Glasgow Rangers finally ended their away day woes in the Scottish Premiership, securing a relatively comfortable 3-1 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday afternoon.

Philippe Clement’s men trailed to an early Sam Dalby effort as it appeared the Light Blues would once again slip on their travels. Before the interval, Mohamed Diomande netted a fine long-range strike to level things up.

Goals from Robin Propper and Cyriel Dessers in the second half saw the Ibrox side return to Glasgow with all three points, but Diomande was wrongfully sent off in the dying minutes.

In truth, it was a dreadful decision by referee Nick Walsh, but it shouldn’t take the shine away from how good Diomande was during the match.

The Ivorian is finally emerging into a player that is performing at a consistently high level, and he will be key for the Gers going forward.

Mohamed Diomande’s season in numbers

Diomande has missed just three matches for Rangers throughout the 2024/25 campaign, with one of them due to suspension.

During that time, the 23-year-old has scored five goals while registering four assists in all competitions under Clement.

His positional flexibility has seen the player operate either in a more advanced role as a number ten or in a defensive position, utilising his abilities in both positions.

He has impressed most in the Premiership. Along with his six goal contributions, Diomande has created four big chances, and averages one key pass while succeeding with one dribble per match, proving that he loves to get forward as much as possible from the heart of the pitch.

Defensively, the midfielder averages 1.1 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, recovers 4.1 balls per game and wins 54% of his ground duels. Judging by his heatmap (courtesy of Sofascore), Diomande covers a lot of ground, either trying to start an attack or providing cover for those bombing into the final third.

His performances have been impressive indeed, which has been reflected in his market value. According to Transfermarkt, the midfielder is now currently valued at £5m and this will only rise the better he performs over the coming months.

Despite having someone of this quality in his squad, Clement is always looking to add new talent to his first team. Will he be able to sign a player who is currently starring for another Premiership club this term?

Rangers eyeing move for Dundee starlet

A couple of weeks ago, the Scottish Sun reported that the Light Blues were considering making a pre-contract move to sign Dundee star Lyall Cameron, who was entering the final few months of his deal.

The report from the Sun claims that the Gers are leading the chase for Cameron’s signature, although there is plenty of attraction from other parties.

Indeed, Aberdeen have joined the fray, showing interest in launching their own move for the Dens Park talisman. He might get slightly more game time by joining the Dons, yet European football and a chance to win trophies are just a couple of the incentives on offer at Ibrox.

At the time of writing, Cameron is currently valued at just £850k by Transfermarkt, but should he make the move to Glasgow and continue the form he has displayed this season for the Gers, then there is no doubt his valuation will soar.

This could suggest that the Light Blues will have a wonderful chance of securing a significant profit on the Scot, especially if he begins to attract the attention of clubs from down south or abroad.

Market Movers

Last summer, Clement made a similar move by signing Connor Barron. Fast-forward a few months later and his value has risen significantly, reaffirming the rise Cameron could be about to enjoy if he moves to Glasgow.

Rangers' first Lyall Cameron

The Ibrox side had chased Barron’s signature for a while before finally signing their man last summer after he departed Aberdeen following the expiration of his contract.

During his spell with the Dons, the midfielder made 76 appearances for the club during his three full seasons at Pittodrie, quickly becoming one of the best young talents in Scotland, just as Cameron has shown throughout 2024/25.

The Scot was lauded by Scotland U21 manager Scot Gemmill while playing at Aberdeen last season, who said: “Connor is very impressive on and off the pitch the way he conducts himself.” And the midfielder has wasted no time in trying to make his mark for Rangers.

While he may have struggled to make the starting XI in recent weeks due to the form of Nico Raskin and Diomande, with both players shining as a midfield duo, Barron has still made 33 appearances for the club across all competitions.

Attacking the goal isn’t exactly his forte, but his ability to control possession from the middle of the pitch is exactly why Clement brought him to Rangers in the first place.

Indeed, his 90% pass success rate in the top flight proves this, while the former Aberdeen starlet wins 3.2 total duels per game along with averaging 1.8 tackles per game in the Premiership.

Accurate passes

24.3

42.5

Tackles

3

1.8

Interceptions

1.7

0.6

Ground duels won

3.7

3.2

Possession lost

7.7

6.8

He is still raw and developing all the time, but if Clement can manage the midfielder, there is no doubt he can be a star for the club over the next few years.

