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Glasgow Rangers secured a 3-3 draw in the third Old Firm clash of the campaign as the race for the Premiership title is now heating up.
If Rangers win their game in hand against Dundee on Wednesday evening, they will be two points clear of Celtic with just six matches remaining.
Although scoring a last-minute equaliser to secure a share of the spoils against Celtic is something certainly worth celebrating, the first-half display was atrocious.
Philippe Clement chose a few players in the starting XI whose inclusion wasn’t warranted, as the likes of Scott Wright and Fabio Silva failed to sparkle during the match, the latter notably stealing the headlines for a series of dramatic reactions to fouls.
The positives were the volume of quality which the Belgian could call upon from the substitute bench, however, as Abdallah Sima and Rabbi Matondo both scored having come on during the second half.
Despite being able to call on these two, along with Todd Cantwell and Leon Balogun, there were a few players missing from the bench who could have used their experience to good effect; Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe.
Jack and Roofe missed the game due to injury, which comes as no real shock considering they have barely played this term.
Jack has featured on just 22 occasions this season for the Light Blues, while Roofe has played 20 times throughout 2023/24. Both players have been absent for more games than they have featured in.
However, and with the duo out of contract at the end of the current season, it is time for them to move on.
In total, six players are out of contract at the club in the coming months. John Lundstram, Leon Balogun, Jon McLaughlin, and Borna Barisic join Jack and Roofe as players who could potentially all be departing Glasgow in a matter of weeks.
Clement will likely only offer Lundstram an extended deal, especially with the need to reduce the wage budget to attract new signings.
Jack has been a good servant for the Gers, but his seven-year association will surely end this summer.
The former Aberdeen midfielder joined the Light Blues in the summer of 2017 following the expiration of his contract at the North East club, and it looked like it could prove to be a solid bit of business by Pedro Caixinha.
Jack played just 19 times during his maiden campaign as injury problems derailed his progress, but over the following two seasons under Steven Gerrard, he made 85 appearances, finally emerging as a key member of the midfield as the former Liverpool captain was aiming to build a side which could topple Celtic and win the Premiership title.
|
Ryan Jack's Rangers statistics |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Games |
Goals |
|
2023/24 |
22 |
2 |
|
2022/23 |
36 |
2 |
|
2021/22 |
22 |
1 |
|
2020/21 |
24 |
2 |
|
2019/20 |
39 |
5 |
|
2018/19 |
46 |
4 |
|
2017/18 |
21 |
0 |
|
Via Transfermarkt |
||
This finally happened during 2020/21, with Jack playing an important role. Across his 19 league games, the Scot scored twice, grabbed an assist, created one big chance, and averaged one key pass per game, showing a desire to contribute towards the attack.
It was his control of matches when deployed in the middle of the pitch which was perhaps the most crucial aspect of his game, as he averaged a pass success rate of 90% per game while winning 56% of his total duels per match, showcasing his strength in one on one battles.
This proved to be the high point of his career at the club, as more regular injuries have disrupted any sort of consistency he has aimed for since the start of the 2021/22 season.
The 32-year-old has played only 80 games since then, seeing his influence wane year after year. Clement signed Mohamed Diomande in January, while also being able to call on Nicolas Raskin, Kieran Dowell, and Lundstram in the heart of the pitch.
He could save millions by unearthing a talented academy gem to take his place from next season with Cole McKinnon seen as a bright prospect.
The young midfielder made his senior bow for the Ibrox side during the final day of the 2021/22 season, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst rested several players due to the upcoming Europa League final.
He even scored on his debut in the 3-1 win over Hearts, indicating that the club had a serious talent on their hands.
A season-long loan spell at Partick Thistle yielded three goals and three assists in 31 games for the second-tier side, as McKinnon gained some regular game time for a club who were challenging for promotion.
This spell has clearly worked wonders, giving him a renewed confidence that he can perform at the highest level.
Prior to going out on loan, McKinnon signed a contract until 2025 at the club, being praised by Craig Mulholland, who was head of the academy at the time, who said:
“He has an outstanding desire to win, is a supporter who cares about the club and we are all very excited to see him maximise the potential he has in the coming years here at Rangers."
Clement is a manager who is willing to experiment with young players, especially if they have the potential to succeed. He has integrated Ross McCausland into the senior setup since arriving back in October, while McKinnon has also been given opportunities of late.
Against Benfica in the last 16 of the Europa League, the 21-year-old came off the bench to make his continental debut for the Gers, featuring for the final 13 minutes.
