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Glasgow Rangers made two huge decisions on Monday as they announced that both CEO Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell had been removed from their posts at Ibrox.

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh revealed to Sky Sports, in the post below, that the Gers need different people in those two leadership positions moving forward in order for the club to be successful.

The Rangers chief was careful not to throw mud at Stewart and Thelwell for their work at Ibrox, but suggested that it was down to their performance in their respective roles, as he stated that they still aligned with the overarching project.

Given that Russell Martin’s tenure lasted 17 matches and several summer signings do not look up to scratch, it is hard to disagree with the club’s decision to part ways with both of them, particularly Thelwell.

Looking at the list of summer signings in the graphic above, it is easier to pick out the players who have flopped or struggled than it is to pick out the successes from the summer transfer window.

The summer signing that Thelwell may go on to be infamous at Ibrox for is Youssef Chermiti, as he arrived from his former club Everton in a big-money deal.

Why Rangers should not have signed Youssef Chermiti

To preface this, supporters and those at the club will, of course, be hoping that the Portugal U21 international goes on to prove everyone wrong and becomes a consistent goalscorer for the Light Blues.

However, at this moment in time, it looks like a deal that the Scottish giants should not have done, particularly for the reported money that was involved in the move.

Thelwell signed Chermiti for Everton from Sporting in a deal worth up to £15m in the summer of 2023, but he did not score a single competitive goal for the Toffees in two years during his time in England.

Then, after moving to Rangers in April, the sporting director signed the centre-forward for a second time, splashing £8m to bring him to Ibrox, in the most expensive Gers deal since Tore Andre Flo joined for £12m in 2000.

It is fair for supporters to expect a player to make an immediate impact in Glasgow when signed for that kind of money, as Chermiti is the club’s most expensive player in 25 years, but that has not been the case.

The former Everton marksman has scored one goal in 13 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues, per Sofascore, which shows that the forward has failed to deliver much in the way of quality in the final third.

25/26 Europa League

Youssef Chermiti

Starts

4

xG

1.29

Goals

0

Big chances missed

4

Big chances created

0

Assists

0

Pass accuracy

59%

Duel success rate

35%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Chermiti has been incredibly underwhelming in the Europa League so far this season, failing to score from 1.29 xG after starting all four of his appearances in the competition.

The 21-year-old striker’s dismal form for the club so far suggests that Thelwell made a mistake when he signed the forward for £8m, because he has not made the kind of impact that Rangers should expect from such an expensive signing.

Chermiti, though, is not the only one of the summer signings you could argue that Thelwell should not have signed because of their performances in the 2025/26 campaign.

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

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The former Rangers sporting director swooped to bring in Jayden Meghoma on loan from Brentford to bolster Russell Martin’s full-back options, as the ex-Gers boss had worked with the youngster during their time together at Southampton.

Why Rangers should not have signed Jayden Meghoma

During the summer window, Thelwell decided to cash in on the two senior left-back options at Ibrox, selling Jefte to Palmeiras and Ridvan Yilmaz to Besiktas.

Whilst those respective sales were not horrendous decisions in isolation, this issue is that Meghoma was the only signing brought in to replace those two senior players.

4 Lads Had A Dream covered Ally McCoist’s claim that Rangers have “downgraded” across the pitch since last season, and referenced Meghoma in comparison to Jefte as one of the areas in which the team have failed to improve.

It is not the 19-year-old defender’s fault that he has been brought in to be a first-choice option for a team that is expected to win consistently and compete on the European stage, when his experience last season was playing 12 matches on loan at Preston in the English Championship.

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Meghoma, unfortunately, does not look ready to be a first-choice left-back at this level at the moment, as evidenced by his statistics in comparison to Jefte’s at Scottish Premiership level.

Premiership

Jefte – 24/25

Meghoma – 25/26

Appearances

33

9

Key passes per game

1.0

0.7

Assists

4

1

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.3

3.3

Clearances per game

2.9

1.3

Duels won per game

5.5

4.0

Aerial duel success rate

57%

25%

Error led to shot or goal

1

2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Brazilian defender’s performances in the league last season were far more impressive than what the English teenager has produced in the division this term, offensively and defensively.