Connor Barron's market value in 2025

Although he joined upon the expiration of his contract, Rangers had to pay Aberdeen a compensation fee of around £600k.

This is small change, however, especially considering his valuation at the time of writing. According to Transfermarkt, Barron is now worth £2m and this figure has been rising ever since he arrived in Glasgow last summer.

It is evident that the club have struck gold on Barron. While he is undergoing a tough spell right now, he needs to continue to work hard and the midfielder will get his chance.

Furthermore, Barron is worth over £1m more than Cameron at this moment in time, which proves just how good a signing the youngster has been for the Gers.

Rangers have struck gold on "thunderous" star who is worth more Fernandes

Rangers have a player in their squad who has seen their market value increase rapidly.

1 ByRoss Kilvington Jan 25, 2025

Everything you need to know about Teun Koopmeiners' salary details playing for Juventus

Dutch midfielder Teun Koopmeiners joined Juventus for a relatively high price in the summer of 2024, having previously spent three seasons with Atalanta, where he played a key role in leading the Serie A side to a Europa League win in the 2023-24 season.

Koopmeiners signed a five-year contract with Juve, keeping him at the Allianz Stadium until 2028.

In addition to being a vital part of the Juventus squad, Koopmeiners is also one of the highest-paid players at the club.

But exactly how much does he earn?

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!

*

Teun Koopmeiners' wages at Juventus in numbers

Under the terms of Koopmeiners' current five-year contract with the club, the Dutch midfielder secures a weekly salary of £95,381 ($112,042), positioning him as the fifth-highest earner within the current Juve squad. His annual earnings at the club total £4.9 million ($6.5m).

Player

Nationality

Weekly wages in GBP

Weekly wages in USD

Annual wages in GBP

Annual wages in USD

Teun Koopmeiners

Dutch

£95,381

$112,042

£4,959,800

$6,553,057

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTop earners at Juventus

At the forefront of Juventus' earnings is the esteemed Serbian forward, Dusan Vlahovic, previously with Fiorentina.

Trailing Vlahovic are two proficient Brazilians, Bremer and Douglas Luiz. Bremer transitioned to Juventus from Torino in 2022, while Douglas Luiz recently arrived from Premier League side Aston Villa.

In fourth position is the adept Manuel Locatelli, with the aforementioned Teun Koopmeiners rounding out the top five.

Player

Nationality

Weekly wages in GBP

Weekly wages in USD

Annual wages in GBP

Annual wages in USD

Dusan Vlahovic

Serbian

£321,352

$424,581

£16,710,313

$22,078,237

Bremer

Brazilian

£153,072

$126,020

£7,959,748

$10,516,691

Douglas Luiz

Brazilian

£137,699

$181,932

£7,160,335

$9,460,479

Manuel Locatelli

Italian

£101,001

$121,434

£5,252,058

$6,939,199

Teun Koopmeiners

Dutch

£95,381

$112,042

£4,959,800

$6,553,057

Top earners in Serie A

Dusan Vlahovic is the top-earning player at Juventus and leads the league's salary rankings.

Following closely, Inter's key players Lautaro Martinez, Nicolo Barella, and Hakan Calhanoglu hold the second, fourth, and fifth positions, respectively, in the top five.

In third place is former Juventus star Paulo Dybala, now playing for AS Roma.

Player

Club

Weekly wages in GBP

Weekly wages in USD

Annual wages in GBP

Annual wages in USD

Dusan Vlahovic

Juventus

£321,352

$424,581

£16,710,313

$22,078,237

Lautaro Martinez

Inter

£275,563

$364,083

£14,329,265

$18,932,316

Paulo Dybala

AS Roma

£214,235

$283,054

£11,140,208

$14,718,825

Nicolo Barella

Inter

£199,027

$262,961

£10,349,391

$13,673,970

Hakan Calhanoglu

Inter

£183,653

$242,649

£9,549,978

$12,617,758

AFPHighest paid players in the world

Despite their significant earnings, no Serie A players are among the top five highest-paid footballers worldwide.

The top five are exclusively from the Saudi Pro League, with Cristiano Ronaldo, a dominant force, leading with a remarkable salary at Al Nassr.

His former Real Madrid colleague Karim Benzema is second, while Riyad Mahrez, formerly of Manchester City and now with Al-Ahli, ranks third.