More was to come just three days later, as Clement sent the Scot on for the final ten minutes against Hibs in the Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hibs.
These experiences will all help aid his development as he bids to secure more minutes next season.
With Jack looking like he will depart the club, there is a space for another central midfielder to slot into the gap. This should go to McKinnon, who would not only improve the homegrown quota for European matches, but also prove that the Belgian is serious about giving academy players a chance to succeed in the senior ranks.
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Rangers have a "concrete" interest in signing a young star this summer, but may have to battle off Premier League interest to make it happen.
A poor few weeks has left Rangers needing Celtic to slip up to find a way back into the Scottish Premiership race between now and the end of the campaign.
Trailing their rivals by three points and with an inferior goal difference, Philippe Clement's side could win at Celtic Park in the next Old Firm derby and still need Celtic to either drop points or suffer a heavy loss in the final games of the season.
|
Scottish Premiership as it stands |
||||||
|
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
Goal Difference |
Points |
|
|
Celtic |
33 |
24 |
6 |
3 |
54 |
78 |
|
Rangers |
33 |
24 |
3 |
6 |
49 |
75 |
But the future could look bright at Ibrox if the latest links are to be believed.
Now, fresh reports have linked Rangers with a move for teenage sensation Ethan Sutherland, who has been wowing fans in Scotland's League One. In search of first team action, Sutherland left Premiership St Mirren in January for Alloa, and has impressed in Scotland's second tier.
Though still just 17-years-old, Sutherland has played a variety of roles for Alloa already. Of his 14 appearances since January, eight have come as a left-back, while just three have come in his more natural left-wing position. He has also played at both right back (1) and right midfield (1).
During this time, he has managed to rack up an impressive two goals and six assists, and has attracted the attention of both Chelsea and Manchester City for his performances. He is very highly rated at St Mirren, with Stephen Robinson revealing that though he wasn't ready for the first team just yet, he is a "real prospect".
"We think Ethan is a real prospect, but what he lacks is experience, a mentality and a determination when things go wrong," Robinson explained in January.
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"The only way you do that is when you are playing games. He’s not ready for the first team but going on loan will be the best for his development."
But he has just a year left on his current deal with the Scottish side, and that has attracted interest from other clubs with Rangers the latest to show their appreciation.
As per Football Insider, Philippe Clement's side have a "strong" and "concrete" interest in signing the winger this summer. Though the Premier League interest may prove problematic, they add that Rangers will "be hoping he would prefer to remain in Scotland at this stage of his career", while they also point out that Rangers could "offer the attacker a quicker route to the first team at Ibrox" than he would be offered at either Manchester City or Chelsea.
It remains to be seen whether a move ultimately materialises, but Rangers will be keen not to lose yet more Scottish talent to clubs outside Scotland, especially one with such high potential.
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Even the most sanguine of Liverpool supporters will likely have conceded that the Premier League title is now out of reach for Jurgen Klopp as he approaches the culmination of his tenure.
Just like Steven Gerrard's final moments as a Liverpool player, the club's latest bona fide legend is facing a bleak and bitter exit after a career on Merseyside that has left him lionised as one of the most influential figures in the club's modern history, the man who lifted a wayward club and placed it back among the trophies and back among Europe's elite.
Mohamed Salah is likely leaving too, involved in an enflamed clash with his manager when told to come on after the 80th-minute, refusing to disclose the specifics and saying that if he speaks, "there will be fire" when quizzed by a reporter post-match against West Ham United.
It all speaks of ingredients for a cauldron of calamity following such sublime progress throughout the lion's share of the 2023/24 campaign, but the draw against West Ham was emblematic of the glaring issues: slow starts, a lack of unity and defensive fragilities.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that incoming Liverpool manager Arne Slot's priority will be signing a centre-back this summer, with young star Jarell Quansah perhaps feeling the weight of a lightning-fast acceleration to the senior squad.
Quansah must be proud of his rise to prominence this season, he must be proud of his steely disposition on the field, his natural reading of the game and his ball-playing quality that makes him an attractive prospect for a top outfit like Liverpool.
But he must also be accepting of his faults and he must be willing to absorb criticism and use it to fortify his resolve and continue to build next season, at a new phase in his side's history.
Against West Ham, as has been the case on multiple occasions in recent weeks, the 21-year-old struggled to contain his opponents and played a part in both of the Irons' goals, conceding possession in the build-up to Jarrod Bowen's opener and losing out against Michail Antonio as the veteran placed a free header past Alisson to restore parity.
