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Northampton Town’s Ali Koiki would be open to potentially replacing Rangers hero Calvin Bassey at Ibrox, says journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Left-back wanted

After Bassey sealed his move to Ajax this week, Giovanni van Bronckhorst is seemingly wasting no time in finding a replacement for the former fan favourite.

Indeed, Besiktas gem Ridvan Yilmaz seems to be the front-runner for the role, and is keen to join, but he’s not the only man in Ross Wilson’s sights.

Koiki has also emerged as a target, with Football Insider reporting the Gers will battle Derby County for his services, and now O’Rourke has delivered some more good news on the chase for the young defender.

The Latest: Koiki would be keen to join

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, the reporter suggests Koiki would be enticed to make the step up from the English League Two to the Scottish Premiership.

“If Rangers are following up their interest in Koiki I’m sure it’s a deal that he would find hard to turn down, as well as Northampton, the chance to go and join such a big club as Rangers.”

The Verdict: Good candidate

While Yilmaz certainly possesses more experience on the big stage – the young Turkey international has six senior caps to his name and even some minutes in Champions League matches, Koiki is certainly an interesting alternative.

The 22 year-old came through Burnley’s youth ranks before moving down the football ladder, where he has since gone from strength to strength, racking up a whopping 49 appearances for Northampton last season.

His impressive durability and form has caught plenty of attention, with Football Insider’s report describing a ‘stand out’ player who’s attracted ‘talent spotters across the UK’ for his powerful runs down the flank.

Capable of playing a more advanced role on the left of midfield also, we feel Koiki should be a serious candidate for Rangers.

Manchester United gave their fans something big to cheer last summer after they welcomed back Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford.

The 2021/22 campaign saw the 37-year-old score 24 goals in 37 appearances across the Premier League and Champions League.

To further highlight how prominent an attacking figure he was for United in the league, nobody else at the club had as many shots at goal as the veteran’s 108.

With the attacker’s contract at United set to expire next summer, at which point he’ll have hit the age of 38, the current transfer window could give the club the chance to bring in what could be their dream heir for Ronaldo.

One player who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford and who could have a chance of filling the Portugal legend’s metaphorically enormous boots is Atletico Madrid attacker Joao Felix.

After scoring 20 goals in 43 senior appearances for Benfica, the Portuguese gem joined his current club during the 2019 summer transfer window in a deal worth a reported £113m.

Since then, the 22-year-old – who is currently picking up a wage of £154k-per-week – has scored 29 goals and provided 15 assists in 110 appearances for Diego Simeone’s side across all competitions.

Labelled an “outstanding” player by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, Felix has shown that he has the credentials to play for one of Europe’s top clubs.

Also, should Erik ten Hag be able to convince the 22-year-old to come to Old Trafford and play alongside his fellow countrymen Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, the versatility that Felix has shown throughout his career would make it easier for the new United boss to get him in the same team as those two players.

Playing alongside the duo at club level, like he has done for Portugal, could then see the youngster become a very important figure for the Red Devils in the future and potentially be their next version of Ronaldo.

If Ten Hag wants to make a real statement signing at his new club before the season starts and bring in a player like Felix who has the potential to be a long-term star for them, then the Old Trafford hierarchy should definitely make an approach to Atletico to see if they would be willing to negotiate a deal for the young attacker.

AND in other news – Imagine him & Bruno: Ten Hag can form scary duo as MUFC eye “beautiful” 52 G/A dynamo

Celtic had no issues when it came to finding the net in the Premiership last season, as Ange Postecoglou’s side ended their title-winning campaign with more goals scored (92) than any other team in the division.

Now that the 2022/23 season is on the horizon, with the Hoops undeniably looking to retain their league title while also tasting domestic cup glory and giving a good account of themselves in Europe, the 56-year-old will be hoping to strengthen his squad to put them in the best shape to meet their objectives.

Focusing on their attack, one man with whom the Parkhead club have been linked with this summer and who could some strength and depth to Celtic’s squad is Antoine Semenyo.

A product of Bristol City’s youth system, the 22-year-old has scored 13 goals and delivered 20 assists in 97 senior appearances for the club.

His previous campaign saw the centre-forward find the net eight times and supply 12 assists in 30 Championship appearances, highlighting how deadly he can be in front of goal, whether that’s in terms of scoring goals or setting them up for his team-mates.

This also explains why the £3.5k-per-week attacker was described by his former manager Nigel Pearson as being a “a nightmare to play against” and “a real threat with his power and pace.”

According to Football Transfers, one name who has been included on a list similar players to Semenyo is Karim Adeyemi.

