Southampton's build-up to this weekend's clash with Sunderland will have been an understandably weird one, considering the Saints had their mid-week match at St. Mary's with Preston North End postponed.

Russell Martin's men couldn't back up a dramatic win away at Birmingham City with another potential three points owing to the late cancellation, with Sunderland now the opposition next up for the Championship promotion hopefuls to get the better of.

Having had more time to think about what XI he could field with no Wednesday night fixture to assess things off of, Martin could surprisingly axe this reliable presence in the midfield to face off against Mike Dodds' out-of-form Black Cats.

Stuart Armstrong's performance vs Birmingham in numbers

The former Dundee United midfielder has been a regular under Martin this campaign, amassing an impressive six assists and four goals from 35 total second-tier appearances.

Still, away from the £65k-per-week Scotsman being dependable for large portions of the season, Stuart Armstrong's fixed spot in the Saints lineup could be up for grabs based on his unmemorable display away at Birmingham last weekend.

Armstrong would squander possession a total of 23 times in the middle of the park at St. Andrew's, a costly amount when you consider the fact that Tony Mowbray's hosts kept finding ways to get back into the enthralling 4-3 contest.

Minutes played

90

Touches

79

Accurate passes

48/61

Accurate crosses

2/11

Shots on goal

1

Duels won

3/6

Possession lost

23x

As can be seen in the table above, the Saints number 17 had an off-day against Birmingham to the point where Martin could consider springing a surprise on Sunderland by dropping him completely.

Various different reserve players could benefit from Martin potentially axing the 31-year-old midfielder, with a selection dilemma now on the manager's hands as to who could come in and do a job in the experienced Saints man's absence.

The players that could replace Stuart Armstrong

Martin could bring the likes of Joe Aribo or Joe Rothwell into the first-team fold over Armstrong for the game tomorrow, with Aribo firing in the winner late on from off the bench against Birmingham when coming on for Will Smallbone.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Rothwell has also shone for Southampton in patches here and there since joining from AFC Bournemouth on loan in January, firing in two goals for his new short-term employers so far from 11 appearances.

One of those goals was a first-time wonder strike against Huddersfield Town last month in the Championship, the sublime strike helping Southampton get the better of a tricky Terriers side 5-3 on the day.

Yet to sit out an entire game for Southampton this campaign – with Armstrong playing in some capacity in every single second-tier game this season for his South Coast side – Martin will know utilising his full squad away from the Scotsman could work against Sunderland.

Arguably, with Southampton experiencing some rocky form recently that has seen them lose significant ground in the automatic promotion hunt, the time could be right for other stars to shine in central midfield away from Armstrong being kept in the starting lineup.

Arsenal enjoyed another brilliant weekend, claiming another three points and climbing back to the top of the Premier League table.

Mikel Arteta's side once again have their fate back in their own hands, although before they can think about Sunday's clash with Aston Villa, they'll have to deal with Bayern Munich in the Champions League tonight.

The Gunners were excellent against Brighton & Hove Albion, but the German behemoths are a whole nother kettle of fish, and, as such, Arteta should look to drop Gabriel Jesus if he wants to secure a first competitive win over the Bavarians since 2015.

Arsenal 2-0 Bayern: Starting XI – 20 Oct 2015

GK – Petr Cech

RB – Hector Bellerin

CB – Laurent Koscielny

CB – Per Mertesacker

LB – Nacho Monreal

CM – Francis Coquelin

CM – Santi Cazorla

CAM – Mesut Ozil

RW – Aaron Ramsey

LW – Alexis Sanchez

ST – Theo Walcott

Gabriel Jesus' stats against Brighton

Now, the first thing to say is that while the Spaniard should look at dropping Jesus for tonight's blockbuster clash, it's not because he was terrible on Saturday afternoon, just underwhelming.

The former Manchester City ace was a thorn in the side of the Seagulls and even won the penalty that opened the scoring, but he also missed a number of gilt-edge chances and made a few poor decisions at critical moments, which could seriously cost the Gunners in a European knockout game.

It might sound harsh, but it's an opinion shared by the Standard's Simon Collings, who awarded the tricky forward a 6/10 on the day, writing that he 'should have come away from this with a goal' and that he 'missed two good headed chances in either half.'