Rounding out the list are Senegalese stars Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly in fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

Player

Club

Weekly wages GBP

Weekly wages USD

Annual wages GBP

Annual wages USD

Cristiano Ronaldo

Al Nassr

£3,216,155

$4,210,425

£167,250,468

$218,942,120

Karim Benzema

Al Ittihad

£1,608,178

$2,105,213

£83,625,234

$109,471,060

Riyad Mahrez

Al Ahli

£839,469

$1,098,921

£45,652,372

$57,43,893

Sadio Mane

Al Nassr

£643,271

$842,085

£33,450,094

$43,788,424

Kalidou Koulibaly

Al Hilal

£558,038

$730,509

£29,017,956

$37,986,458

The installation of a subsurface aeration system, that draws out water even as it begins to rain, and a sand-base outfield, could end long waits and cancellations at matches in Bangalore

Akshay Gopalakrishnan in Bangalore31-Jan-20175:31

No more wet cricket outfields?

The last time the M Chinnaswamy Stadium hosted a Test match – between India and South Africa in November 2015 – wet weather ruled out play on four of the five days. The rains had been fairly persistent, due to tropical storms in neighbouring areas, but not brutal to the extent of losing four full days. That only 81 overs were bowled was down to the wetness of the outfield.The third and final T20I between India and England on Wednesday will be the first match at the ground since the IPL final in May. In the downtime, the Chinnaswamy Stadium has had a comprehensive makeover of its outfield and drainage. With each washout costing the association crores, the KSCA, in a bid to do away with the wet outfield problem, has installed a subsurface aeration system that is aimed at starting play within minutes after rain ceases.”This system is meant for turf conditioning and is something that works 365 days a year,” Anil Kumar, the managing director of Great Sports Infra, the company that installed the system, told ESPNcricinfo. “Rather than in the past, when you were treating the problem after it stopped raining, here it is treated as it rains. We started the project in June and completed it in 150-160 days. It cost us about Rs 4.5 crores, though the KSCA had to supply some material of their own, like sand, gravel and a few other things.”So how does subsurface aeration work? The system is powered by a 200-horsepower machine, developed by the American company SubAir. The machine primarily functions in two modes – a pressure mode and a suction mode. The suction mode is vacuum-powered and is used to draw water out of the outfield. The machine has a capacity of flushing out upto 10,000 litres per minute. The act of drawing out the water begins as and when it rains, which speeds up the drying process. The pressure mode is used to pump oxygen to the grass, which ensures it stays healthy. The pressure mode is the default mode given that rains are not an everyday occurrence and the grassroots need fresh air regularly.To make sure that water is drawn out as soon as the rain begins to fall, there are remote sensors embedded in various parts of the outfield. These sensors can detect the amount of water, and once it exceeds the normal level, they send a signal to the machine, which automatically switches to suction mode.Installation of the machine was only half the job. To ensure that the water sucked out is flushed out efficiently, a new drainage system had to be laid. That meant the outfield was dug up and a new sand base was laid, replacing the old red soil one that had been in place since 1968. “Sand is the best consolidating material, and it allows the water to go down,” PR Viswanathan, BCCI’s South Zone curator, said.”If you take regular soil and water, it will swell and become a lump, which does not happen with sand. The drainage system takes the water out, but in other kinds of soil, the surface moisture is retained. Sand, on the other hand, does not hold water. It allows water to percolate, which means the outfield is less slippery and the risk of injury is minimised. Sand is expensive, and you need to be very good with maintenance, especially in cool climates like Bangalore, where fungal infection is something to look out for.”With the new system, which is called sub-soil drainage, built as per the standards of the United States Golf Association, water penetrates the sand layers and goes through a network of pipes that connect to the water separator tank, where pumps have been fit in. These pumps then throw the water into the main drains. It helps that the ground is situated on a higher plane than its surroundings, which makes for natural drainage. To quicken the process of water removal, the pipes converge at one point, which is connected to the SubAir machine. But work still remains to be done.”We have got a water tank that has got a capacity of three lakh litres. And we are going to have another tank of about five-lakh litre capacity,” K Sriram, the chief curator, said. “We will start on that work after this match.”We are trying to recycle as much water as we can. We have around 12 or 13 recharge points in and around the ground for the excess water so that the borewell gets recharged. After those get saturated, there is a well near the pavilion where the water will go.”With the subsurface aeration machine having the ability to draw out 10,000 litres of water every minute, the expectation is for matches to begin within minutes after rain stops•BCCIThe relaying of the outfield had been long overdue, given the hardness of the surface and excess growth of weeds due to the formation of alkaline that infected the grass. Digging up the area was not an easy task, as they encountered hard rocks at various parts of the ground that had to be drilled and taken out. That apart, remedies were applied on the pitch, where excess soil was removed to bring in some freshness.Originally designed for golf courses, subsurface aeration is a tried method in other sports stadiums across the world. But this is the first such application on a cricket field. “The one thing that is really unique to cricket is they use the same ball for the entire match,” Kevin Crowe, the senior vice-president of SubAir, said. “In baseball, for example, which is the closest thing to cricket, if the ground is wet, they just toss that baseball out and use a new baseball, while in cricket, they need to keep the ball dry because they use the same ball for the entire match. So part of our design was that we want water to drain rapidly.”The other thing is that, normally, on a baseball or a soccer field, you do the whole thing exactly the same. But because the pitch in the centre needed to remain clay, we had to work around those areas, which created some uniqueness in the drainage design.”The SubAir machine is digitally operated. Schedules are set for an entire month and the pressure mode is usually activated every hour to aerate the roots, but the frequency can vary depending on the weather conditions. The air is emitted with sufficient force to be discernible to the naked eye. “You keep a light object on the turf when the air is being pumped, and you will see it get thrown up in the air,” Sriram said. Besides, the system can be operated via a mobile application, which means glitches can be fixed from any corner of the world.It kicks into suction mode automatically in the event of rain, but given the force with which the water is drawn out, is there the risk of too much moisture being sucked out and the pitch changing behaviour? “We have left the pitch intact. We did not touch it,” Anil said. “We treated only the outfield, so we are not going anywhere that will change the nature of how the ball will behave on the pitch. It’s the outfield which usually remains uncovered and which is really the cause of the delays and cancellations. Anything except for the main square is pretty much covered, right up till beyond the boundary.”The system can also help in controlling dew, but won’t eradicate it altogether. “The reason dew forms, in terms of the temperature variation, is a lack of air blowing above the grass surface,” Anil said. “The difference in temperature, the grass being a bit cooler and the air that is above it being slightly warmer, leads to the moisture of the grass. With the combination of suction and aeration that we keep running alternatively, we can minimise dew, but cannot eliminate it completely.”Anil further said that cricket associations, both within and outside India, have shown interest and taken proposals, but have not signed any contract yet. “Quite a few are waiting for this first installation to happen and to actually see it in action.”The previous year saw its share of bizarre washouts, most notably the Port of Spain Test between West Indies and India in August, and the Durban Test between South Africa and New Zealand, both of which did not produce a result due to the grounds’ inability to deal with rain. In an era of ever-increasing focus on result-oriented matches, and four-day Tests being mooted, if the system succeeds, it may not be too long before other associations follow the lead.

