Rangers Can Repeat Goldson Masterclass With £5.4k-p/w Colossus

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has wasted little time in his attempts to improve his playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Light Blues boss has already secured six new signings for the upcoming season after the club's failure to win any trophies last term.

They were unable to lift any silverware and the 42-year-old tactician will be hoping that his business this summer will allow them to compete domestically and in Europe in the coming months.

Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers, Abdallah Sima, Kieran Dowell, Jack Butland, and Dujon Sterling have all arrived at Ibrox over the last couple of months but there could be more to come.

It was reported last month that the Gers are interested in signing Leeds United centre-back Charlie Cresswell and that they have already had one offer turned down for the England U21 international.

Is Charlie Cresswell right-footed?

The 20-year-old is a right-footed central defender who could follow in Connor Goldson's footsteps in Glasgow, as a young English enforcer.

Rangers snapped the now-30-year-old ace up from Brighton for a fee in the region of £3m in 2018 and that deal has turned out to be a masterclass of a move by Steven Gerrard.

Goldson, who was 25 at the time of the switch, has racked up a staggering 261 competitive appearances for the club and started all 38 Scottish Premiership games in the 2020/21 title-winning campaign.

Rangers centre-back Connor Goldson.

Gerrard invested in the right-footed Englishman back in 2018 and the Light Blues have reaped the benefits of that decision as the towering colossus has been a mainstay for the side over the last five years and played a key role during the aforementioned title success.

Rangers could now repeat that masterclass by swooping for the even-younger Cresswell this summer, as the Leeds starlet could be an exceptional long-term signing for the Glasgow giants.

His form on loan at Millwall whilst competing in the Championship last season suggests that the potential is there for him to be an excellent addition to Beale's squad, whilst his young age means that he has the scope to develop over time with more experience.

Cresswell averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.13 across 28 league appearances for the Lions, whilst Goldson (7.29) was the only Gers centre-back to average a higher score in the Premiership.

The 20-year-old titan, whose heading ability was hailed as "powerful" by journalist Josh Bunting, showcased his dominance at the back with a duel success rate of 60%, which shows that he is able to come out on top in the majority of his physical battles.

The £5.4k-per-week ace also made 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game, in comparison to Goldson's 2.3, to win the ball back for his side on a consistent basis.

Cresswell's impressive statistics for Millwall suggest that the 6 foot 3 colossus has the defensive quality to be a consistent performer at the back for Rangers, in a similar fashion to the way that Goldson, who won 67% of his duels in the league last term, has been for the Light Blues over the years.

Therefore, Beale could repeat Gerrard's masterclass by swooping for another right-footed centre-back with the potential to be a dominant enforcer for the Scottish side for many years to come.

Declan Rice latest: Report shares interesting Arsenal update

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has personally gone to great lengths to tempt West Ham star Declan Rice with a move, according to Jacob Steinberg.

Will Arsenal sign Declan Rice?

After nearly a week of further talks, following the agreement of a total £105 million fee (£100m + £5m in add-ons), both the Gunners and West Ham have finally reached a compromise on payment structure for the transfer of Rice.

Over what has felt like a very drawn-out transfer saga, Arsenal are at long last set to seal their top transfer target, with both transfer chief Edu and Arteta playing a big role. Fabrizio Romano, a world renowned transfer journalist, has even given his famous "here we go" to the signing on Twitter.

Rice will become the most expensive British transfer of all time, usurping the likes of Jack Grealish (Man City) and Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), in what is a big boost for Arsenal as they look to mount another title challenge.

The 24-year-old has previously spoken of his desire to win silverware, a goal which will have undoubtedly been a factor in him choosing Arsenal.

West Ham captain Declan Rice.

Speaking back in 2022, Rice revealed he is ready for a big move, claiming he can play at any level required.

"I feel like I am one of the established top players around the world," said Rice (via 90min).

"I am still young, but in terms of my playing ability and the way I’ve performed consistently, I see myself as an established player now who’s got good experience and can play at any level if required.

"All I can do is go out there and perform, regardless of the price tag. I just need to focus on playing well and performing at the best level I can.”

The Guardian's Steinberg, sharing further background on Arsenal's move for the England international, has dropped an interesting claim involving Arteta.

The journalist says Arsenal's manager has personally "gone to great lengths" in a bid to tempt Rice with a move to north London, with the Spaniard believing his physicality and leadership can gift his side a better chance of winning the league.

What's been said about Declan Rice?

The former Chelsea academy star stood out as West Ham's best-performer by average match rating, all while making more interceptions per 90 than any player in their squad (WhoScored).