This summary is also backed up by the 27-year-old's statistics from the game. In his 64 minutes of action, the 5 foot 9 ace registered an expected goal figure of 0.44, took one shot on target and two off target, succeeded in just one of his six attempted dribbles, won a penalty, missed one big chance, took 43 touches, was accurate in just 82% of his passes, lost nine of his 13 duels, and lost the ball 14 times.

Jesus' game vs Brighton in numbers

Minutes

64

Expected Goals

0.44

Goals

0

Shots on Target

1

Shots off Target

2

Shots Blocked

1

Dribbles Attempted (Successful)

6 (1)

Penalties Won

1

Big Chances Missed

1

Touches

43

Accurate Passes

18/22 (82%)

Key Passes

1

Duels (Won)

13 (4)

Possession Lost

14

All Stats via Sofascore

In all, while he was effective at creating space and harassing Brighton's defence, Jesus was unable to put away the myriad of chances that came his way.

This may well cost the team in tonight's high-pressure encounter, so he should be replaced by someone who was able to take his chance on Saturday.

Why Leandro Trossard must start vs Bayern

The man who must start in place of the Brazilian tonight is Belgian international Leandro Trossard.

Despite only coming on in the 64th minute against his former side on Saturday, the 29-year-old "wizard", as journalist Charlie Haffenden described him, made his mark on proceedings by running the length of the pitch to score a brilliant chip to secure all three points for the North Londoners.

The goal was the perfect encapsulation of what makes him great: an intelligent position to win the ball, a clever run so that Kai Havertz could find him in space, a great touch to knock the ball into more space, and an expertly placed chip to finish the outstanding move.

It's this lethal streak that means he has to start against FC Hollywood tonight, as chances will likely be harder to come by, and when they do come, it's better they fall to him than Jesus.

Trossard vs Jesus in 23/24

Player

Trossard

Jesus

Appearances

37

28

Goals

12

8

Goals per Match

0.32

0.28

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, it wasn't just Saturday that the £90k-per-week star has shown his finishing ability, as in his 37 appearances this season, he has scored 12 goals, whereas his Brazilian counterpart has scored eight goals in his 28 games this year.

Ultimately, based on the game at the Amex and their finishing throughout the season, Arteta must start Trossard over Jesus against Bayern Munich.

Related Arsenal could sign their answer to Kane in "insane" £64m Jesus upgrade

The incredible talent could explode at Arsenal.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 5, 2024

حصل الدولي المصري عمر مرموش، لاعب فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي آينتراخت فرانكفورت، على جائزة لاعب شهر أكتوبر في النادي.

عمر مرموش يواصل التوهج مع فريق آينتراخت فرانكفورت هذا الموسم، وللشهر الثاني على التوالي حصل على جائزة اللاعب الأفضل، بعدما حصل عليها في سبتمبر الماضي.

طالع أيضًا.. محمد صلاح يعزز فرص ليفربول في التعاقد مع مرموش

عمر مرموش خلال شهر أكتوبر، لعب 6 مباريات وسجل 4 أهداف وصنع 2 بمختلف المسابقات، ما بين الدوري الألماني والدوري الأوروبي، وكأس ألمانيا.

وعلى مستوى الدوري الألماني فقط، فقد شارك مرموش في شهر أكتوبر خلال 3 مباريات، ضد بايرن ميونخ وباير ليفركوزن ويونيون برلين، وتمكن من تسجيل 3 أهداف وصناعة هدف.

عمر مرموش يحتل المركز الثاني في ترتيب هدافي الدوري الألماني برصيد 10 أهداف وبفارق هدف واحد فقط عن صاحب الحذاء الذهبي الموسم الماضي هاري كين.

وكشف الموقع الرسمي لـ فرانكفورت، أن صاحب الـ25 عامًا، حصل على ثلاثة أرباع إجمالي الأصوات، بعد تألقه وقيادته للفريق خلال الفترة الماضية.

Having joined on a five-year deal in July, the 22-year-old has already usurped Vitor Roque in the pecking order in Catalunya

Robert Lewandowski can't last forever. New Barcelona manager Hansi Flick may be able to get some new life out of the soon-to-be 36-year-old, but the Blaugrana, at some point, need to start thinking about the future.