MatériaMais Notícias

da premier bet： Lucas Perri não se abalou com a lesão sofrida por Gatito e foi um dos protagonistas na vitória do Botafogo em cima do Atlético-MG por 2 a 0 no Mineirão. Por conta da situação do paraguaio, o goleiro deve ganhar sequência num momento decisivo da temporada.

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da 888casino： +ATUAÇÕES: Tiquinho comanda vitória do Botafogo; Lucas Perri e Victor Sá também se destacam

O arqueiro chegou ao clube em agosto deste ano após se destacar pelo Náutico eser um dos protagonistas na conquista do Campeonato Pernambucano. Apesar da boa temporada, o atleta ainda não recebeu muitas oportunidades com Luís Castro.

+Tiquinho Soares define Botafogo como ‘time da estratégia’ e celebra vitória em cima do Atlético-MG

Lucas Perri iniciou a carreira nas categorias de base do São Paulo e atuou por seis meses no Crystal Palace. Embora não tenha a mesma experiência de Gatito, o jovem já provou que sabe lidar com momentos de adversidade.

Além do jogo de segunda-feira, o goleiro também atuou na vitória em cima do Goiás por 1 a 0 na Serrinha. O Glorioso conta com dois jogos nesta reta final de Brasileirão e sonha com uma vaga para Libertadores.

O Botafogo volta a campo na próxima quinta-feira, contra o Santos, às 20h, no Mineirão, pelo Brasileirão. Com Lucas Perri provavelmente titular, o time de Luís Castro vai em busca da segunda vitória consecutiva na competição.

da esport bet： Liverpool have made an enquiry over signing an “outrageous” midfielder who’s also wanted by Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, according to a report.