GOAL's Mark Doyle even decided to brand Quansah with a lowly 4/10 match rating after his tough Irons test, writing: 'Was looking so comfortable – particularly on the ball – until a loose pass eventually led to West Ham taking the lead. Then caught in no man's land when Antonio headed home the equaliser.'
|
Jarell Quansah: Stats vs West Ham United |
|
|---|---|
|
Stat |
# |
|
Minutes played |
89' |
|
Touches |
102 |
|
Accurate passes |
80/89 (90%) |
|
Possession lost |
11x |
|
Tackles |
3 |
|
Interceptions |
1 |
|
Clearances |
5 |
|
Duels won |
8/14 |
|
Dribbled past |
1 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As the table above shows, Quansah didn't exactly suffer a shocker at the London Stadium when considering the scope of his display, with his robustness and passing skills indeed on show.
But he's undoubtedly lacking polish and he has been a victim of his own precocity this season, deemed ready to play an important role after completing a season on loan in League One last year.
As per FBref, Quansah ranks among the top 1% of centre-halves across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 16% for progressive passes, the top 20% for progressive passes, the top 12% for successful take-ons, the top 19% for shot-creating actions and the top 10% for aerial duels won per 90.
It's a remarkable array of qualities for one so young, so early in his craft, and it's for this reason that Quansah has amassed 30 appearances for the Liverpool first team this season, scoring one goal and supplying three assists during the Carabao Cup run – a run that handed the 6 foot 5 titan his first piece of silverware.
But it's his regular inclusion in the starting line-up that highlights exactly why Romano believes Slot will move to sign a new defender as his first port of call.
Virgil van Dijk was awarded the captaincy at Anfield last summer following Jordan Henderson and James Milner's departures, and while the Dutchman has been one of the finest defenders in Europe, he has struggled with a lack of cohesion stemming from regular disruptions in Liverpool's rearguard.
Joel Matip, a stalwart at Liverpool under Klopp, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in December and won't feature again this season – the 32-year-old is out of contract in a few months and it is unlikely a deal will be reached.
Moreover, Ibrahima Konate's flaws have been on full show in recent matches, with The Athletic's James Pearce even remarking that the France international's display was "dreadful" as Liverpool lost at home to Crystal Palace two weeks ago.
Who Slot might move for to strengthen the Liverpool defence is uncertain at this stage but it's likely that a deal could be struck early given the judicious nature of FSG's chief of football Michael Edwards.
It's also important to note that Liverpool will, in all likelihood, return to the Champions League next season and will, as such, need extra firepower to wade deep through the testing waters of that competition.
Quansah has been immense this season but he was able to cut his teeth in the Europa League and it might have been a wholly different tale had he been chucked into the Champions League at the dawn of his Liverpool career.
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Let's not forget that this time last year Quansah plied his trade in League One with Bristol Rovers. His rise, frankly, has been nothing short of meteoric, and there is a high-level star in there.
But Quansah is still young, coarse and unrefined, and while Matip's season-ending injury accelerated his Anfield development, there is no doubt that Van Dijk and Konate could do with another backliner to strengthen Slot's accord.
Quansah might lose out on a bit of game time, but in the long run, it would only benefit him in the long term as he forges an illustrious career.
One manager who embarrassed Erik ten Hag earlier this season is among the top targets to take over at Manchester United.
The Red Devils have escaped two shock defeats in the space of four days, with the first coming at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final with Coventry City. New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was in attendance to see United surrender a three-goal lead to the Championship side, requiring penalties to progress to the final against rivals Manchester City.
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Then, at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Wednesday, United fell behind twice against bottom side Sheffield United, eventually winning 4-2. Ratcliffe has asked for patience with the Red Devils faithful, saying prior to both games:
“One of the biggest problems we’ve got in football is you get these new guys to come into the [backroom] team, really capable people, but they’re all on gardening leave, so it takes you six months to a year or 18 months before you can [see the benefits].
“They can’t work for us, the fans are impatient, and I have sympathy with that, but it’s a journey. Whether you like it or not they have to be a bit patient. It’s not a light switch, you can’t just turn it around like that, it takes a bit of time. But I’m sure we will.”
The new co-owner is set to stick with Ten Hag until the end of the season, however, a change in the Old Trafford dugout could materialise ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. Man Utd and Ratcliffe have reportedly made contact with Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, whereas sporting director target Dan Ashworth has held a secret meeting with Graham Potter.
Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic has also emerged on the radar, with Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi a name mentioned in recent months, with initial talks thought to be held.