It seemed, just eight months ago, that Brazilian Vitor Roque would be the answer to their concerns. But with an exit already looming for the big-money teenager, Barca seem to have moved on in their search for a reliable Lewandowski back-up. And in Pau Victor, they just might have found their man.

The Girona academy graduate has been Barca's player of the summer so far, scoring three goals in two pre-season games – including a brace to bury Real Madrid in a high-intensity Clasico 'friendly'. But who is the 22-year-old who has never made a top-flight appearance that now looks set for a role at one of Europe's biggest clubs?

GOAL runs the rule over the player Barca hope can become their long-term Lewandowski replacement.

• Where it all began

  Like so many in Catalunya, Victor comes from a strong footballing family. He is one of three brother, all of whom have some sort of career in the game ahead of them, with the youngest, Guillem, potentially the best of the trio having been part of La Masia for a number of years.

  Pau, on the other hand, didn't come through Barca's famed youth system. He instead joined the Girona academy at the age of 17 after leaving second-division side Sabadell FC, and had to bide his time before making it into the first team at Barca's near-neighbours.

Advertisement

• G
  

  The big break

  Victor's Girona career was largely defined by false dawns. At the start of the 2020-21 season, he seemed set to become a first-team regular in the second division as the Catalan outfit looked to plot their way back into La Liga. The forward made six appearances in the first 12 matches of the campaign, but soon fell out of favour, and tasted just two minutes of first-team football following the turn of the year.

  Having spent another season in Girona's reserves, Victor was loaned back to boyhood club Sabadell, who had fallen into the third tier, for the 2022-23 campaign. He managed seven goals and six assists for a team that finished in mid-table, and that in turn convinced Barca to take him on loan for the following campaign and make him part of their Barcelona Atletic squad, who themselves also play in the third division.

  Victor thrived in the famous Blaugrana colours as he quickly became a favourite of manager and Barca legend Rafa Marquez. He formed a deadly duo with teenager Marc Guiu, who has since joined Chelsea, scoring 20 goals and providing six assists to a team that went on to reach the play-offs.

• How it's going

  Victor's performances for Barca's second-string convinced them to make his move permanent, and he signed a deal that will keep him at the club until 2029 midway through the summer. He was immediately thrust into first-team training, and with other more established players enjoying post-tournament breaks, Victor has taken the opportunity to impress Flick and run with it.

  Though a natural striker who has some experience of playing out wide, Victor has been deployed as a roaming No.10 so far this summer, filling the gap left by the absence from the club's tour of the United States of Ilkay Gundogan and Pedri. He hasn't looked out of place, though, as he first opened the scoring against Manchester City before netting twice against Real Madrid in New Jersey to seal a narrow win over Barca's arch-rivals.

  "Three goals in two games? Not bad! He knows how to score and that’s good for a forward," Flick said of Victor after the Madrid game.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Biggest strengths

  Although most comfortable leading the line, Barca view Victor as more of a natural creator, a second striker rather than out-and-out No.9. Accordingly, he is an excellent dribbler, creative in tight spaces, and intelligent in his movement.

  Both of his goals against Madrid came from clever runs, anticipating the spaces that Lewandowski would open up – and darting into them. He is also a capable presser, and has shown a penchant for covering ground off the ball – something Flick will certainly value.

Micky van de Ven is only 22 years old, but Tottenham Hotspur supporters will tell you that he is one of the Premier League's finest central defenders, most influential summer signings.

Sure, he's not infallible but the Netherlands international has been ever-so-impressive since signing from German team Wolfsburg in a £43m transfer last summer.

It bears testament to the managerial prowess of Ange Postecoglou, the front-footed, proactive approach to rebuilding a squad that had fallen by the wayside last term like an elephant from a tree.

There were a host of factors contributing to Antonio Conte's demise, the serial trophy winner dismissed in razor-edged circumstances just over 12 months ago after a loss of confidence, cohesion, identity.

The problem underpinning it all was some terrible defensive solidity, or lack thereof, with Tottenham finishing with the sixth-worst goal concession rate of the season.

Such fortunes are indeed much improved this term with Van de Ven partnering Cristian Romero in central defence, but last year certainly will have elicited a sense of longing from the Lilywhites faithful, who will have fondly recalled the dynamism and fluency of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.

