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Chelsea will keep hold of striker Armando Broja for the coming season and he will need to make an 'impact' at Stamford Bridge to avoid being cut loose in the future, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest news involving Armando Broja?

According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea forward Broja could seek a move away from Stamford Bridge this window following the arrival of Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.

West Ham, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Brentford are all keen to take him off the hands of the Blues and Broja's entourage are said to be 'exploring' alternative avenues for him to take his next career step.

Broja has been back out on the training field at Cobham in pre-season following missing the entire second half of last campaign due to a horrific knee injury he picked up in a friendly against Aston Villa in mid-season, as per Football London.

Last month, journalist Simon Phillips took to Twitter to update Chelsea fans on manager Mauricio Pochettino's view of Broja and his vision for the Albania international, stating: "Everyone at the club as well as Poch has a real belief in Broja – was part of the reason we didn’t rush into signing a new 9 in January. Poch feels if he gets back to his best, Broja can be perfect for his system."

Nevertheless, the imminent return of Broja to first-team action hasn't put Chelsea off potentially strengthening their depth in the striker position further, with Corriere dello Sport via The Daily Express claiming that the Blues are 'pushing hard' to try and land Juventus hitman Dusan Vlahovic.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones has revealed that Chelsea will keep hold of Broja for now; however, he thinks that the £40k-a-week ace must take any opportunities in the side by the scruff of the neck to avoid becoming out-of-favour at Stamford Bridge.

Jones told FFC: "He's got to make an impact early on; at the moment, the signals are that he'll remain with Chelsea, but that can flip so quickly. He has to have encouraging signs; otherwise, I don't think he'll want to hang around and be out of the picture again."

Should Chelsea give Armando Broja an opportunity to stake his claim for action?

It wouldn't hurt, put it that way, though Broja will know himself that he will need to make his presence felt on the pitch to stand a chance of being in Pochettino's long-term plans at Chelsea.

Taking his whole Chelsea career under the microscope, Broja has made just 19 senior appearances for the club, netting one goal and laying on a solitary assist, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that in 2022/23, Broja earned an average rating of 6.29/10 for his exploits on the pitch, though it is perhaps a tad unfair to criticise the 21-year-old too much, taking into account he was granted just two Premier League starts and ten substitute appearances before his injury struggles.

The Evening Standard cite that Broja should be ready to play a part in Chelsea's pre-season tour of the United States, where they will take on Sky Bet League Two side Wrexham, followed by bouts against Fulham, Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League Summer Series and a 'one-off' friendly against Borussia Dortmund.

In all likelihood, these matches may prove pivotal to Broja's chances of being regarded as a reliable option at senior level for Chelsea in 2023/24 and he will be champing at the bit to impress Pochettino if he is given a chance to play his part.

Liverpool have emerged as the "front-runners" to secure the signature of Southampton's midfield dynamo Romeo Lavia, claims journalist Alex Crook.

Liverpool transfer news – What's the latest on Romeo Lavia?

It's been a positive start to the summer transfer window for Jurgen Klopp's Reds so far, with the signing of Brighton & Hove Albion's World Cup-winning midfielder Alexis Mac Allister last month for a fee of only £35m, potentially rising to £55m with certain clauses.

However, the six-time European champions haven't rested on their laurels and have since added the imperious Dominik Szoboszlai to their midfield in a deal worth an estimated £60m for the player's former club RB Leipzig.

In what is starting to look like an entire midfield rebuild in a single window, the club have turned their attention to the defensive midfield position after Fabinho had a year to forget by his standards.

The player deemed good enough to replace the Brazilian is Belgian international Lavia, who has attracted the interest of a swath of Premier League sides, with the Independent reporting last month that Arsenal were the favourites to land the player.

It would appear that the situation has dramatically changed over the last couple of weeks and that it is, in fact, Liverpool that have now shot to the front of the queue for the youngster's signature, per journalist Alex Crook.