After scoring 33 goals and providing 21 assists in 91 appearances for Red Bull Salzburg, the 20-year-old joined Borussia Dortmund last month for a fee of £33m.

To compare the young attacking duo from their recent individual domestic seasons, they racked up a combined total of 139 shots at goal between them with virtually a 50-50 divide, the Bristol City gem having 70 and the young German taking 69.

With this in mind, the prospect of having his own version of Adeyemi at Celtic in the form of Semenyo would surely be an exciting one for Postecoglou and Hoops fans.

Should an opportunity arise for the Bhoys to launch a move for the Robins predator this summer and bring him to Parkhead, this is something that the Scottish champions should be all over.

In other news – “Celtic would..”: Antony Joseph drops behind-the-scenes claim, supporters will be thrilled

Everton are reportedly now eyeing up a double swoop for Brennan Johnson and James Tarkowski this summer.

The Lowdown: Positions identified

With links to the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jack Harrison recently, it is clear that the Goodison Park faithful are now targeting a new central defender and winger this window.

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It has been reported that up to seven first-team players could be allowed to leave, including Michael Keane and Andros Townsend, and so the Merseyside club will need to strengthen if that is to happen.

The Latest: Double swoop

Taking to Twitter, reliable journalist Craig Hope has revealed that the Toffees are now eyeing up moves for Johnson and Tarkowski, with the former depending on how Nottingham Forest get on in their Championship play-off final against Huddersfield Town:

“Everton eye move for Nottingham Forest winger Brennan Johnson, but a lot hinges on Forest fate in play-off final. Newcastle, Leicester, Brentford have also watched 21-yr-old. James Tarkowski also near top of Everton list this summer.”

Expanding in his article for The Daily Mail, Hope added that Johnson would likely cost around £20m, and a move away from Forest would be more likely if they lose the final.

The Verdict: Exciting

These are exciting times for Blues supporters given their links to Johnson and Tarkowski, who would both be excellent acquisitions to the team.

The former comes off the back of a standout season in the Championship, where he won the league’s Young Player of the Year award after scoring 19 goals in 50 games over all competitions (The Daily Mail).

Meanwhile, Tarkowski already has that added Premier League experience, and is available on a free transfer with his contract at Burnley set to expire.

Given that he is currently valued at £19.8m on the market, signing him for free would prove to be a real bargain.

In other news, find out which £44,000-per-week star EFC are now showing ‘interest’ in here!

Manchester City have numerous players in their current squad who have made more than 200 appearances for the club under Pep Guardiola.

Now that the summer transfer window is on the horizon, it seems as though a behind-the-scenes development has emerged which could lead to one of those players seeing their time at the club come to an end.

What’s the news?

According to a recent tweet from journalist Mike Keegan, City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is set to leave the club this summer.

The Daily Mail reporter also added that talks between the club and the midfielder will take place at the end of the season, but the Citizens have reportedly made their stance clear on the matter.

The Germany international joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2016 as the first signing that Guardiola made for the club in a deal worth £20m.

Since then, the 31-year-old has gone on to make 252 appearances for the Manchester club across all competitions. In that time, the former Dortmund star has scored 47 goals, supplied 33 assists and won numerous trophies along the way.

The German was a crucial figure for his club last season, as his 13 top-flight goals helped City to secure the Premier League title, ending the campaign as their top scorer.

Bad news for Guardiola

With 26 league appearances under his belt this season, the midfielder has found the net six times, delivered four assists and earned himself an overall WhoScored performance rating of 7.21/10. This makes him the seventh-highest rated player in Guardiola’s current squad according to the site, further highlighting his importance to the team.

Taking all this into account, it’ll surely be a blow for the City manager to not have Gundogan in his squad for next season given everything he’s done for the team and everything that he can offer.

In terms of what the German’s next step could be should he find himself leaving the Etihad Stadium this summer, he has mentioned in the past that he could see himself playing in USA or Turkey.

With fellow City midfielder Fernandinho set to say goodbye to Manchester this summer, having him and Gundogan potentially leaving at the same time will surely fforce the club into signing some replacements.

In other news: Man City plot exciting bid to sign a “huge talent” this summer, he’s Phil Foden 2.0

Can’t get enough Manchester City football content? Watch Manchester City Live Streams  and other videos at StreamFootball.tv.

Liverpool star James Milner has been criticised for his display in the Merseyside derby this afternoon after coming on in their 0-0 draw against Everton.

The Lowdown: Reds off to slow start…

Jurgen Klopp’s side have got off to a slow start to this Premier League campaign as they aim to keep pace with title rivals Manchester City, having dropped points against Man United, Crystal Palace, Fulham and now Frank Lampard’s side.