The latter spent less time in north London than his compatriot but he proved himself to be one of the Premier League's standout defenders during his time at the club.

How much Spurs paid for Toby Alderweireld

Tottenham had been making gains under Mauricio Pochettino's leadership but needed a top-class partner for Vertonghen, and so forged ahead with the £11m signing of Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid following the Belgian's impressive loan spell with Southampton in the Premier League.

Former Spurs man Alton Thelwell was left gushing over the partnership, saying: "Both of them have been exceptional. They complement each other very well and literally they’re all-round quality defenders. They read the game well, they get on the ball and they play the Tottenham way.

"Vertonghen likes to pass the ball with elegance – he’s like the Rolls-Royce of defending. He gets on it with his left foot, he’s got excellent ability and the same goes for Toby as well. I’d say he’s probably a bit more tenacious than Vertonghen but overall they’ve got all the attributes that you want.

"They’re good all-round defenders and that shows with only 22 goals conceded in the league this season. They provide the perfect balance for Tottenham."

20/21

7th

25

45

19/20

6th

33

47

18/19

4th

34

39

17/18

3rd

14

38

16/17

2nd

30

26

15/16

3rd

38

35

During Alderweireld's finest days as a Tottenham player, during those first few seasons, he was an almighty presence at the back, robust and energetic with deceptive pace and crisp, crunching challenges.

The 35-year-old chalked up 236 appearances for Spurs, more than for any other team he has played for, and while he didn't win any silverware, the former Belgium international played a crucial role in an exciting and adventurous period of Tottenham's modern history.

Ledley King is another to have been struck by such sublime defensive performances from the pairing, remarking: "They're well rounded – both of them. They don't have any obvious weaknesses. Sometimes you can get someone who is very good in the air, very physical but not so great with the smaller, nippy players. They can deal with all types of forwards."

Spurs hit the jackpot on flop who cost £0 & was sold for more than Eriksen

This player is now worth just £3m and has had disciplinary issues abroad.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 6, 2024

Tottenham's defensive displays last season were certainly a far cry from the one-time fortitude of the Belgian duo, and while the club are improving in that regard under Postecoglou's wing, Romero and Van de Ven haven't reached the same level – yet.

How much Spurs sold Toby Alderweireld for

Like all good things, Tottenham's time with Alderweireld had to come to an end, and it was always going to be a tall order replacing the man who had been compared to Harry Kane by pundit Rio Ferdinand, with the Manchester United icon even claiming that he was just as important as the goalscoring talisman.

But with Tottenham on the decline after losing in the Champions League final against Liverpool in 2019, Alderweireld failed to capture the essence of his world-class mettle as he approached his twilight phase in the Premier League, sold by Nuno Espirito Santo in 2021 with focus on landing Romero from Atalanta for £42m that same window.

While it was a poignant departure, Alderweireld was 32 years old and Espirito Santo understandably wanted to reshape the backline after successive seasons of comparative defensive struggle – not quite so heavy as last season's woes, mind – and when Qatari side Al-Duhail offered £13m for his services, it was something of a no-brainer to let him leave.

Especially so considering that he is now – understandably – worth only £5m, placing him at a lower market valuation than Spurs struggler Bryan Gil, who is unhappy at the club and hopes to leave in the summer, with the winger having started just two Premier League fixtures this season.

Gil was purchased from Sevilla for £22m in 2021, around the same time Alderweireld took his leave, and while he's only 23 years old and has been said to be capable of "moments of magic" by Spurs correspondent Rob Guest, Football Transfers has marked him at a lowly £8m price tag.

It's impressive that Spurs claimed the finest years of Alderweireld's career and still made a profit when he was on the edge of decline, though he's still enjoyed some fine moments since leaving England.

What Toby Alderweireld is doing now

Alderweireld only spent one year in Qatar before heading back to his homeland and signing with boyhood club Royal Antwerp, but if it was thought that he was content on winding down, such beliefs were proved remarkably incorrect.

Across two campaigns in Belgium, the veteran centre-half has chalked up 90 displays and scored 11 goals, incredibly scoring the last-gasp winner to win his team the Belgian Pro League last season.