He explained the situation on TalkSPORT's YouTube channel:

"Romeo Lavia is very much a name in the frame for Anfield, I know there is some interest from Chelsea as well, where their recruitment guru Joe Shields played a big part in him going from Manchester City to Southampton, he's keen to get the deal done taking Lavia to Stamford Bridge, but at this stage it looks like Liverpool are the front-runners. It won't be cheap though, Southampton are looking for a fee of as much as £50m for Lavia who I think will go on and become a real top quality Premier League midfielder."

Could Romeo Lavia replace Fabinho?

It may seem like a lot to ask of the 19-year-old, as the Brazilian was a key member of the Reds side that almost won the lot in the 2021/22 season, falling agonisingly close to being quadruple winners.

But after the horror campaign that the 29-year-old just had, it might be time to consider replacing him, and with the complete contrast in form that Southampton's gem had last year, he could well be the right man for the job.

In the passing department, it is advantage to the ex-Real Madrid man who attempts 61.7 passes at a completion rate of 88.3, a lot more than Lavia, who attempts just 40.4 with a completion rate of 86.2%, all per 90.

However, it is the Brussels-born "monster" that wins out when it comes to the defensive side of the game, perhaps the most important category if he is to be played just ahead of the back four.

The 5 foot 11 midfielder makhas madees 2.43 tackles per 90, winning 1.42 of them compared to Fabinho's 2.19 tackles, with 1.28 being successful. It is the same story with blocks and interceptions, with the Sao Paulo-born midfielder winning out in just clearances with 1.35 to his potential replacement's 0.93, also per 90.

While there are certainly some areas for Lavia to work on for him to surpass Fabinho, the fact that he is only 19 years old and already this good suggests that the potential upside with him could be massive, something that should worry the Brazilian should he have another Premier League campaign like his last.

In what has been a slow start to the summer transfer window at Old Trafford, Manchester United may be about have a breakthrough in their pursuit of Chelsea attacking midfielder Mason Mount.

Mount has just one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge in which he is believed to earn £80,000 a week, per Spotrac.

In a boost to United’s pursuit, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has stated that Chelsea have lowered their demands in terms of the fee they require to let their youth academy graduate go to Old Trafford.

Man Utd transfer news – Mason Mount

United were left frustrated again after a second bid for Chelsea’s number 19 was rejected this week. The bid was believed to be worth up to £50m.

However, according to The Athletic, Chelsea look to hold out for a fee closer to £60m for the England international with £5m in add-ons.

Mount is one of three main targets for Erik ten Hag this season, which includes fellow England internationals Declan Rice and Harry Kane according to Sky Sports.

Romano believes that a middle ground can be found between the two clubs to allow Mount to move north to Manchester.

What has Fabrizio Romano said about Mount?

Romano believes United will still have to up their current offer if they have a realistic chance of signing Chelsea’s wantaway star.

The transfer expert believes a bid from the Red Devils of around £60m-£65m could get the deal over the line.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Romano stated: "The situation with Mason Mount is a second bid was submitted for £50million. It was £45million, plus £5million in add-ons.

"Chelsea immediately rejected that bid as they want more than £60million. They started at £70million for Mason Mount, but now, from what I understand, I think the deal could be done for around £60million to £65million."

Should Man United sign Mason Mount?

Mount’s 22/23 season was hampered by injury. The 24-year-old missed a total of 13 league games in the tale end of the season, but his injury record doesn’t seem to have knocked United’s confidence in him as a target or Chelsea’s valuation of the player.

The player has been subject to serious praise from former United defender and legend, Rio Ferdinand.

Rio defined the United target as a ‘mad player’ during his stellar 2021/22 season in which he was able to stay fit.

Ferdinand said: "Young players watching the game, if you watch Mount, he’s efficient with it, and he can bang, but it’s the work ethic and the positions he takes up defensively.

"That’s why he’ll always play for England because I think you can rely on him.”