These statistics back up the claim that Rangers have “downgraded” by selling Jefte to sign Meghoma on loan, which adds more fuel to the fire surrounding the criticism of Thelwell’s summer recruitment.

Like Chermiti, it seems like Meghoma has been signed to fill a role that he is not ready to fill at this point in his development. They are both young players who have time to develop and improve, but neither of them look ready to be key players for Danny Rohl in the present.

Therefore, the signing of Meghoma was one of Thelwell’s worst clangers of the summer, alongside Chermiti, because he has failed to adequately replace Jefte at left-back, and it remains to be seen if either of them will end up being good enough this season.

Related Thelwell signing is a bigger waste of time than Chermiti & Miovski at Rangers

This Glasgow Rangers flop is a bigger waste of time this season than both Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti.

Posts ByDan Emery

Chelsea have the chance to seal their second trophy under Enzo Maresca when they face PSG in the Club World Cup final.

It will be a tough task, as the French side are arguably the best side on the planet, evidenced by their 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Enzo Fernandez will be crucial as the Argentine will be tasked with trying to keep possession for the Blues, while also aiming to stop PSG from mounting attack after attack in the final third.

That being said, despite Maresca signing plenty of attacking players this summer, might the former Benfica starlet be growing worried amid the club’s latest transfer link?

Chelsea enquire over Barcelona midfielder

The list of attacking players linked with the Blues is lengthy, but Maresca now looks like he could be set to add a midfielder or two to his squad.

Transfer Focus

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

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According to Caught Offside, Chelsea, along with Arsenal, have enquired about the availability of Barcelona star Marc Casado this summer.

The Catalan giants are demanding €50m (£43m) should any club wish to make an official bid for the Spaniard.

He does have a release clause worth €100m (£86m), but due to their financial situation, Barcelona may be forced to accept a lower offer. If Maresca does sign the player, it could be bad news for Fernandez.

Why Chelsea must sign Marc Casado

Last season in the Premier League, Fernandez played alongside Moises Caicedo in the heart of the Chelsea midfield.

He registered 13 goal contributions in the top flight, while also creating 13 big chances and averaging 2.3 key passes per game for the Blues. The Argentine may be a more effective player going forward, but defensively, Casado has the upper hand.

Indeed, last season, the Barcelona starlet tackled a higher percentage of dribblers (48.8% vs 36.9%) per 90, along with committing fewer fouls (26 vs 52) and making more interceptions (22 vs 13) in their respective domestic leagues.

Marc Casado’s La Liga statistics last season for Barcelona

Accurate passes per game

53

Goals

1

Assists

3

Total duels won per game

4

Big chances created

3

Tackles per game

1.9

Via Sofascore

Furthermore, Casado also won more total duels per game (53% vs 47%) and lost possession fewer times per game (7.7 vs 12.8) than the current Blues midfielder.

With the club signing a plethora of attacking players this summer, shoring up the midfield now appears to be Maresca’s priority.

A move for Casado could have Fernandez fearing for his place in the starting XI next season, that’s for sure, with Caicedo seemingly a shoo-in to start, having been described by Maresca as “one of the best, if not the best, defensive midfielder in the world”.

Following Spain’s victory over Switzerland last November, Casado was showered with praise by teammate Bryan Zaragoza, who said: “He’s an animal. I don’t even know what to say about how he played. He’s barbaric.”

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This sort of player is exactly the type of midfielder that Maresca would love to have available to him.

Aged just 21, Casado is only going to get better with age, especially by playing in the Premier League and Champions League for the Blues.

If the Stamford Bridge side can secure his signature for a decent fee, it might turn out to be one of their best signings of the summer, with Casado representing a perfect partner to Caicedo in the centre of the park.

For Fernandez, however, it could well be bad news in the long run.

Related £17m ace nearing Chelsea exit after Madueke, it'd free up space for Ekitike

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Liverpool have been in contact with the representatives of an “incredible” player ahead of the summer transfer window, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

Liverpool in need of summer attacking signings

The Reds are still having a superb season, and defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United shouldn’t change that, but it has highlighted the need for attacking reinforcements this summer.

Mohamed Salah has enjoyed a sensational campaign, while Cody Gakpo has also shone, but there are question marks over the futures of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.