The Merseysiders have had to cope with injuries to their squad and a lack of midfield depth, prompting them to sign Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo on loan for the rest of the 2022/2023 campaign.

Ahead of a long and congested campaign, especially with the 2022 World Cup merely months away, Liverpool are also having to compete on the European stage – resulting in the need to call upon rotational squad players more often than not.

The Latest: Milner criticised for Everton cameo…

Brought on as a substitute mid-way through the second period of their clash with the Toffees today, Milner failed to impress certain members of the media who saw fit to voice their criticism of the 36-year-old.

Indeed, the reporters pointed out a few shaky moments from the ex-Man City man.

They explained:

“Substitution hasn’t worked at all. Understand Trent has been poor but he’s capable of delivering big moments. Milner so clearly struggling. Matip would’ve been a much better call.” – Leanne Prescott, football writer (via Twitter).

“Almost a costly substitution, Milner trying to stop a counter-attack, like a fish out of water. If Maupay didn’t have the finishing issues that he also showed at Brighton then it would be 1-0 Everton.” – Raj Chohan, BBC Sport (via Twitter)

“Milner getting cooked at RB on the [offside] goal. I get that Trent isn’t playing well but if the young guy isn’t ready surely you’ve gotta just trust Trent to play through it?” – Muhammad Butt, chief writer, Squawka (via Twitter).

The Verdict: Great servant…The midfielder has been a phenomenal servant at Anfield, playing 295 games overall and bagging 26 goals/45 assists in that time, but Klopp’s lack of options may have prompted his use on more occasions than desired.That being said, Milner still has his uses in a thin squad with many games to play and even less resting time in-between.Supporters will be hoping he can re-discover his very best form sooner rather than later.

Rubel Hossain’s famous four-for in Adelaide in the last World Cup remains his most memorable performance. He will look to change that in England

Mohammad Isam02-Jun-20192:25

Rubel sends England packing

Rubel Hossain was all the rage four years ago. His head-spinning move from Dhaka’s central jail to the cauldron of a World Cup match occurred in a matter of weeks, and he became the hero of Bangladesh’s historic win over England, which took them to their maiden World Cup quarter-final.While the entire country danced to the tune of Rubel’s last two wickets against England that day in Adelaide, and his real-life turnaround caught the imagination of an already excitable cricket nation, the performance didn’t quite transform his life.His 4 for 53 lives on in highlights montages, but despite having over ten years’ experience in international cricket, Rubel will play a much smaller role for Bangladesh in this World Cup. In all likelihood, 22-year-old fast-bowling allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin will be preferred over Rubel in their opening game, against South Africa. Saifuddin is a more accomplished batsman and has also carved out a spot as a death bowler.ALSO READ: Bangladesh’s selection issues: Rubel or Saifuddin, or both?Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza considers Rubel a dependable bowler, mainly due to his ability with the old ball mid-innings and for being reliable in the death overs, but it’s a fact that he hasn’t lived up to his potential in international cricket. His Test bowling average is the worst among those who have bowled at least 3000 deliveries. And in ODIs, since the end of the 2015 World Cup, he has taken 46 wickets at an average of 33.23 from 36 innings.Rubel has never appeared as confident as many of his other more celebrated and successful team-mates even though he has starred in some of Bangladesh’s iconic wins – against Sri Lanka on debut in 2009, New Zealand in 2010 and 2013 (where he took a career-best six-for), and of course, the 2015 World Cup win in Adelaide.After his 6 for 26 against New Zealand, which contained a hat-trick, his captain at the time, Mushfiqur Rahim, said that it was the first time Rubel had used his head. What Mushfiqur meant was that Rubel had finally shouldered the responsibility of being a leader of the attack after four years of international cricket. Bangladesh fans will be quick to point to the lows too – when Muttiah Muralitharan smashed him in a tri-series final ten years ago; and the Nidahas T20 Trophy final, when Rubel, having bowled so well earlier in the game, and through the tournament, ran into a rampant Dinesh Karthik.”It is important to keep cool while bowling. One or two boundaries can rattle bowlers but it is necessary to think clearly and finish the over properly”•Getty Images”I consider myself a positive person, so I don’t let bad thoughts take control,” Rubel says. “After I have bowled a couple of deliveries to my liking – where the ball has pitched where I intended it to, and it goes through quickly – then I try to build a rhythm.”The Adelaide spell was a great moment in my career. In English conditions, I will keep that performance in mind. We usually go through footage before every tournament, but I will definitely review my good performances. My preparation will reflect the positivity I gain from remembering some of my best performances.”While great spells from him have been sporadic, Rubel’s main role, of bowling in the death overs, has been a constant in the Bangladesh bowling set-up. He is among the top three-wicket takers in the last five overs for Bangladesh. Rubel and Mustafizur Rahman have formed a partnership since 2018 and have done well at home against Sri Lanka as well as in the West Indies, where Bangladesh won the ODI series in July last year.”Bowling in the slog overs is getting harder,” Rubel says. “Batsmen are targeting boundaries every ball. It is important to keep my cool, read the batsman and bowl. Right execution brings success, and I am working on it in training.ALSO READ: Mohammad Isam picks Bangladesh’s all-time World Cup XI”We know that conditions in England now allow teams to reach 400 runs at times. It is important to keep cool while bowling. One or two boundaries can rattle bowlers but it is necessary to think clearly and finish the over properly. It is a batsmen’s game, so the bowlers have a battle in their hands.”Rubel won’t be a front-line option for Bangladesh in the World Cup. Over the last four years he just hasn’t bowled as well as the team’s second-most experienced pace bowler ought to have done. He will need to tap into his big-match temperament and remember that one great spell isn’t going to give him a regular place in the Bangladesh team.