Called "world class" by members of the media, former Hammers defender Matthew Upson also recently professed his great admiration for Rice.

"I really enjoyed working with him," Upson told BBC Sport.

"He was so receptive. He had the ability to take criticism or feedback. It didn't deter him. He took it all in such a positive way and had the intelligence to absorb the information and add it to his game, which is a real skill.

"Declan was already at a super high level when I worked with him in terms of what he was capable of. You could see the ability he had in his character to be at the top of the game.

That is him. Nobody has added that or given it to him. That is just Declan. That is his star quality."

Man United Could Bin De Gea By Signing "Immense" £77m Titan

The future of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is still uncertain, despite his contract set to expire.

According to The Athletic, United have backed out of an agreement to extend his contract, despite the fact the ‘keeper signed an extension. The Spaniard agreed to lower his £375k-per-week wages that he earned, but the Red Devils didn’t sign the deal, and they have now submitted a new proposal with an even sharper wage decrease which is being considered by the 32-year-old.

It’s a saga which Erik ten Hag would have preferred to avoid during a summer which should be involving bringing better quality players to the club in preparation for the Champions League next season.

Despite winning the Premier League Golden Glove award for keeping the most clean sheets, he committed a host of mistakes, most notably against West Ham United as he let a weak shot from Said Benrahma evade him and a woeful mix-up with Harry Maguire against Sevilla in the Europa League cost them a goal – and perhaps Ten Hag is better off letting the liability depart.

The question is, who would his replacement be? With United looking to make a surprise move for former Chelsea ‘keeper Thibaut Courtois according to sources in Spain (via Football 365), it could cost them €90m (£77m), as this is the fee that Ten Hag could ‘tempt’ Real Madrid with, as per the report.

Could Manchester United sign Thibaut Courtois this summer?

Regardless if De Gea leaves or not, United still require a world-class shot-stopper ahead of next season, and the Belgian certainly has all the credentials to shine at Old Trafford.

He would bring a winning mentality to the club having claimed a Champions League crown and two La Liga titles since joining Madrid in 2018 along with a host of other honours. The Belgian has also won two Premier League titles, indicating that he would have no difficulty settling in should he move to Manchester.

The former Chelsea star could also be an upgrade on De Gea, as he conceded 0.98 goals per game last term compared to the 1.1 per game that the United ‘keeper let in, while Courtois saved 78.9% of shots faced per 90 during 2022/23, with De Gea saving 71.7% of shots faced per 90 – a significantly higher total in the same time period.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

The Madrid gem is also a commanding presence when crosses are delivered into the box, stopping 8.2% per 90, while De Gea manages to stop just 3.1% per 90, and this ability at set pieces could be a big boost for Ten Hag knowing that Courtois could be relied on heavily.

Journalist Josh Bunting lauded his performance against Liverpool in the 2022 Champions League final as “immense” and the 6 foot 6 titan could bring an added presence to the United defence, which is something that will stand them in good stead during their pursuit of more silverware.

Tottenham Confident About Signing "Magnificent" £41k-p/w Ace

Tottenham Hotspur are confident about signing Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo this summer, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has now identified Cameron Carter-Vickers as a potential target at centre-back, with the Australian keen to reunite with his former player, who he signed for Celtic on a permanent deal last summer.

Micky van de Ven is another option for Spurs, with the Wolfsburg defender being placed on the shortlist, following recent talks, however they will have to do battle for his signature with Liverpool, who have now joined the race.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has recently detailed that Adarabioyo has "decided" to leave Fulham this summer, rather than seeing out the one year remaining on his contract, potentially opening the door for a move to north London.

As a result of the Fulham defender's contract situation, Football Insider report that Tottenham are confident they will be able to lure him to N17 this summer, however he is not near the top of their shortlist, with the transfer window still at an early stage.

The 25-year-old could become a "real option" for Postecoglou later this summer, and Spurs feel he could be available for a cut-price fee, as this window may be Fulham's last chance to cash-in.

It is also detailed that Postecoglou has made bringing in a new centre-back one of Tottenham's main priorities.

Should Tottenham sign Adarabioyo?

The centre-back managed to cement himself as a key player for Fulham in the latter stages of the 2022-23 season, starting the last ten Premier League games, and he put in a string of quality performances.

In the Cottagers' final home game, the £41k-per-week defender recorded a 7.4 Sofascore match rating, winning a whopping ten of the 13 duels he contested, while he also displayed his dominance in the air by winning eight aerial duels in a 3-1 win at Everton.

Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo

Hailed as "magnificent" by members of the media, the 6 foot 4 colossus ranks in the 76th percentile for aerials won per 90 in the past year, and in the 98th percentile for clearances, however he does not rank highly for tackles, interceptions or blocks.

That said, Adarabioyo's performances in the second half of last season indicate he could be ready to make the step up to a club the size of Tottenham, at least as a back up option, and it could be a low-risk move, if he is available for a cut-price fee.

Everton Line Up Bid For £10m-Rated Shot-Stopper

Everton have already got a plan in place should they lose Jordan Pickford, with the Toffees lining up a move for Sam Johnstone.

Are Everton signing Sam Johnstone this summer?

The current Crystal Palace goalkeeper only joined the Eagles back at the beginning of the 2022/23 season but could already be off. He managed nine appearances for the SE25 outfit in the top flight this term, conceding ten goals along the way.

It meant that he had to make do with plenty of time on the bench and having been a first-team option with West Brom prior to the move, he likely won't have been too happy to merely sit on the sidelines.

Indeed, he impressed when given the chance to play frequently in the Premier League in the past. When West Brom were last in the top division, he played on 37 occasions and despite his side being relegated that year, he was dubbed one of the best 'keepers in the league by Big Sam Allardyce.

Continuing to play often in the Championship, he played a further 36 times for the Baggies and was then eventually given a way back into the Premier League by Palace.

Now, according to various reports (via The Daily Mail), the shot-stopper may have another chance to play regularly in the top flight. That's because Everton appear to be preparing a move for Johnstone, should they end up losing Jordan Pickford.

The former Man United goalkeeper would cost little – he has a release clause of just £10m – and has experience at the top-level, and is seen as a good replacement for the England number one. Pickford is a wanted man by the Red Devils himself and should they opt to sign him, it could trigger a chain of events that sees Johnstone end up at Goodison Park.

Crystal Palace goalkeeperSam Johnstone

When does Johnstone's contract expire?

His current deal at Palace only expires in 2026 but that clause in his deal could mean that he leaves the club already – and for relatively cheap as well.

He's clearly seen as a very good and reliable option in goal, with former boss Steve Bruce calling Johnstone "wonderful" as a player during his time at West Brom. It was his performances for the Baggies and prior to his stint there that earned him a move to Palace – and now, he could end up being the first-team choice at Everton too, should Pickford be sold.

Chelsea Eye Summer Move For £106k-A-Week Real Madrid Ace

Chelsea are interested in signing Real Madrid right-back Alvaro Odriozola during the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

Is Odriozola leaving Real Madrid?

The £106,000-a-week defender joined the La Liga giants from Real Sociedad back in 2018, but he has struggled to ever become a regular there. Instead, he has enjoyed loan spells at Bayern Munich and Fiorentina in recent years, due to Madrid not being able to promise him regular first-team football.

Odriozola has still managed to rack up 49 appearances for his permanent club, however, also chipping in with three goals and ten assists for good measure. With his current deal expiring in 2024, it looks likely that the Spaniard will move elsewhere for good this summer, in order for Madrid to receive a fee for him, rather than lose him for free next year.

With Chelsea looking to bring in a number of new faces in the next couple of the month, a fresh update suggests that they could be in the mix to sign the 27-year-old.

Could Chelsea seal Odriozola signing?

According to Mundo Deportivo [via Sport Witness], the Blues have "taken an interest" in signing Odriozola this summer, with Athletic Bilbao eyeing up a move for him, too. Both clubs "have asked" about his availability, although it isn't stated whether the player himself was contacted, or Madrid.

The four-cap Spain international is believed to want to return to Sociedad, though, throwing a potential spanner in the works for Chelsea, who would have to work hard to persuade him to move to west London instead.

While Odriozola certainly hasn't pulled up any trees at Madrid, playing just 36 minutes of league action at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2022/23 across three cameo appearances, he could be a solid signing for the Blues, coming in as good competition for Reece James and a long-term replacement for Cesar Azpilicueta.

At 27, he is in the sweet spot of his career when he has years of experience at a high level but is also young enough to be a good signing for a lengthy period, and to have featured for a Spain team littered with world-class talent also says a lot about his ability.

He has been hailed as "superb" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, having come through in a talented Sociedad youth academy that has also produced the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Mikel Oyarzabal, Iñigo Martínez, and Igor Zubeldia, and the positives would outweigh the negatives when it comes to Chelsea signing him.