Reds could be set for quiet January

da supremo： The Reds continue to set the pace at the top of the Premier League, sitting six points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand, which means there may be little reason to make too many changes to the squad in the January transfer window.

Having also had a quiet summer, Jamie Carragher has now suggested there could instead be a spending spree at the end of the season, saying: “There’s no doubt, the fact that Liverpool haven’t bought anyone this window, didn’t really buy anyone in the summer, there must be a big pot of money there to buy whoever they want maybe next summer.”

However, one position in which Arne Slot may look at strengthening before February 3rd is left-back, given Andy Robertson’s drop-off in form this season, and the manager’s top target is believed to be Ajax’s Jorrel Hato.

Related Their own Marmoush: Liverpool could sign “pure difference-maker” for £84m

Liverpool are one of a number of clubs reportedly interested in the Bundesliga forward.

Posts 2 ByDan Emery Jan 27, 2025

Earlier this month, it was reported that a January deal for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki was also a possibility, and there has now been a new update on Liverpool’s pursuit of the attacking midfielder.

According to a report from Caught Offside, the Reds have made contact to enquire about Cherki’s availability this month, but the potential deal may have to wait until the end of the season.

Manchester United have also made an enquiry, while Tottenham Hotspur are keen, with the player’s agents now actively trying to find him a new club. Indeed, reporter Dean Jones claims the playmaker is being offered around to clubs like Spurs for just £20m due to Lyon’s financial troubles.

As such, the Merseyside club may have to battle their Premier League rivals for the 21-year-old’s signature at the end of the season, at which point they may have a lot of money to spend, if Carragher’s prediction proves to be correct.

Cherki impressing in Ligue 1

The young midfielder has been very impressive for Lyon over the past year, as displayed by his performance across a number of key attacking metrics.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.48 (98th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

7.81 (99th percentile)

Progressive passes

9.93 (99th percentile)

Successful take-ons

4.34 (99th percentile)

The Frenchman has also received high praise from journalist Dean Jones this season, who tipped him to go on to achieve great things in the game, saying: “His skill level is outrageous. He feels like he could become one of the best players in the world.”

The possibility of signing a player with such ability for just £20m is too good to turn down, so a move for Cherki should definitely be revisited at the end of the season, and Liverpool should stand a very good chance of winning the race for his signature if they win the Premier League title.

Seven wickets fall in 26 overs at Canterbury as hosts take early command

ECB Reporters Network06-Apr-2023Northamptonshire 89 for 7 (Stewart 3-6) vs KentKent reduced Northamptonshire to 89 for seven on a rain-affected first day in the LV= Insurance County Championship at Canterbury.Grant Stewart took three for six and Michael Hogan two for 36 as the Spitfires exploited damp and dark conditions to leave the visitors deep in the mire at the end of a truncated evening session.Ricardo Vasconcelos was Northamptonshire’s top scorer with 39, but he fell in the only over bowled after tea before play was abandoned due to bad light.Heavy overnight rain at the St. Lawrence wiped out the morning session, but the home side were clearly the happier after winning the toss and rattling through Northamptonshire’s top order during the 26 overs that were possible.When play finally got underway at 2.15pm the visitors initially scored rapidly. Vasconcelos drove the first ball of the day, from Matt Quinn, for four and they cantered to 26 without loss, until Hogan trapped Hassan Azad lbw for seven in the sixth over.In the next over Quinn sent Sam Whiteman’s middle stump flying for just a single and both first-change bowlers then took wickets with their first deliveries.Joey Evison struck with the first ball of the 12th over, getting Luke Procter caught by Ben Compton at square leg for eight and Stewart then had Rob Keogh caught behind for three at the start of the 16th.Stewart subsequently took a superb return catch to dismiss Josh Cobb for seven, clinging onto a violent drive at ankle height, before he had Lewis McManus caught behind for five.Tea was originally scheduled for 4.10pm but with light deteriorating the session was curtailed three minutes early.Vasconcelos fell lbw to Hogan to the fourth ball after an extended interval, leaving James Sales and Gareth Berg as the out batters on five and three respectively when play was abandoned for the day.

حسم النادي الأهلي موقف أحد لاعبيه من البقاء أو الرحيل خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الحالية، حيث أنهى إجراءات انتقاله إلى بتروجيت على سبيل الإعارة.

وأكد مصدر مسؤول داخل الأهلي لموقع بطولات، أن إدارة النادي وافقت على إعارة سمير محمد إلى بتروجيت لمدة موسم واحد، بعد الاتفاق الكامل بين الطرفين، وتم توقيع العقود بشكل رسمي.