It's a stunning story, but Tottenham fans have always known of the tenacity, desire and quality that has allowed Alderweireld to forge a high-class career for himself.

Overall, while a massive profit was not made, Alderweireld's signing can only go down as an unmitigated blinder. He's one of the finest to lace the boots in Tottenham's modern history.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

Manchester United are reportedly considering Burnley midfielder Sander Berge if they fail to sign Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Man Utd trying to get UgartePSG remain firm on €60m valuationRed Devils plotting move for BergeWHAT HAPPENED?

According to the Red Devils are diligently planning for various scenarios to bolster their midfield options this summer. Berge, 26, is open to a transfer following Burnley's relegation. Whereas, the Lancashire club are also eager to offload players to stabilise their financial situation.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Nonetheless, Ugarte remains United's top choice. The Parisians are on the verge of signing Joao Neves for an initial fee of €60 million (£51m/$65m) from Benfica, with potential add-ons pushing the total to €70m (£59m/$76m). Renato Sanches is set to return to Benfica on a one-year loan with PSG covering his wages as part of the Neves deal. This transfer activity at PSG could facilitate Ugarte's departure, although negotiations remain complex.

DID YOU KNOW?

PSG have set a firm price of €60m for Ugarte, reflecting the amount they paid Sporting CP for him last summer. Despite United's €50m (£42m/$54m) offer, PSG are unwilling to sell at a discount. This steadfast position complicates United's efforts, even as they have reportedly agreed on personal terms with Ugarte.

However, United's quest for Ugarte is not without challenges. Bayern Munich have expressed interest in the midfielder, as have two Italian clubs and another Premier League team. This heightened competition reinforces PSG's valuation and further complicates United's negotiations.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

(C)GettyImagesWHAT NEXT?

Given the potential hurdles in acquiring Ugarte, United's consideration of Berge represents a pragmatic approach. Moreover, his physicality and Premier League experience could further offer the stability United seek in their midfield.

Liverpool are approaching the final phase of the 2023/24 campaign and despite being knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United before the international break, remain confident of succeeding in the Premier League and Europa League.

Jurgen Klopp will be stepping down from his lionised place at the helm, sure, but Liverpool have a squad and an institution poised for further success.

There are issues beyond the dugout for Michael Edwards – returning as FSG's CEO of Football – to resolve, with contractual situations regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah all requiring time and thought and negotiation, deals expiring in 2025.

More imminently, injured Joel Matip will depart the club in June, barring any significant changes, and while Liverpool may well search for a new centre-back to strengthen the ranks, Edwards might find the perfect man in Sepp van den Berg, who is excelling out on loan.

Sepp van den Berg's season in numbers

Liverpool signed Dutch defender Van den Berg from PEC Zwolle back in 2019 in a deal rising to £4m, with the 17-year-old one of the Netherlands' brightest young talents.

Fast-track to the present, nearly five years on, and the centre-back has only chalked up four displays, though he's thriving in the German Bundesliga with Mainz this term and might just be playing his way into Liverpool's long-term plans.

Now aged 22, Van den Berg has started 23 matches in the German top-flight this season, scoring twice, completing 82% of his passes, averaging 5.7 ball recoveries and 4.5 clearances per game while coming out on top in 65% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

He also ranks among the top 8% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 4% for blocks and the top 1% for aerial wins per 90, as per FBref, highlighting his aerial dominance at both ends.

His monstrous aerial ability is particularly eye-catching, suggesting that he could step up to become Liverpool's next version of Van Dijk, who is prospering as the club captain this season.

Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in a £75m transfer back in December 2017, transforming Klopp's backline, with the Netherlands star proving to be one of the most commanding defenders in Premier League history, lauded for his "absolutely immense" performances by The Athletic's James Pearce.

Ranking among the top 2% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for touches in the attacking box and aerial duels won, the top 8% for assists and the top 4% for shot-creating actions per 90, the 32-year-old colossus is unquestionably one of the best in the business.

In the Premier League this season? Well, he's been superb, completing 91% of his passes, averaging 5.1 ball recoveries and 4.3 clearances per match and winning a staggering 84% of his aerial battles.