United will be hoping he’s a player they can rely on the upcoming season.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou will be galvanised after reportedly taking the lead in the race to sign James Maddison from Leicester City this summer.

What's the latest on James Maddison to Tottenham?

According to The Guardian, Tottenham could be poised to bypass Newcastle United in the race for the England international following the Magpies' near-completion of the €80m (£68.5m) signing of AC Milan's Sandro Tonali.

Writing in his Caught Offside column, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano corroborated such claims and revealed that a bid from the Lilywhites is now imminent.

The journalist said: "The player is speaking to both sides but he knows Ange Postecoglou is pushing a lot to get things done. Tottenham are working hard and plan to submit a bid in the next days.

“On the fee, it will be discussed again in the next days but Leicester are looking for around £50m for the England international.”

Should Tottenham sign James Maddison?

Maddison's dynamic midfield ability has attracted the attention of many a thriving Premier League outfit over recent times, and despite the Foxes suffering the ignominy of relegation this year, the 26-year-old has remained an impressive and reliable playmaking ace.

Indeed, the "world-class" playmaker, as hailed by Dean Saunders, scored ten goals and supplied nine assists from just 28 league starts this past year, and has emerged from a disastrous campaign at the King Power Stadium with his merit intact.

His services would enhance any aspiring outfit on the European stage, and with Tottenham craving some inspiration and exuberance after finishing eighth this season, it is a move that must be concluded.

He would not only provide a fresh and first-rate dimension from the centre, but he would boost the fortunes of his prospective teammates, and one who might flourish is Richarlison, who has been indifferent in London since his £60m transfer from Everton a year ago.

The Brazilian has earned praise as a "warrior" by former Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte, but after scoring just three times in 35 appearances for Spurs, including just a solitary strike in the league, he has been harangued for his "toothless" performances by the likes of reporter Andrew Gaffney.

However, having flourished as a talisman for Everton over the past several seasons in scoring 53 goals from 152 outings and boasting an exemplary scoring record with Brazil – 20 goals from 44 matches, with one of his three strikes at the 2022 World Cup including a scintillating overhead effort that was dubbed "unstoppable" by writer Sacha Pisani – he could yet thrive for Tottenham.

The chances of an impressive campaign would surely be boosted with a superlative force in Maddison behind him, with the "magician" – as he has been called by Statman Dave – averaging 2.3 key passes per game in the top-flight last term, creating 12 big chances.

Indeed, the £110k-per-week Fox ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers over the past year for assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions and the top 15% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref, underscoring his value as a creative star.

And while Richarlison has endured an inauspicious spell in front of the net of late, he still ranks among the top 12% of positional peers for touches in the attacking box and the top 18% for non-penalty xG per 90, with the latter metric meaning he has vastly underperformed in his expected goals tally, but from a positive outlook, is moving well and finding space and opportune moments.

Maddison would serve him success on a silver platter, and he is exactly the kind of all-encompassing midfielder the 26-year-old South American needs to finally ignite his career at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and further the club's ambitions as it commences its resurgence.

Arsenal are reportedly leading the race for a Bundesliga ace, as Mikel Arteta aims to strengthen his side this summer.

The Gunners have been linked with a host of talent following the official opening of the transfer window last week, with one player showing signs of a once-loved hero in north London.

As reported by French outlet L’Equipe, relayed by Get French Football News last week, Bayer Leverkusen forward Moussa Diaby has been linked with a move to Arsenal.

The news suggested that the Londoners are ‘ahead’ of Premier League rivals Newcastle United in the race for the 23-year-old talent, who is valued at £65m by his club as reported by Evening Standard last month.

What could Moussa Diaby offer to Arsenal?

Lauded as “electrifying” by journalist Aaron Stokes, the right-winger could add essence to Arteta’s squad of a player that was once adored at Arsenal.