ويُعد سمير محمد أحد العناصر الواعدة في القطاع الهجومي بالأهلي، حيث تم تصعيده إلى الفريق الأول خلال الموسم الماضي، وشارك في عدد من المباريات، ورغم عدم تسجيله أو صناعته لأهداف، إلا أنه يُنظر إليه كأحد المواهب التي تحتاج إلى اكتساب مزيد من الخبرات من خلال المشاركة المنتظمة.

طالع أيضًا | التفاصيل الكاملة لأزمة وسام أبو علي مع كولومبوس كرو الأمريكي وحقيقة مفاوضات بيراميدز

اللاعب البالغ من العمر 21 عامًا شارك مع الفريق الأول في 6 مباريات بمختلف البطولات، ويأمل الجهاز الفني أن تمنحه فترة الإعارة فرصة أكبر للظهور وتطوير مستواه.

يأتي هذا التحرك بالتزامن مع اقتراب انطلاق الموسم الجديد من الدوري المصري، والمقرر بدايته في 8 أغسطس 2025، حيث سيُقام بنظام جديد يتضمن مرحلة أولى من دور واحد، يعقبها تقسيم الفرق إلى مجموعتين، الأولى لتحديد البطل وتضم 7 فرق، والثانية لتحديد الهابطين وتضم 14 فريقًا.

ووفقًا للنظام الجديد، سيهبط 4 فرق إلى القسم الثاني مع نهاية الموسم، بينما يصعد 3 فرق فقط من دوري الدرجة الثانية.

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.

Garnacho vs Son
Statistics per 90	Garnacho	Son
Non-Penalty Expected G+As	0.57	0.61
Actual Non-Penalty G+As	0.71	0.69
Progressive Passes	1.99	4.75
Progressive Passes Received	12.8	11.3
Progressive Carries	5.70	3.95
Shots	3.72	2.23
Shots on Target	1.48	1.09
Passing Accuracy	77.6%	81.3%
Key Passes	1.46	2.09
Shot-Creating Actions	3.11	4.57
Goal-Creating Actions	0.27	0.56
Tackles	1.19	0.56
Tackles Won	0.87	0.40
Blocks	0.73	0.34
Interceptions	0.77	0.25
Clearances	0.53	0.68
Carries	35.4	32.8
Carries into the Penalty Area	3.05	1.58
Ball Recoveries	4.64	3.62
Aerial Duels Won	0.13	0.11
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Season

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

The young defender has been compared to Virgil van Dijk, but to get anywhere near that level, he'll have to become Benfica's next star first

Just look at the names that have emerged from Benfica. Even narrowing it down to players from the last few years, there are some of football's biggest names. Enzo Fernandez, Darwin Nunez, and Goncalo Ramos left for colossal transfer fees. So, too, did Ruben Dias, who immediately showed he's one of the best defenders in the world. Go back just a little bit further, and you find Joao Felix and Ederson. Angel Di Maria is a former star, too.

The thing is, though, you have to break through at Benfica before you emerge from Benfica. And that's no easy task. Some of the best prospects in the world arrive in Lisbon with big dreams of someday breaking through.

American defender Josh Wynder is one of those prospects, and he's inching closer to that first-team breakthrough. Since arriving in Portugal, Wynder has generally taken the patient road, working his way up through the club's youth system. The former Louisville City defender recently got a taste of the first-team in a cup game, though, and American fans will be watching on eagerly, hoping that that taste can soon turn into a chance for Wynder to show why he might just be one of the next big prospects to impress with one of the world's best talent developing clubs.

GOAL takes a look at Wynder as he nears a potential leap forward for club and country.

Connor CunninghamWhere it all began

It's hard to believe that Wynder is just 20 years old. For those that have followed his career, it seems like he's been around for quite a while.

After initially signing with hometown Louisville City in 2021, the teenage defender rapidly emerged as one of the brightest prospects in American soccer. In addition to his initial success in the USL, Wynder went on to be a key player for the U.S. on the youth level, captaining the U-19s and emerging as a starter for the 2023 U-20 World CUp team that went all the way to the quarterfinals.

He also got a taste of the U.S. Men's National Team, earning a call-up in April 2023 for the Continental Clasico against Mexico. He didn't feature, but in many ways, the message was sent by U.S. Soccer: they were watching.