All three have had up-and-down seasons, with Diaz the best of the three, but arguably not at the world-class level Sadio Mane was at when he starred on the left wing for Liverpool. Nunez is still a frustrating player to watch both in and out of possession, while Jota looks like injuries could be catching up with him. He has only scored twice in 2025 to date.

A new centre forward is essential for Arne Slot come the end of the campaign, with Newcastle ace Alexander Isak arguably the top option to come in. Now, a fresh update has dropped regarding Liverpool’s pursuit of him.

Liverpool in talks to sign "incredible" £160m star

Speaking on his YouTube channel on Monday [via The Metro], Romano claimed that Liverpool and by extension FSG have been in contact with Isak’s people, as they look to beat Arsenal to his signature in the summer window:

“Newcastle keep insisting in private and in public that they want to keep Alexander Isak. They hope to be in the Champions League next season but, in any case, they want to keep Alexander Isak at the club, so that’s the message from Newcastle. But I keep telling you that big, big, massive proposals will come to the table for Alexander Isak because Arsenal will be there, Arsenal want Isak.

“[Benjamin] Sesko is the other name on the list but, for sure, Isak and Sesko are the main names. Liverpool are also there for Alexander Isak, they already made some contacts with people close to the player, so both clubs are interested in Alexander Isak. For Arsenal, he is the absolute top target. For Liverpool, he’s one of names they are considering in that position.”

This is another encouraging update, with Isak a player who could transform Liverpool as an attacking force, standing out as arguably Europe’s most in-form striker this season.

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The 25-year-old, valued at a whopping £160m, is coming into his absolute peak years, recently being described as “incredible” by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, and he could be the next great striker at Anfield.

The one concern would be a questionable injury record down the years, so he would be a slight risk if huge money was spent on him, but he has started 25 games in the Premier League this season, which bodes well moving forward, with 19 goals coming his way in the competition.

Related Slot has a "world-class" 19-year-old who can end Diaz's Liverpool career

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Isak has all the attributes to excel under Slot, whether it be great finishing, a silky touch or pace to run in behind, and he could be a game-changer of an addition if Liverpool can sign him over Arsenal.

Sheffield Wednesday are preparing for a huge Championship clash with Sheffield United this weekend, and a big double injury update has emerged in the build-up.

Steel City derby on deck as Owls find form

In midweek, the Owls delivered a much-needed response to their shock 6-2 defeat at home to Watford last Saturday, winning 2-0 against Norwich City at Hillsborough. It leaves Danny Rohl’s side sitting 15th in the table after the latest round of action, with a massive occasion now lying on the horizon with a chance to make it three wins in four league games.

Wednesday face their biggest match of the season so far on Sunday lunchtime, as they make the short trip to Bramall Lane to take on bitter rivals United, with the Blades in second place and looking like strong promotion contenders.

It is the first Steel City derby since back in March 2019, due to the Owls spending time in League One and their adversaries enjoying stints in the Premier League, and the whole of Sheffield is holding its breath ahead of a much-anticipated 90 minutes.

Wednesday are understandably the underdogs going into the game, given the respective league positions of both, and the fact that they are the away side, but Rohl will know that he and his players can etch their names into derby folklore with a win. Ahead of the match, an important injury update has emerged.

Key injury update as Wednesday duo return to training

Speaking in his pre-derby press conference on Friday, Rohl confirmed that Sheffield Wednesday pair Nathaniel Chalobah and Michael Ihiekwe are both back on the training pitch again, following respective injury absences.

While neither Chalobah or Ihiekwe are expected to feature for Wednesday this weekend, having them slowly edging towards a return to the pitch is a huge boost, during a relentless season where squad depth is essential as the months pass.

Chalobah hasn’t played a single minute of action in the Championship since securing a summer move to the Owls from West Brom during the summer transfer window, with his only appearance to date coming in the 5-1 win away to Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup.

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As for Ihiekwe, having him back feels significant, considering what an important member of Rohl’s defence was during the 2023/24 season, appearing 26 times in the league. He hasn’t featured since late September, however, highlighting why Wednesday will need to ease him back in, rather than rush his return and risk injuring him further.

Related Injury update on "brilliant" Sheffield Wednesday ace before Steel City derby

A relief for the Owls.

Posts ByTom Cunningham

Hopefully, the pair will be close to a first-team return after the international break, using the next week or two to further build their fitness, before being available for the remainder of the campaign.