Van den Berg might have work to do to polish his distribution, but his powers of recovery and ability to command the skies speak of budding dominance that must be harnessed, providing Liverpool with a young centre-half capable of saving the club millions down the line.

There is already such a player on Liverpool's books in Jarell Quansah, but another emergence of the sort wouldn't hurt, would it?

Jarell Quansah might have a rival

Van den Berg has not really had much of an opportunity to impress on Merseyside and if Liverpool decide to invest their resources in other areas this summer, he could be the perfect player to fortify a defence consisting of Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Quansah.

The latter, Quansah, is only 21 years old himself and was plying his trade in League One with Bristol Rovers this time last season, but has been lauded as an "absolute monster" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his efforts with Liverpool.

Jarell Quansah: Stats vs centre-backs
Stat (per 90)	#
Goals	0.08 (top 16%)
Passes attempted	94.79 (top 1%)
Pass completion	89.9% (top 17%)
Progressive carries	0.92 (top 24%)
Successful take-ons	0.59 (top 6%)
Aerial duels won	3.32 (top 8%)
Stats via FBref

Breaking into the Reds' first team early in the campaign, Quansah has now chalked up 25 appearances in all competitions, scoring once and supplying three assists for his teammates.

In the Premier League, the 6 foot 5 star has only received eight starting roles so far but there's no question that he's excelled, completing 88% of his passes and slotting in seamlessly alongside his skipper, winning 62% of his duels.

His pinpoint passing and innate creativity make for tools that will allow him to emulate Van Dijk in some regards, sure, but the Liverpool captain is such a singular talent that replicating his skill set is near impossible, to the same degree in any case.

But in Van den Berg, Liverpool could meld two rising stars to unleash a formidable new backline, with Van den Berg's energy and elite aerial command sure to dovetail alongside his Reds peer.

Liverpool hit the jackpot on "genius" talent who's worth more than Nunez

This player, who signed for £0, might be Klopp’s biggest success on Merseyside.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 21, 2024

The young Quansah deserves plaudits for stepping up and filling in for Matip, whose season was cruelly ended in December following an ACL rupture, with his crispness in possession and robust style perfect for a progressive, high-octane Liverpool system.

And yes, Quansah is the future at Anfield but Van den Berg could certainly rival him, and given his success and similarities to compatriot Van Dijk, it might be worth giving him a shot next season.

Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement faces an interesting summer ahead, particularly in terms of improving his squad.

The Belgian did sign three players during the January transfer window, and while Mohamed Diomande will make his loan move permanent in the summer, Fabio Silva and Oscar Cortes will return to their parent clubs.

The trio are all under 22, proving that Clement is looking to go down the route of signing talented prospects who could thrive at this level, before moving them on for a solid profit after a couple of years.

Not only does he have the task of bringing new talent in across various positions in his first team squad, but the 50-year-old will have to manage his outgoings well too.

At the end of the current season, six Rangers players are out of contact, with the vast majority of them expected to depart Ibrox, which will free up some wages for Clement to use in the transfer window.

Rangers players out of contract this summer

The Ibrox side find themselves in a similar position to last season, with a host of first-team players entering the final few weeks of their current deals as the climax of the campaign approaches.

Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, and Scott Arfield were among the names released in 2023, while there are more big names this year.

Player

Games played

Club joined from

John Lundstram

145

Sheffield United

Ryan Jack

210

Aberdeen

Kemar Roofe

98

Anderlecht

Leon Balogun

79 (across two spells)

QPR

Jon McLaughlin

46

Sunderland

Borna Barisic

231

NK Osijek

John Lundstram, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, Jon McLaughlin, Kemar Roofe and Leon Balogun are the six players whose futures remain undecided as yet, but it looks fairly certain that aside from Lundstram, the rest will be on the lookout for a new club this summer.

The former Sheffield United midfielder has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet, while the other five have made 86 appearances between them this season.

Clement could be set to add another midfielder or two to his first-team squad during the summer, which means Jack will most likely be released.

Ryan Jack’s Rangers statistics

Jack could end up winning the treble during what may be his final season at Ibrox, despite injury issues hampering him throughout 2023/24.

Indeed, he has only started 12 matches all season due to a variety of injury problems and this has meant his influence in the team has decreased, especially over the previous few years.