The federation wasn't alone, either. Benfica were keeping an eye on Wynder, too, and, after a trial with the club, his mind was all but made up.

"When I first got there [for my trial], I enjoyed it," Wynder told GOAL upon making his move in the summer of 2023. "Then a week into it I called my parents and I was like, 'I could see myself here'. I hadn't made the decision, but I told them that I can see myself here. When I got back to Louisville, I talked it over with my parents, talked with my agent, and then the next step for me was to get my parents over there to see the area and get comfortable, because they're going to be coming overseas visiting me. I think there's a lot of pieces but it all worked out."

He added: "They develop young players really well, and that suits me perfectly. Also, just the way they play, they're a ball-playing team, which fits my playing style very well, too. It's a good area, where the facilities are, and I think the coaching staff really did a good job when I was on trial. They're communicating with me and giving me a plan, and I think the pieces just kind of put themselves together for me."

AdvertisementLouisville CityThe big break

Before even arriving at Benfica, Wynder was given a path forward. It would start with the reserves. Before he could think about taking the field in the top flight, he had to adapt and, just as importantly, prove he was ready.

"They see me starting with the second team," Wynder said in 2023. "Hopefully, I'll integrate well with the team and start playing as soon as possible and doing well. Then, my goal is to get into the first team by the end of the year, at least training with the first team, because I think that should be my aspiration for this year. Hopefully, in the next year, or within two to three years, I'll be with the first team, starting or making appearances, whatever it is, but those are my goals."

In that sense, Wynder is right on time. Wynder has been a rock for Benfica B in the Portuguese second division, scoring four goals across 30 appearances from the centerback position. That consistency earned him a brief look with the first team.

On April 9, Wynder made his first-team debut for Benfica, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute in the first leg of the club's cup win over Tirsense. Benfica went on to win 9-0 across the two legs, with Wynder also named to the bench for the second match, although he didn't see the field in another blowout win.

Wynder's debut was a reward for his play with the club's second team, for sure, but it was also likely a sign of things to come if reports out of Portugal are to be believed.

Louisville CityHow it's going

It doesn't seem Benfica will be in a position to offer many more minutes this season. Currently second in the Portuguese league, Benfica is level on points with league leaders Sporting CP heading into a clash between the two this weekend. The club will then close the league campaign with a match against Braga before then facing Sporting CP in the cup final on May 25. These are high-stakes games and not the ones to throw a young centerback into.

Next season, though? That's when things could change.

According to Portuguese outlet Record, Wynder is expected to be promoted to the first team next season. His performances have reportedly impressed the club's hierarchy, who now believe he's ready for the big step up to the first team.

It would be huge for Wynder, who would then get a chance to prove himself for a heavy-hitter in a solid league. It could also mean minutes in top competitions, from this summer's Club World Cup right onto next season's Champions League. Benfica seem to believe he's nearly ready for those types of opportunities, and they may be coming soon, even if it likely won't be this season.

GettyBiggest strengths

Listed at over six feet tall, Wynder has no problems with the physical side of the game. He's proven to be dangerous on set pieces with both Benfica B and the U.S. youth teams, which is always a pretty big bonus for a young centerback. His athleticism will help him when he does make the move to first-team soccer and his aerial ability will help earn him trust from coaches.

His size and athleticism won't be what Benfica is focused on, though. No, the Portuguese giants will also be pleased with his technical development. Wynder always looked comfortable on the ball with Louisville City but, when playing for a team like Benfica, that skillset needs to be taken to a different level.

The club routinely dominates lesser opponents in the Portuguese league, which means defenders have to be as comfortable passing the ball as they are heading it away. In many ways, Wynder projects to be a modern-day defender, one who can impact the game both with the ball and without it.

Kolkata Knight Riders were at the mercy of the rain gods for more than three hours, but Gautam Gambhir and the unheralded Ishank Jaggi ensured that the wet weather ended as a mere footnote in victory