Gary O’Neil will need to work smart this summer in order to improve his Wolverhampton Wanderers squad, especially as he is unlikely to have much money to spend.

This is unless he manages to move on some of his prized assets during the transfer window, which includes the likes of Pedro Neto and Max Kilman to name just a couple.

Could Matheus Cunha also be in contention to move on from Molineux in the next few weeks? The Brazilian has attracted some attention.

Why Wolves could sell Matheus Cunha this summer

The centre-forward enjoyed a fruitful season during 2023/24, scoring 14 times while grabbing eight assists in all competitions, becoming one of O’Neil’s most important players.

This hasn’t gone unnoticed, as Manchester United are seemingly keen on bringing the former Atlético Madrid player to Old Trafford for the 2024/25 campaign.

"We see this rush [Man United speculation]. But I'm very happy at Wolves,” said the Brazilian in an interview. Despite his eagerness to stay in the Midlands, if the Old Gold does receive an offer which is too good to turn down, does O’Neil accept in the hope that he can use the funds to bolster his squad?

Wolves' transfer business in the summer of 2023

Player

Club joined from

Matheus Cunha

Atlético Madrid

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde

Strasbourg

Santiago Bueno

Girona

Boubacar Traore

Metz

Matt Doherty

Atlético Madrid

Tom King

Northampton

Tommy Doyle

Man City (loan turned permanent)

Via Transfermarkt

It’s a tough decision, but the club are showing interest in a player who could be an ideal long-term replacement for Cunha.

Wolves could sign Cunha replacement

According to Italian outlet L’Arena (via Birmingham World), Wolves are keen on making a move for Tomas Suslov, who plays for Hellas Verona in the Italian top flight.

The report claims that the youngster could be available for as little as £8.5m this summer, which could turn out to be a wonderful piece of business for O’Neil should he get it over the line.

Suslov featured 33 times for Verona last term, scoring three goals and registering five assists in what was a solid debut campaign for the Slovakian playmaker.

The final league match of the season saw Suslov fully demonstrate his talent against Inter Milan. Not only did he contribute with a goal and an assist, but the 22-year-old made four key passes, created two big chances and took three shots in total.

This would be impressive against any team, but considering it came against the champions and best team in the league, it proved that Suslov is set for a bright future.

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Analyst Ben Mattinson praised the attacking midfielder earlier this month, saying: “Another interesting prospect with little moments of brilliance, whether it’s flicks, quality final passes or weaving out of tight areas. Suslov has a technical left foot capable of some excellent crosses and switches.”

Suslov has made three substitute appearances for Slovakia in Euro 2024 at the time of writing, failing to score or grab an assist, but succeeding with one dribble and averaging 0.3 key passes across just 63 minutes of action.

This move is a no-brainer for O’Neil, especially if he wishes to sign a top talent who could go all the way to the very top, potentially making the club a serious profit in the future.

Related O'Neil selling "underrated" Wolves star would be a bigger loss than Neto

He has interest from the Premier League this summer

Posts ByJoe Nuttall

Tottenham Hotspur returned to winning ways in the Premier League over the weekend as they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 at home on Saturday.

The Lilywhites bounced back from a 2-2 draw with Everton by securing a win over Roberto De Zerbi's side, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Brennan Johnson.

Heung-min Son, on his first appearance since returning from international duty, supplied the assist with a perfect cross to the back post for the former Nottingham Forest attacker to convert into an empty net.

It was a third Premier League goal of the season for the Wales international, whilst Timo Werner failed to register a goal or an assist on the opposite flank.

Both players arrived at Spurs this term, with the former in the summer and the latter in January, but some may wonder what could have been with one of the club's reported targets.

Tottenham's interest in Wolves star

During the January transfer window, it was reported that Tottenham and Liverpool both had an interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers star Hee-chan Hwang.

Football Insider claimed that both clubs were monitoring his performances as the South Korea international had been on fire in the Premier League for Gary O'Neil's side.

The outlet claimed that a move ahead of the second half of the 2023/24 campaign was unlikely but added that Wolves are fearful of a summer exit for their impressive attacker.

There was no mention at the time of how much it would have cost Spurs to sign him in January, or how much they are prepared to demand at the end of the season.