The Scot has made 210 appearances for the Light Blues since joining from Aberdeen in 2017 on a free transfer and there is no doubt he has been a wonderful signing in terms of value for money.

This season, however, Jack has averaged just 42 minutes per game in the Premiership across his 11 appearances, succeeding with 87% of his passes, creating two big chances, losing possession just 4.6 times per game and winning 0.5 total duels per game.

Hardly the worst statistics in the world, but his lack of game time has meant the midfielder has failed to build on any decent performances due to his crippling injury-related issues forcing him out of the majority of games.

The best course of action would have been for the club to sell him last summer in order to secure a transfer fee, while retaining the services of Glen Kamara, who was certainly an upgrade on Jack.

How much Rangers sold Glen Kamara for

Under Michael Beale, Kamara was often excluded from the starting XI during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign, making just nine league starts as it was clear he wasn’t going to be in Beale’s plans for the following season.

Having cost just £50k back in 2019, the Gers accepted a bid of close to £5m for the midfielder during the dying embers of the transfer window last summer, showing that they made a massive profit on the former Dundee man.

During his spell in Glasgow, Kamara made 193 appearances for the Light Blues, scoring nine goals in the process, and was a key member of the side that won the league title in 2020/21 while reaching the Europa League final the following season.

Steven Gerrard hailed the Finnish gem as a “monster” during the early stages of his stint at Rangers and his presence in the heart of the midfield made the club stronger.

During the Europa League run, Kamara scored once and grabbed two assists, while winning an impressive 56% of his total duels per game along with making 1.2 interceptions per game and losing possession just 7.1 times each match.

Under Clement, he may have enjoyed his football again and featured on a more regular basis, but Beale clearly felt a fee of nearly £5m was too good to turn down.

Kamara is enjoying life so far at Leeds United and it's clear these performances would have made him an upgrade on Jack if he had replicated them in Glasgow.

What Glen Kamara is doing now

The 28-year-old has missed only four Championship games for Leeds this term, inspiring them to a title challenge as they look to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Across the whole squad, Kamara currently ranks fourth for accurate passes per game (52), while also ranking fifth for key passes per game (1.2) and 17th for possession lost per game (6.3), indicating that he is back to his best in England this season.

There is no doubt that the former Arsenal starlet would have been an excellent option for Clement to call upon at Rangers, especially when the club were going through a tough injury crisis around the festive period.

Beale was sacked just a month after selling Kamara, which proves that the sale may have been avoidable had he not been in charge.

Hopefully, he can help Leeds secure promotion back to the top flight after just one season in the second tier, and it is evident he is playing under a manager who trusts him to perform on a weekly basis.

He was far too good to be sitting on the bench at a club like Rangers, and he could fulfil his ambitions of playing in one of the finest leagues in Europe next season.

Rangers hit gold on ace who's worth more than Goldson & Souttar in 2024

Rangers hit the jackpot on a player they sold under Walter Smith in 2008

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 1, 2024

With every game vital in Leeds United's push for automatic promotion from the Championship, Whites boss Daniel Farke will consider himself quite fortunate on the injury front to this point, but the issues at Thorp Arch are quietly starting to mount up.

Some of Leeds' key players doubts for run-in

As the race for promotion reaches a fever-pitch, Leeds now look like they will be without a couple of their important players. Pascal Struijk and Georginio Rutter are the most high profile absentees at the moment with both players suffering separate groin issues.

Leeds tempted to bid for £25m star who's a mix of Rutter & Summerville

The Whites could face plenty of competition to secure his signature in the summer.

ByDan Emery Mar 25, 2024

There is also some concern over the fitness of star player Crysencio Summerville. The Whites' fifteen-goal winger sustained a knock during his strong performance in Leeds' victory over Millwall earlier this month. Speaking on the injury, Farke conceded that: "we have to wait a little bit", too see if Summerville is fit however, the German hopes it's "just a few days [out] and then he's back on the pitch".

Joining Summerville in the doubts column for Leeds' next game is Archie Gray. The 18-year-old was thought to have sustained an ankle injury however, his appearance for England's Under 21s during the international break suggests that the midfielder should be available for Leeds' next outing.