Manchester United Place £51m-Rated Player On Wanted List

Manchester United are one of the clubs keeping tabs on the situation of Dusan Vlahovic, according to a report from Corrierre dello Sport via Man United News.

How many goals has Vlahovic scored?

The forward has managed his best haul in a Juventus shirt so far this season, with ten Serie A goals and two assists in 27 games. Whilst not at the same heights as his best campaign at Fiorentina – he bagged 21 in 37 games back in the 2020/21 season – he has emerged as one of his side's best attacking outlets this campaign.

In addition, the 23-year-old has stood out as one of the best strikers in Europe in general. When compared to other players in his position in the Men's 'Top Five' leagues (Premier League, Ligue 1, Serie A, Bundesliga and La Liga), his stats place him as one of the outstanding options up front.

His non-penalty xG rate of 0.43 per 90 places him within the top 28% in that stat, showcasing how often he gets himself into scoring positions. His shot rate of 3.06 per 90 also puts him within the 76th percentile – meaning that he is constantly trying to test the opposition goalkeeper.

However, despite these excellent performances in Italy, he could be on the move this summer. A report from Corrierre dello Sport via Man United News states that Vlahovic could be allowed to leave Juventus during the transfer window, with the club well prepared to flog him on because of their shortcomings in Serie A and financial difficulties.

With the player potentially available for sale, it has now alerted several teams across Europe with Man United listed as one of four sides watching his situation. With the Premier League outfit on the hunt for a striker, he would certainly fill a position of need too. In addition, CIES Football Observatory suggest that the striker's value is somewhere around 60 million Euros (or £51m), so a deal potentially might not break the bank. It would still though be a substantial fee for the Juventus forward.

Dusan-Vlahovic

Should Man United sign Vlahovic?

The striker has showcased his knack for scoring goals ever since he broke onto the scene at Fiorentina in 2019/20. That year, he managed six goals at just 19-years-old and has since gone on to bag 62 in total over the course of his career so far.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has called Vlahovic "incredibly prolific" as an attacker and even added that he is a "future legend" for his country, Serbia, because of his goalscoring.

Vlahovic then is not completely the finished article yet but his tendency to get into the right areas and finish off chances is exactly what Man United need – and the fact that he is available for sale is a massive boost for Erik ten Hag in his search for a clinical number nine.

What did Jose Mourinho do after the 2023 Europa League final?

It’s safe to say Anthony Taylor has made a few enemies with his referee performance in last night’s Europa League final.

What’s the latest on Anthony Taylor and Jose Mourinho?

Meeting at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Sevilla played Roma in a scrappy encounter which ended 1-1 after 90 minutes before eventually being settled on penalties after a goalless extra time.

Two fine saves in the shootout from Yassine Bono, allowed Gonzalo Montiel the opportunity to win the tournament for Sevilla.

He actually missed the penalty but referee Taylor was advised by the VAR of an encroachment, and so the Argentine – who also netted the decisive penalty in the World Cup final – scored here at the second attempt to bring the trophy back to Spain yet again.

Throughout the game, however, much of the focus was on the officiating of the Premier League official as he handed out 13 yellow cards – a record for a European final.

Both teams had cause to be upset with the Englishman though. First of all, he failed to spot a possible foul on Ivan Rakitic shortly before Paulo Dybala’s opener.

Fans were furious right after that incident, taking to Twitter to make their feelings known.

Sadly for Taylor, things didn’t get any easier from there as he failed to give some big calls in Roma’s favour either.

Most notably, he failed to award the Serie A side a penalty for this potential handball inside the box.

After the defeat, Jose Mourinho – who had been booked during the game – seemed absolutely enraged with the referee’s display.

Speaking to the press (via Sky Sports), he publically questioned Taylor’s performance saying:

“It was an intense, vibrant game with a referee who seemed Spanish.

“It was yellow, yellow, yellow all the time.”

What’s more, the 60-year-old – who had just lost a European final for the first time in his career – was then spotted in the car park confronting the English official.

It’s certainly a shameful way to take defeat, even if the referee wasn’t at his best on the day. But then again, that’s just classic Mourinho.

Celtic Keeping Tabs on £3m-Rated Defender This Summer

Celtic have put Archie Brown on their transfer radar this summer, with a report from The Mail stating that checks have already been made by the club.

Who are Celtic signing this summer?

The 20-year-old has been impressing for Lausanne in Switzerland this season, having now established himself as a first-team regular for the club. He has managed 33 league outings for the side this season and with an added amount of gametime, he has rewarded the side with plenty of goal contributions. He's managed five goals and four assists in the competition this campaign for example, despite playing as a left-back.