Ultimately, Tottenham did not decide to test Wolves' resolve with an offer to sign Hwang and missed out on acquiring his services last month.

Whilst they may revisit their interest in the summer, Ange Postecoglou and Daniel Levy could have landed an upgrade on Werner, who they signed on loan from RB Leipzig, if they had convinced their rivals to part way with Hwang, who has more goals and assists than Johnson this season.

Brennan Johnson's season in numbers

The Welsh whiz has made 21 appearances in the top-flight since his move from Nottingham Forest and has failed to provide consistent quality in the final third.

His finishing has left a lot to be desired as the 22-year-old winger has scored three goals from an xG of 4.80, which suggests that he has let his teammates down at times with wasteful finishing.

Whereas, his fellow attackers have more than made the most of the chances that Johnson has created for them, as the young gem has recorded four assists from an xA of 1.93.

In total, the Spurs forward has produced three goals and four assists in 24 matches in all competitions, with three appearances in the two domestic cups, which is a return of one goal or assist every 3.43 games on average.

It has been far from a perfect first season at Tottenham for Johnson but he has plenty of time left, at the age of 22, to develop and improve over the years to come.

Whereas, Werner, 27, was brought in to make an instant impact on loan and Hwang would have offered far more than him at the top end of the pitch.

Werner's struggles in front of goal

The Germany international joined the club from RB Leipzig last month and registered an assist on his debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Werner is five appearances into his career in North London and is still on the search for his first goal for the club, although he did add another assist in the 3-2 win over Brentford at the end of January.

His lack of consistent quality in the final third should not come as any real surprise given his struggles with Leipzig during the first half of the season.

The 27-year-old winger scored two goals, from 2.36 xG, and failed to provide a single assist, from 0.10 xA, in eight Bundesliga outings for the German side. He also ended up with zero goals and zero assists in four Champions League matches for his parent club.

In total, Werner has two goals and three assists to his name in 19 appearances in all competitions for Spurs and Leipzig combined so far this season, which is just shy of one goal contribution every four games on average.

This shows that the former Chelsea attacker has not provided outstanding quality as either a scorer or a creator of goals for either side, as a striker or a winger.

Why Hwang would be an upgrade on Werner

Meanwhile, Hwang's performances for Wolves this season suggest that Spurs could have brought in a better player than Werner – an upgrade – if they had secured his services in January.

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The 28-year-old dynamo has proven his quality in the Premier League with a string of impressive displays for the Old Gold since O'Neil's arrival in the dugout last summer.

He has produced ten goals, three assists, and four 'big chances' created in 20 top-flight appearances, which includes 17 starts, and scored one goal in one EFL Cup match.

This means that Hwang has racked up 11 goals and three assists in 21 outings in all competitions for Wolves, which is a return of one goal or assist every 1.5 games, and that is seven more goal contributions than the aforementioned Johnson has managed.

23/24 league season

Timo Werner

Hee-chan Hwang

Appearances

12

20

xG

2.93

5.96

Goals

Two

Ten

xA

1.07

2.34

Assists

Two

Three

Big chances created

One

Four

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Old Gold star, who was recently hailed as "fantastic" by O'Neil, has offered more at the top end of the pitch than Werner throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

Whilst the German attacker has underperformed his xG with wasteful finishing, Hwang has been lethal in front of goal with roughly four more goals than expected.

The £70k-per-week whiz currently ranks within the top 6% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers for non-penalty goals (0.56) per 90, which illustrates how impressive his scoring has been in the top-flight.

Therefore, Spurs missed out on a big Werner upgrade, who has also outperformed Johnson, by opting against a swoop to sign the Wolves dynamo in January.

On and off the pitch, Leeds United have faced a turbulent time in the last year or so, with relegation combined with managerial changes and the controversy surrounding former owner Andrea Radrizzani's use of Elland Road as collateral in his takeover of Sampdoria. Since the 49ers' takeover and the appointment of Daniel Farke, however, the Whites look like a side beginning to show signs of life in the Championship, winning three of their last five games.

From the 49ers' perspective, their aim will be instant promotion back to the Premier League, which will help from both a sporting and financial point of view. Meanwhile, the new owners are reportedly about to boost the morale of the fans even further, with one off-field deal close to completion.