Shashank Kishore in Bengaluru17-May-2017For over three hours, Kolkata Knight Riders were on edge. A thunderstorm in Bengaluru threatened to have them packing up and boarding the first flight out on Thursday morning, instead of staying on for the second qualifier. Players and members of their support staff kept pacing up and down the stairs to check the intensity of the rain. Nathan Coulter-Nile, who spent large parts of the last two weeks recovering from concussion and headaches, had played a key role in restricting Sunrisers Hyderabad to 128. To go out now would be a bitter pill to swallow.Understandably, the players were by themselves, quietly huddled inside the cozy comforts of the dressing room, not sure if their botched chase in the final league game against Mumbai Indians, where they needed 25 off the last three overs, would come back to haunt them. Finishing a point ahead of Sunrisers could have left them sipping a hot cup of tea on the rainy night, probably grooving to the DJ beats along with their celebrity owner Shah Rukh Khan. Now, it all seemed like torture. All they had played for during the course of the last 40 days now hinged on Chinnaswamy’s revamped drainage and playing conditions being stretched by two hours for the playoffs.At the other end, Sunrisers were calm and comfortable as they watched the rain hammer down; they wouldn’t have much to worry about if it continued to stay that way. The forecast was for more rain. But if there’s one thing you don’t trust in Bengaluru, apart from light-traffic notifications, it is any rain prediction. The 15,000 odd fans present, alternating between chants of “K-K-R!”, “S-R-K!” and, quite inexplicably, “Are-Ceee-Bee!”, remained patient. Nearly two hours after the scheduled start of the second innings, there was a glimmer of hope.The covers were being peeled off and the revamped drainage was at work. Resumption wasn’t far off. A full chase was on. But just as they were set to resume, the rain returned to tease KKR some more. The players retreated to a game of box cricket inside the change-rooms. They did anything that could put their restless legs to work. Sitting around wasn’t an option.As the clock ticked past the point where the game was certain to be reduced, Sunrisers, sensing they now had no option but to defend a revised score, brought out a bucket full of wet balls. Bowler after bowler rolled his arm over to get acclimatised. After a short wait to know the target they were to defend, it was finally conveyed to them that it would be 48. Six overs. Twenty-four minutes to determine if the defending champions would spend two more days in Bengaluru and earn the right to play Mumbai Indians in another elimination shootout.Even on a tacky surface where the ball was gripping, as has been the norm at Chinnaswamy this season, it wasn’t a stiff target. But Knight Riders came out and made it look like an arduous task. Chris Lynn allayed nerves by slashing his first ball off the tournament’s best bowler – Bhuvneshwar Kumar – for six. But he fell next ball to a yorker-length delivery. Knight Riders were one down in the very first over.Yusuf Pathan was sent in at No. 3 with desperation writ large on his face. After attempting a mistimed pull, he committed hara-kiri, taking off for a run blindly. By the time he turned back, Bhuvneshwar had flicked the ball back onto the stumps in his followthrough. Knight Riders, two down.Now the crowd was behind local boy Robin Uthappa, but in trying to play to the gallery, he pulled one straight to the deep-square leg fielder. As he walked off, he did well to not make eye contact with his captain Gautam Gambhir, fuming at what he’d just seen. Knight Riders, three down – for 12, seven balls into the chase.Now, it was Ishank Jaggi’s turn. For two months, he’d carried drinks. In his career, he had only played five IPL matches, the last of them with Deccan Chargers in 2012. Until the eve of the game, he had no inkling that an opportunity would come his way in a knockout game. He’d nearly seen the team’s net session finish and was winding up when he got a tap, asking him to pad up. He was the last man to have a hit. Manish Pandey’s rib injury meant an opening, an opportunity to feature in an IPL XI for the first time in five years, an opportunity to steer a tense chase with his captain.At the domestic T20 tournament, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, earlier this year, he left a lasting impression on Gambhir by hitting three fours and six sixes for East Zone. The captain ensured his name was a forced into the IPL auction pool at the last moment. Here, there wasn’t enough time to impress the man responsible for picking him, but he had to remain calm nevertheless. He got right behind the line first ball to play a proper back-foot defence. Gambhir walked across to punch his gloves at the end of the over. Perhaps never before had Gambhir celebrated a glorious back-foot defence this wildly.Then, realising the need to take the chase upon himself, Gambhir showed smarts to pick his spots. When there was width outside off, he steered the ball behind point. If it was short, he was happy to use the pace and pull or hook. In doing so, he reeled off crucial boundaries.Off in-form legspinner Rashid Khan, he was beaten twice, but showed why he is regarded one of the best players of spin, driving inside-out.The target was now into single digits. Jaggi, at his end, held his shape, held his composure, and hit the winning runs with four balls to spare. Gambhir pumped his fists and let out a roar. It was the roar of an angry man who had seen his side nearly wilt yet again. Then came the rare smile and the satisfaction of a win that could put them in a position to lift their third IPL crown.