Six candidates were considered for the position. What have they done in the coaching space so far?

Arun Venugopal01-Jun-2017Ravi Shastri
In August 2014, after India had capitulated to a 3-1 defeat in a Test series in England, Shastri, who had no prior senior coaching experience, was brought in as team director to work with head coach Duncan Fletcher. India went on to lose a Test and ODI series in Australia, but reached the semi-final of the 2015 World Cup. After that, Fletcher’s contract was not renewed and Shastri continued as director, overseeing Test series wins in Sri Lanka, at home against South Africa and a win in the Asia Cup. He is understood to have developed a rapport with captain Virat Kohli during that period, which is one of the chief reasons he is considered the favourite to be named coach this time.Phil Simmons
Simmons has coached three international teams – Zimbabwe, Ireland and West Indies. His 18-month stint with West Indies ended in September 2016 after he had disagreements with members of the West Indies Cricket Board and with director of cricket Richard Pybus, who is also a candidate for the India coaching job. His sacking came just four months after West Indies won the World T20. That was a rare high during Simmons’ tenure with West Indies – the only other series win, in any format, under him was in a Twenty20 series against India, and the team slipped down the ODI rankings, leading them to miss the 2017 Champions Trophy.His eight-year stint (2007-2015) with Ireland was more successful. With him as coach, Ireland won 11 trophies, qualified for every major ICC event and beat Pakistan, England and West Indies in World Cup matches. It was in sharp contrast with his tenure as Zimbabwe coach, from 2004 to 2005, which was fraught with disagreements with board members and ended with him facing deportation from the country.Since being removed as West Indies coach, Simmons has coached St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the 2017 Caribbean Premier League and acted as a consultant to the Afghanistan national team.Virender Sehwag
When he was appointed mentor of Kings XI Punjab in the IPL last year – his first coaching stint at any level – Sehwag brought to the job the free-spirited approach that had characterised his batting. Despite Kings XI finishing last in 2016, the management persevered with Sehwag and elevated him to head of cricket operations and strategy for the 2017 season.Kings XI did markedly better this season and remained in contention for the playoffs deep into the season, before finishing fifth. Sehwag, 38, did not mince words after Kings XI’s dire performance in their last game, lashing out at his overseas players
for not pulling their weight.Tom Moody has helped Sunrisers Hyderabad win an IPL title•BCCITom Moody
Moody will hope to be third-time lucky in the race for the India coaching job, after losing to Greg Chappell in 2005 and Anil Kumble last year.Soon after his playing career wound down in 2000-01, Moody, a two-time world cup winner, was named director of cricket at Worcestershire before taking over as Sri Lanka coach in May 2005.After guiding Sri Lanka to the final of the 2007 World Cup, Moody returned home to coach Western Australia. Ahead of IPL 2013, Moody was named coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad and he oversaw the team’s title triumph in 2016. In 2014, Moody took up the role of director of cricket in the Caribbean Premier League. He is also the current director of cricket for the BBL team Melbourne Renegades, a post he has held since 2014.Richard Pybus
After injuries restricted his playing career to a solitary List A game, Richard Pybus turned to coaching at a young age and achieved remarkable success. Apart from winning trophies with Titans and Cape Cobras in South Africa, Pybus, born and raised in England, coached Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup, when they made the final. His second stint with Pakistan in the 2000s wasn’t as successful though.In May 2012, Pybus took over as Bangladesh coach before resigning five months later because of a disagreement over the terms of his contract. A year later Pybus was appointed director of West Indies cricket for a three-year period.Lalchand Rajput
A former Mumbai batsman with a first-class average of nearly 50, Lalchand Rajput’s post-retirement career has been just as, if not more, fruitful. Rajput was manager of the India team that won the inaugural World T20 in 2007, and he has had successful coaching stints with the India under-19 and A teams.Apart from coaching the Mumbai side in the Ranji Trophy, Rajput, 55, was with Mumbai Indians in the first season of the IPL in 2008. He was also one of the candidates interviewed for the India coaching job last year. While he didn’t make the cut then, Rajput was appointed coach of Afghanistan soon after. He is currently with the Afghanistan team in the West Indies for a limited-overs tour.