What's the latest Leeds United news?

Following a summer transfer window full of ups and downs, with several exits and a number of subsequent incomings, things are finally beginning to settle down for Leeds under Farke. And, as their form continues to turn around, their summer business looks all the more positive. Now that the window is closed, too, they can turn their attention to other improvements away from the pitch.

The latest Leeds United news suggests that's exactly the plan. According to Kieran Maguire, a deal for the 49ers to buy Elland Road from Radrizzani is close to completion. After Phil Hay reported this week that a deal is close, Sky Sports' football finance expert has told Football Insider it's really now just the final few details left to sort: “I’m not necessarily surprised that the 49ers have not yet taken majority control of Elland Road. I think it’s part of an ongoing process, it is nearly done and it is quickly approaching the end game.

“We’ve seen in the last couple of days that Radrizzani and his colleagues have been removed from the board of directors at Leeds United Football Club. So these things do take time and I’m sure that the 49ers Enterprises are very relaxed about the direction they’ve taken. They know that Radrizzani wants out and they want in. It’s just a case of tying up the loose ends.”

Who are the main shareholders in Leeds United?

After increasing their stake in the club, 49ers Enterprises are the full owners of Leeds United. The group is led by Paraag Marathe, who has been a leader in the sports industry for 20 years. The sale brought an end to Radrizzani's tenure, but it did not end without controversy after the Italian took over Serie A club Sampdoria, using Elland Road as collateral.

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The 49ers, edging closer to buying the stadium from the former owner, look set to put an end to that issue, in what will be an early success in their ownership of the club. Once that is done, the focus can return to the action taking place on the pitch of Elland Road, and Farke's side, who are showing promising signs of improvement.

Come May, those in charge at Leeds will hope to see their club in the race for promotion, with a deal to buy Elland Road from Radrizzani all wrapped up. It certainly looks set to be an interesting few months at the club.

Since the club's takeover at the end of 2021, Newcastle United have invested hefty sums on several highly-talented players.

Notably, this list includes Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman, Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, and most recently, Sandro Tonali.

Spending has increased as the club prepares for one of the biggest summers in its history as it prepares to compete in the Champions League.

However, in the tenure of the new ownership, the most important signing could arguably be their first – the acquisition of Kieran Trippier in January 2022 for just £12m has emerged as an inspired piece of business.

The 32-year-old has oozed quality, composure and leadership. He is now the club captain and an indispensable component of Eddie Howe’s machine.

Nevertheless, his age cannot be escaped, and whilst he is in the most fruitful form of his life, he is nearing the twilight years of his career.

But the Magpies hierarchy has already begun the process to pinpoint a long-term successor to the Englishman, with Tino Livramento suggested as a possible target.

What’s the latest on Tino Livramento to Newcastle United?

According to the Telegraph, the Magpies have already submitted two bids for the Southampton gem, but have failed to reach an agreement.

The Saints, who were relegated to the Championship, value the 20-year-old at more than £30m, whilst Newcastle have only offered around £21m.

The outlet describes the player as 'very keen' on the move, but the club may need to wait until the sale of Allan Saint-Maximin has been completed for a timely cash injection, whilst also easing Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns.

It was previously reported by the Daily Mail that Chelsea supposedly has a “surprise interest” in Livramento, with a £40m buy-back clause as part of his departure in 2021.

However, with the immovable Reece James and the recently-signed Malo Gusto already in their ranks, it seems unlikely that a transfer back to west London will ever materialise.

If Newcastle can just match Southampton’s asking price then a deal is very much a possibility.

Can Tino Livramento emulate Kieran Trippier at Newcastle United?

Within the Chelsea youth system, the quick right-back forged an esteemed reputation for his class and potential.

In 30 appearances during the 2020/21 season, Livramento registered ten assists and was named as the Blues' Academy Player of the Year, winning the award alongside the likes of James, Mason Mount, and Billy Gilmour.

He was then unexpectedly sold to Southampton for the next season, and in 28 top-flight outings, he averaged 1.9 tackles and 1.1 dribbles per game (third-highest ranking for each metric in the squad) to showcase his impressively competent all-round game.

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But, a devastating ACL injury against Brighton in April 2022 massively derailed his progress and kept him out of action for over a year.