The only long-term injury to Leeds' first team is Stuart Dallas, who is still said to be some way off a full recovery. The Northern Ireland international is coming up to the two-year anniversary of his broken femur against Manchester City back in 2022.

Whilst Leeds have few injury issues among their starting eleven, one of their most exciting young players looks set to spend the rest of the season on the sidelines.

Leeds youngster out for a number of months

As first reported by MOT Leeds News, Dr Rajpal Brar has given his verdict on the injury to Leeds youngster Marley Wilson. Speaking to the outlet, Dr Brar conceded: “Wilson unfortunately has suffered a significant back injury that will keep him out of action for a while."

The sports scientist and physical therapy specialist went on to say: “Considering Wilson’s age, my educated guess based on prevalence would be a stress fracture in the back which is relatively common in younger footballers. Highly unlikely he’s back in full training let alone available for selection before the end of the season.“

Wilson suffered the injury on the 12th March with the Leeds Academy account on X backing up Dr Brar's assessment that the player will be out of action for the foreseeable future.

The forward has scored ten times for Leeds Under 18s this season including seven goals in the Under 18 Premier League. Wilson is of the Whites' most highly rated youth prospects, with the 18-year-old scoring two hat-tricks this season in victories over Derby and Everton's youth sides.

With Wilson approaching a crucial moment in his development as a player, suffering a set back of this nature will not be ideal for the 18-year-old. Despite this, his success at youth level so far means that this injury is unlikely to throw Wilson's career too far off course.

He hopes it will have mutual benefits that extend to Australia’s push for their first T20 World Cup title next year and the following tournament in India

Andrew McGlashan in Melbourne25-Dec-2019

Justin Langer had called beating India in India in 2022 his ultimate goal•Getty Images

Justin Langer hopes that Pat Cummins’ record-breaking IPL deal will have mutual benefits that extend to Australia’s push for their first T20 World Cup title next year and the following tournament in India.Cummins became the highest paid overseas player in the tournament’s history when he secured USD 2.2 million deal with the Kolkata Knight Riders. He was the leading name in a group of Australian players who did well out of the auction which included fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood (USD 282,000 to Chennai Super Kings).Whenever a high-profile quick is signed for the league it raises the question of workload and them being removed from the Cricket Australia bubble, especially so in case of such a key figure in Cummins. He had hoped to get a multi-year deal from CA, which may have persuaded him to give the IPL a miss, but the board did not want to break away from their current model of year-by-year contracts.Mitchell Starc had opted not to put his name forward for this year’s IPL so that he could spend time at home after a busy year, but Langer is comfortable with those that will be heading to India especially as it gives a chance to hone T20 skills.Pat Cummins is a Kolkata Knight Riders man again•BCCI

“In this cycle it’s hopefully going to be really valuable to us with two T20 World Cups coming up, we’ve talked a lot about emphasis we are putting on T20 cricket,” he said. “Ultimately it’s their decision as well, they play 12 months of the year now, you have to look at short term and long term, you certainly can’t begrudge anyone being in the IPL, but from a purely big-picture point of view from us, the fact they are going to play 10-14 T20 games, where we’ll play in two years, and with the World Cup [next season] that can only help their skills. Hopefully it’s a win-win for everyone.”Cummins watched the auction on a stream at home as franchises battled for his signature. “I couldn’t really believe what I was seeing,” he said. “I try my best not to change, lucky I’ve got a good group of people around me. I still play cricket because I love it, just really fortunate and grateful but hopefully it doesn’t change me.”Cummins did not play T20Is for two years between February 2017 and February 2019 as he was prioritised for Test matches, but has since been part of seven of the last eight matches as Australia turned their attentions to next year’s T20 World Cup on home soil.As with a number of internationals, including Steven Smith and Hazlewood, there was a small window where Cummins could have appeared in this season’s BBL but he won’t be lining up for the Sydney Thunder. He is set to rest after Australia’s ODI tour of India in mid-January ahead of the limited-overs tour of South Africa then an ODI series at home against New Zealand to round out the season ahead of the IPL in April.”He’s a great man, he is great around our team. He was great for us [in previous seasons] and we respected the fact that he needs a break,” the Thunder coach Shane Bond said. “We just said if he wanted to come back he was always welcome here.”