ESPNcricinfo marks the India players out of 10 following their 3-0 series win against South Africa

Sidharth Monga08-Dec-20155:41

The emergence of a stronger R Ashwin

10R Ashwin (31 wickets at 11.12, 101 runs at 25.25)Man of the Series for a fourth time out of the six series he has played in India. Continued on from the good work in Sri Lanka on pitches that were more helpful and more familiar. The ball came out beautifully, loose balls could be counted on the fingers, and the psychological hold was never released. Contributed valuable lower-order runs for good measure.Ravindra Jadeja (23 wickets at 10.82, 109 runs at 21.8)Unfortunately, there could be only one Man of the Series. Was the perfect foil to Ashwin’s artistry with his high pace and accurate bowling, and with his use of subtle changes of pace and crease. Was a constant thorn for South Africa with the bat. Scored crucial runs from 102 for 5 in Mohali, 125 for 6 in Nagpur and 139 for 6 in Delhi.8Amit Mishra (seven wickets at 17.28)Did not get as many wickets or overs as the two leading spinners. Was the disposable spinner too. But when he played, he picked the big ones. In Mohali he got AB de Villiers twice, in Nagpur he ended the resistance offered by Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis. Captain Kohli was asked if he missed Mishra in Delhi when South Africa frustrated India.7M Vijay (210 runs at 35)In a series dominated by the ball, he gave India the important runs in Mohali and in Nagpur. Did not cash in when it might have been slightly easier in Delhi, but his 75 and 40 in Mohali and 40 in Nagpur set the tone for India’s wins. He will be a little disappointed he did not convert one of them into big runs.6Ajinkya Rahane (266 runs at 53.2)The one man who converted the starts was Ajinkya Rahane. The only man to score a century in the series, he went ahead and got himself another, both in the last Test. That he did not get a start on turning surfaces in the first two Tests will be a little bother.Rohit Sharma came in at No. 3 in Delhi, but his luck did not quite change•BCCICheteshwar Pujara (202 runs at 33.66)Similar to Vijay but just a notch below in quantity. Gave India the runs in Mohali and Nagpur after shaky starts. Looked good for a hundred in the second innings in Mohali. For a man who was not the first choice in Sri Lanka, Pujara has shown his worth to the team for good.Wriddhiman Saha (five catches, two stumpings, 83 runs at 16.6)Not quite MS Dhoni, but began to come into his own as a pure wicketkeeper. Was dogged with the bat, surviving more than 100 balls on the Nagpur minefield. Was the rock in the lower order, which frustrated South Africa.5.5Virat Kohli (200 runs at 33.33)His failures were similar to Rahane’s in the first two Tests that he batted in. When he looked really good, in Delhi, he got out in a freakish manner. Was vigorous as captain. His demand for turning pitches shows a certain selflessness, in that he did not care for his or his other batsmen’s numbers as much as he did for Test wins.5Umesh Yadav (Five wickets at 12)There was not much for him to do in the series, but when there was, in Delhi, he did so with aplomb. He reversed the ball, bowled at a good pace, and provided India the breakthroughs when needed badly on the final day of the series.Shikhar Dhawan (150 runs at 25)Had a horrible start to the series with a pair in Mohali, but showed remarkable application in the remaining five innings that he had. He made the bowlers or the pitch get him out, but the big score is still missing. Might have earned himself another chance, but needs to find a big one soon.3Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron and Stuart BinnyWas not much in there for them in the pitches or the match situation. Ishant remained economical, Aaron produced a superb delivery to get Amla out in Bangalore, and Binny took a special catch.2Rohit Sharma (26 runs at 6.5)India’s big disappointment of the series. They have invested so much in him that he must feel under tremendous pressure in Tests now. What will hurt more is not that he didn’t score runs, but the way he got out on three of the four occasions.