Now back to full fitness, he is the subject of interest from the high-flying Magpies, and Howe could train him as Trippier’s heir to the right-back throne.

Last term, Trippier was simply sensational.

He was named in OPTA’s team of the season, playing in every fixture, creating the most chances from set plays (76), and playing the most passes into the opposition box (551) in a single season since 2004. The former Tottenham Hotspur man also recorded 138 successful crosses, the most in a single season since 2006.

Having a man of this calibre to mentor the “fantastic” Livramento – as once lauded by former teammate Theo Walcott – can continue Newcastle’s reputation as a rapidly improving asset.

Glasgow Rangers will be looking to make it 14 Premiership matches unbeaten under Michael Beale when they face Motherwell this afternoon at Fir Park.

The Ibrox side have dropped just two points in the league since the Englishman took over in November and although the Steelmen have enjoyed somewhat of a rejuvenation under Stuart Kettlewell, Rangers should secure all three points.

Malik Tillman is back in the fold having missed the previous three games due to injury, while Ridvan Yilmaz will be aiming to build upon his appearance against Raith Rovers last week, and he could well start today as Borna Barisic is likely to miss the tie due to his wife expecting their first child.

With the chance to temporarily reduce the gap to Celtic at the top of the league table to six points, Beale will make a few changes from the Scottish Cup win over Raith last weekend.

We at Football FanCast predict the Rangers starting XI that will take to the pitch this afternoon.

What could Rangers’ XI look like vs Motherwell?

Allan McGregor will yet again start between the posts, looking at keeping his eighth clean sheet of the league campaign.

Connor Goldson and Ben Davies will operate at the heart of the defence, while James Tavernier will start on the right-hand side. Ridvan Yilmaz will make his first Premiership start since August due to Barisic potentially missing the tie, with the “high potential” dynamo – in the words of Ross Wilson – keen to make an impression.

Ryan Jack and Nicolas Raskin will form the midfield axis while Malik Tillman returns to the starting XI in place of Todd Cantwell, operating just behind the striker. Cantwell has been excellent since joining Rangers, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.3/10, but the “god given” talent – as dubbed by his former youth coach Gary Cockaday – will make way allowing the American to gain some much-needed minutes.

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Fashion Sakala – with 12 goal contributions under Beale – has arguably been on the clubs finest performers of late, and he will take his spot on the right wing, with Ryan Kent deployed on the left.

Antonio Colak will retain his starting berth as the lone striker and will be hoping to build on his two-goal salvo against Hibernian.

Newcastle United have been warned they will have to pay more than the previously touted £40m price tag for Moises Caicedo.

The Lowdown: Caicedo situation

Caicedo has been a revelation since arriving on the south coast, with his signing epitomising Brighton & Hove Albion’s clever transfer activity over the last couple of seasons.

Despite only playing Premier League and was previously linked with a move away in the summer, but former boss Graham Potter claimed a £40m fee would “probably get his boots”.

He’s continued to excel and has the majority of England’s powerhouses closely watching his next steps, with Newcastle reported by The Athletic as an interested party.

The Latest: Barber’s comments

Speaking on House of Champions, Albion CEO Paul Barber claimed that his value has now far exceeded the previous £40m tag and revealed his side’s determination to hold onto him.

He said: “I’m not sure that it would include the boots now, maybe just the laces!

“Joking aside, every player, ultimately, their value is determined by the market, and Graham’s comments were part in jest, but part serious, because he has been an exceptional player for us since he came into the Premier League.

“Developing all the time, a young man, great attitude, fantastic work ethic; very, very, nice human being off the pitch.

“So all of those things contribute to the value of a footballer when it comes to that moment.”

The Verdict: Huge offer

Brighton have made themselves a hub for talent production and shrewd recruitment over recent years with Ben White, Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma all leaving to different ‘big six’ sides over the past two years.

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Unsurprisingly, you would imagine any push for the 21-year-old is likely to be met by staunch resistance due to his importance to the side, and following Yves Bissouma’s exit in the summer, Albion would be forced to replace yet another midfielder.

Although the Ecuadorian offers incredible talent and potential, The Sun has reported a fee of £70m is needed to prize him away, so you would think the Magpies could find two players for that price considering Bruno Guimaraes cost them just £40m alone.