Indeed, Alexis Sanchez lit up Islington during his four seasons at the club, recording an outstanding 87 goals and assists in 122 Premier League appearances after signing from Barcelona in the summer of 2014 for £35m.

The winger was integral to Arsene Wenger’s plans at the club at the time, acting as the star man in a steadily progressing side.

Hailed as a “fighter” by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, the Chilean gave the club some of the best moments of the Emirates era before controversially departing for Manchester United with two FA Cups to his name.

While his departure hurt in the capital, the talent and excitement that Sanchez provided won't be forgotten, and could be emulated in the near future by Diaby.

As highlighted by WhoScored, both Sanchez and Diaby share similar attributes. Chiefly, they are both deployed as wide players, with strengths in dribbling and attacking the final third.

In his final season at Arsenal, the Tocopilla-born gem averaged 3.6 shots per game, as well as 2.1 dribbles and 2.7 key passes per match, showcasing his fine abilities as a winger in his prime in the Premier League, via WhoScored.

At just 23-years-old, Diaby has recorded numbers that imply he could live up to the heights of Sanchez one day, as per WhoScored, the Frenchman recorded 2.4 shots, 1.8 key passes and 1.5 dribbles per game in the Bundesliga.

Still quite a raw asset, the Frenchman will need to improve his game to become a more creative player but it's clear that Leverkusen's star man has a lot of talent in his arsenal, as highlighted by his threat in front of goal.

As per FBref, the Paris-born ace averages 0.35 non-penalty xG per 90, placing him in the top 8% of wingers in Europe in this area. Like Sanchez, therefore, he is a potent threat capable of generating magic in the final third.

To make matters even more exciting, he could arrive as one of the quickest players in the team, with his top speed of 36.10 km/h trumping that of Gabriel Martinelli's 35.85 km/h but falling slightly below Bukayo Saka's 36.36 km/h.

Arteta could add to the talent that he already possesses at the club by signing Diaby, who is already demonstrating attributes similar to Sanchez during his time at Arsenal. However, with Newcastle also eyeing the forward, only time will tell if a deal materialises for the lively speedster.

Mauricio Pochettino has to make it his mission to land a clinical striker this summer if his first season as Chelsea head coach is to be a success.

The Blues scored just 38 goals in 38 Premier League games last season, with their top scorer (Kai Havertz) managing only seven goals, making that an obvious area of improvement.

A number of striking options have inevitably been linked with Chelsea in recent weeks, including the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Rasmus Hojlund, but it appears their focus is now on landing Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.

According to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have showed a "concrete" interest in Jackson and are now weighing up a move for the in-demand attacker, who is widely expected to be on his way to an English club.

What can Nicolas Jackson bring to Chelsea?

Jackson impressed for Villarreal in LaLiga last season with 12 goals and four assists in 26 appearances, helping his side get over the line to land a Europa League spot.

According to FBref's player comparison model, Jackson's performances over the past year have been similar to those of Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann – three players who need no introduction.

Despite the hype surrounding the 21-year-old, the Evening Standard suggests he is available for £30m this summer, which is £58.5m less than they splashed out on Mykhailo Mudryk in January.

If it is a focal point Chelsea want, that is very much what they will be getting in Jackson, a player who measures in at 6 foot 1 and won 68.4% of his aerial duels in the 2021-22 campaign.

Indeed, there are many similarities between Jackson and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, not just in terms of their stature (Drogba is 6 foot 2) but also their all-round stats.

Taking both players' entire careers, which spans 507 games more for Drogba than Jackson, there is little between the pair in terms of assists per 90 (0.22 for Drogba, 0.17 for Jackson) and shots on target percentage (39.7 v 43.4), as per FBref.

They are alike in non-attacking metrics, such as tackles won per 90 (0.62 v 0.59) and yellow cards received (0.21 v 0.29).

Drogba does have a better goalscoring return of 0.56 goals per 90 minutes, compared to Jackson's 0.40, but the Ivorian did not hit double figures for goals in a single season until his fifth full campaign at senior level.