Now, according to Football Insider, De Zerbi is a top contender for the Man Utd job alongside Tuchel. The pair appear to be leading the race to join, should Ten Hag receive his marching orders in the summer. That looks like an increasingly likely scenario, with the report saying that De Zerbi’s work at Brighton ‘continues to attract admirers’.
Even though De Zerbi’s Brighton side have stalled slightly this season, he has made an impact in England, taking the Seagulls into the Europa League. He also embarrassed Ten Hag at Old Trafford earlier this season with his side cruising to a 3-1 win in September with more possession and shots on target, which then left the Red Devils in 13th place.
Should he arrive in Manchester, the 44-year-old would be coming up against an admirer in City boss Pep Guardiola, who said of De Zerbi last year: "There is no team playing the way they play – it's unique. I had the feeling when he arrived the impact he would have in the Premier League would be great – I didn't expect him to do it in this short space of time.
"He creates 20 or 25 chances per game, better by far than most opponents. He monopolises the ball in a way it hasn't been for a long time.”
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West Ham United are at the end of an era, with the club confirming this week that David Moyes will leave by mutual consent when his contract expires this summer.
Julen Lopetegui is Moyes' cut-and-dried successor – albeit not officially announced yet – with the Scotsman having left the squad in a fantastic position to maintain the growth and promise of recent years – notably including three campaigns on the continent, with last year's Conference League conquest ending in silverware.
While the first team is blessed with some high-level quality, playmaker Lucas Paqueta has been linked with a £85m transfer to Manchester City. If only West Ham had prudently secured a replacement last summer, coming close to landing Cole Palmer.
Paqueta's move to Manchester City was only foiled due to the Brazilian's charges following an FA betting investigation, still unsettled, and while that fell through, perhaps the Hammers should have forged ahead with a deal for Palmer, who's enjoying a pretty decent breakout season.
Palmer transferred to Chelsea for an initial £40m fee last summer to take the Blues' spending under owner Todd Boehly past the £1bn mark, but sift through all the wayward signings at Stamford Bridge and find right here a bona fide diamond.
Palmer, aged 22, has scored 24 goals and added 13 assists across 42 matches for Chelsea and has been praised as "exceptionally talented" by presenter Gary Lineker for an incredible individual campaign.
|
Premier League Top Scorers 23/24 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
# |
Player |
Club |
Goals |
|
1. |
Erling Haaland |
Manchester City |
25 |
|
2. |
Cole Palmer |
Chelsea |
21 |
|
3. |
Alexander Isak |
Newcastle United |
20 |
|
4. |
Ollie Watkins |
Aston Villa |
19 |
|
5. |
Mohamed Salah |
Liverpool |
18 |
|
5. |
Dominic Solanke |
Bournemouth |
18 |
|
Stats via Premier League |
|||
Given Palmer's sensational rise to prominence in his first campaign as a regular in the Premier League, West Ham could have found a new level of success altogether had he been signed, with Moyes revealing that a move was "close" and that he was in "regular contact with his agent" before the pieces fell out of place – likely due to Paqueta remaining in east London.
Palmer isn't the only player to have narrowly missed the flight so to speak, with Sporting Lisbon sharpshooter Viktor Gyokeres also coming close to linking up with Moyes' project last summer.
The Sweden international's inclusion at centre-forward would almost certainly have handed Moyes the requisite tools to go that little bit further in the Premier League this season and ensconce themselves in a European-qualifying position.
Gyokeres completed a £20m transfer to Sporting CP – despite interest from the Hammers in 2023 – after an exemplary campaign in the Championship with Coventry City, reaching the play-off final and posting 22 goals and 12 assists.
He's transcended his previous form under Ruben Amorim, bagging 41 goals and 15 assists from 47 matches across domestic and continental competitions, with his first-rate performances as the attacking focal point all but securing the Liga Portugal title.
Analyst Ben Mattison has emphasised the severity of missing out on the 25-year-old, also describing him as "a powerhouse", with his elite athleticism, hold-up play and incisive movements making him the perfect style of striker for the Premier League and a robust outfit like West Ham.
With Michail Antonio out of contract this summer and Danny Ings reported to have been transfer-listed for just £6.5m, there's no doubt that Lopetegui is going to prioritise signing a shiny new forward this summer.
Gyokeres is valued at no less than £86m by his Portuguese outfit and, should he move, it would be to a team at the very forefront of the European game (with Arsenal and Chelsea among those intrigued), so the door might just be closed on this one.
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