It's the highest amount of games that Brown has managed so far over the course of his career, with the player having never previously played regularly at the top level. Prior to moving to Switzerland, his game time came with Derby at youth level and having never broken into their senior line-up, he opted to move countries to get regular football. Having found it – and impressed – it appears there is now interest from the Scottish Premiership in his signature.

It does appear as though there could be an Old Firm battle to sign the player this summer. According to a report from The Mail, Celtic and Rangers are both keeping an eye on Brown and could be part of a tug-of-war to land the defender during the transfer window.

A deal would likely be modest but would still cost seven figures for either club if they did want to add him to their ranks. However, they aren't the only sides keen to do business, with a multitude of other sides also believed to be keeping tabs on the situation.

Celtic's Ange Postecoglou

Who is Archie Brown?

The defender would offer Celtic a versatile option for their backline if they did manage to add him to their ranks, with Brown already having played on the left but also centrally too. He is predominantly a left-back but can also play slightly further forward too as more of a left midfielder.

That has often amounted in goals for the player, although those strikes largely came at reserve level. For example, when pushed further forward, he has scored 17 goals with nine assists over the course of his career in that left midfield position. It shows that Brown has plenty of offensive capabilities if you allow him to get the ball forward.

The Scottish side then would be getting a young player, with an attacking mindset that has proven that he can already score goals and set up teammates at a decent level in Switzerland. If he can carry that over to the Scottish Premiership, then he could be a really good pick-up for the side.

Orta And Leeds Have Looked At 20-goal Star

Leeds United could be one of a number of clubs keen on Arsenal loaner Folarin Balogun this summer as they have eyed him 'in the past, journalist Ben Jacobs has suggested.

What's the latest news involving Folarin Balogun?

As per Football Insider, multiple Premier League clubs are keen on signing Balogun this summer following a stellar campaign on loan at Reims, including Brentford, Wolves, Crystal Palace and Everton.

His performances have also made admirers from the continent sit up and take notice ahead of the transfer window, such as RB Leipzig, Marseille, Lyon, Villarreal and Sevilla and it is said that £30 million could be enough to tempt Arsenal into selling the forward.

In 2022/23, the 21-year-old has been in brilliant form, netting 20 goals and laying on three assists in 36 matches across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Journalist Jacobs also told GIVEMESPORT earlier this year that Leeds United had weight up a move for Balogun before, writing in his column: "Keep an eye on Leeds, and potentially Leicester, although now Brendan Rodgers has gone we’ll have to wait and see this summer. First, and most importantly, the Foxes must stay up as well. Everton, Brentford, Frankfurt, Villarreal, Milan, Marseille and Borussia Monchengladbach are among a very long list of clubs keeping tabs on Balogun, But nothing will happen until Arsenal have pitched their own plan to the player."

Now speaking to Football FanCast, Jacobs has suggested that Balogun will have plenty of interested suitors this summer due to his consistent displays.

Jacobs told FFC: "There are just too many players there at this point. I think Arsenal and Balogun have to understand each other. Balogun has just committed to the US Men's National Team and even though the World Cup feels a long way away, he'll be thinking about where he's going to get that regular game time between now and 2026 and that World Cup. There's a fair amount of interest, including from the Premier League, Leeds have looked in the past and Leicester have looked, Wolves have looked and that's just from the Premier League. There's obviously top European clubs, keeping an eye on him as well."

Would Folarin Balogun be a good signing for Leeds United?

Balogun made headlines earlier on this year when he broke a 63-year record after becoming the youngest player to reach 16 goals in his debut season in Ligue 1 since 1960/61.

Most certainly, though, any prospective move to sign Balogun, who has been hailed as "incredible", at Elland Road would be largely contingent on Leeds United maintaining their Premier League status, which is a difficult task, as they are currently in the relegation zone.

As per WhoScored, Balogun has been a constant threat to opposition backlines this term, managing to take an average of 3.4 shots per match in Ligue 1.

Stade de Reims' Folarin Balogun in action with Paris St Germain's Fabian Ruiz and Sergio Ramos

FBRef also show that he has managed to provide chances for his teammates and been a reliable presence to link play as a striker, generating 73 successful shot-creating actions.

And, with Patrick Bamford coming under an awful lot of criticism after his penalty miss and guilt edge chance he squandered against Leicester, it certainly appears as if a new striker is a necessity.

Balogun is a bright young star with a big future ahead of him and it's no surprise to see that there is plenty of interest in his services as the transfer window nears.

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