Jackson, by comparison, did so in his second season in LaLiga, with his 2022-23 figures being described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig as the "beginning of something extraordinary".

Chelsea boast plenty of attacking wide players, but there is nobody in the team that shows the clinical edge to stick chances away. In a player who has a 29% goal conversion return, Jackson could be just their man.

Arsenal bringing in Ilkay Gundogan this summer on a free transfer from Manchester City would be an 'exciting' deal for the club, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest transfer news involving Ilkay Gundogan?

According to The Guardian, Arsenal are said to be 'pursuing a move' for Manchester City captain Gundogan, whose £140k-a-week contract at the Etihad Stadium is set to run out this summer.

The 32-year-old has worked with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta in the past and it is believed that he could be tempted by the possibility of linking up with the Spaniard again heading into 2023/24.

90min report that Barcelona are also keen on the Germany international and he may be open to the fresh challenge and opportunity to live in Spain with his family.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hasn't given up hope of keeping Gundogan and gave an update on his future in the aftermath of the Citizens' 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup final last weekend where the player bagged a brace, as per BBC Sport, stating: "He knows what I think. (Football director) Txiki (Begiristain) is working on it (a new contract). Hopefully he can be successful."

Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic has agreed personal terms with Manchester City ahead of a potential move to the club, which may signal that the Sky Blues are looking to replace Gundogan in the off-season, as per talkSPORT.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks Arsenal would be pulling off a coup if they were able to attract Gundogan to north London this summer.

Brown told FFC: "It may, from City's point of view, not depend on them getting Kovacic if he's allowed to leave. It really depends on where Gundogan sees his future, but I think it'd be quite an exciting one if Arsenal could pull that off."

What have Ilkay Gundogan's stats been like this season?

Gundogan has been in fine form for Manchester City this campaign as they close in on what would be a historic treble comprising the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League if they can defeat Inter Milan on Saturday in Istanbul.

In 2022/23, the 32-year-old has made 50 appearances in all competitions for his current employers, registering 11 goals and seven assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Leading by example, WhoScored shows that Gundogan maintained a pass success rate of 88.2% in the Premier League this term, demonstrating his constant reliability in the engine room for Manchester City.

As per FBRef, Gundogan has also completed 124 shot-creating actions this campaign, contributing heavily to attacking phases of play for his side.

Arsenal will look to build from a position of strength looking ahead to 2023/24 and Gundogan would be a world-class addition to boost Arteta's midfield options.

Newcastle United have been successful in their ambitions by achieving the dream of playing in the Champions League again.

Nnow a new update has emerged on a potentially massive transfer for the Magpies that could put them in contention to go a long way in that competition.

What's the latest on Lionel Messi's future?

According to Argentinian journalist Pablo Gravellone, Newcastle are one of the Premier League clubs interested in signing World Cup winner Lionel Messi this summer.

Gravellone took to Twitter on Saturday to make the stunning claim: "From England, it’s assured today that Chelsea and Newcastle have entered the race to sign Messi."

Will Newcastle sign Lionel Messi this summer?

Whilst the idea of Messi's arrival on Tyneside might seem far-fetched to most, it would be a huge statement of PIF's intent to make Newcastle a global brand both on and off the pitch.

It has been proven on many occasions that Messi's influence on his club's global recognition and of course, his phenomenal impact on the pitch is completely unrivalled by any other player on the planet. For example, Paris Saint Germain lost a remarkable 600k followers on Instagram this weekend following the Argentine's final game for the Ligue 1 side.

Despite becoming one of the richest clubs on the planet when the Saudi-led takeover went through in November 2021, the Magpies have found themselves restricted on how much they can spend due to Financial Fair Play rules and the club's lack of commercial revenue compared to the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.

As a result, the signing of the £1m-per-week superstar could play a key role in unlocking the financial capabilities Newcastle boast with merchandising profits, advertising opportunities and commercial deals of all kinds likely to skyrocket if a move was completed to bring the 806-goal phenomenon to St James' Park.

