing for Nuno’s side, given he hasn’t played in England and the Premier League before, but at his age, he has a lot of time to develop into a very good central defender.

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.

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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