In terms of where Messi stands on his future, it has been reported heavily that the 35-year-old – hailed the "Mozart of football" by Radomir Antic – is eyeing up a lucrative move to Al-Hilal of the Saudi Pro League.

However, Italian journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has dispelled these rumours to claim that the former Barcelona whiz wants to remain in competitive football.

With that being said, the opportunity to sign Messi will be hard to ignore for the powerbrokers at St James' Park and would be without a shadow of a doubt the biggest move for PIF and Newcastle in their entire club's history.

With Champions League qualification secured and an unmatched ambition being shown by the owners, it could be an incredibly attractive prospect for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Liverpool are targeting a summer move for highly rated Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay who has been likened to João Cancelo.

What’s the story?

According to GOAL, Liverpool are plotting a £4m move for the Scottish wonderkid who has impressed in the Scottish Premiership this season.

He’s expected to move to Anfield and become a long term back up to star defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. The report states that The Reds expect they will lose Neco Williams and that Ramsay would make an ideal replacement.

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That said, they do face competition from fellow Premier League side Leeds United.

Fabrizio Romano would go on to confirm that Liverpool are also in formal talks to sign the player on Monday morning.

He could be their own Cancelo

One player that the Scotland U21 international has been compared to is Manchester City full-back Cancelo. It’s a bold statement, and if he ends up being anywhere near as good as the Portuguese international then he will have done extremely well.

At just 18 years of age, he has appeared 33 times for the Dons this season and has tallied nine assists and a goal. His attacking ability will be one of the reasons why Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admires him.

Both Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are known for pushing high and being involved in attacking playing, meaning Ramsay would fit in perfectly with Liverpool’s style of play.

The Scotsman has made an average of 1.9 key passes per game this season which is more than City’s Cancelo and shows just how good he is going forward.

He is yet to make a senior appearance for the Scotland national team but having been dubbed as “so special” by scout Jacek Kulig, it surely won’t long before he gets the call. He was targeted by Italian side Bologna in January but Aberdeen rejected their advances.

Given the interest, it won’t be easy for Liverpool to get hold of him as other teams may be able to offer more playing time. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the player wanted to stay close to home, and it would be difficult to turn down an offer from one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

The Reds’ interest in Ramsay raises question marks over the future of Williams. The Welshman has spent the second part of this season on loan at Fulham and is rated at £7.2m but could fetch a higher fee after impressive displays. If Ramsay does move to Merseyside it will likely mean Williams is on his way out.

IN other news: Liverpool now plotting move for exciting 17-goal “poacher”, he’s Klopp’s next Jota…

Jordan Campbell has been reacting to the news that Glasgow Rangers youngster Alex Lowry has been rewarded with a new contract at Ibrox. 

The lowdown: Fending off suitors

The 18-year-old playmaker has signed a new deal with the Glasgow giants, having impressed in his four first-team outings to date.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst handed the teenager his debut against Stirling Albion in the Scottish Cup earlier this year and Lowry found the net after coming off the bench in a 4-0 victory.

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Since then, the Scotland youth international – who has been hailed by his former coach Graeme Murty for his “remarkable” self-confidence – has made his Premiership bow and been linked with the likes of Manchester City and Newcastle United.

The latest: Campbell reacts

Taking to Twitter upon the clubs’ confirmation of Lowry’s new contract, Campbell – who is Rangers correspondent for The Athletic – voiced his delight by saying:

“Excellent news for Rangers that they have tied down Alex Lowry on a new deal until 2025. At 18, he’s already shown he has bundles of ability. Should become a more regular presence next season. Important that top talents are retained until they can impact on the first team.”

The extension means that the Uddingston-born starlet will remain with the Gers for at least another three years.

The verdict: Spot on

Whilst the upcoming Europa League final is a sure sign of things moving in a positive direction under Van Bronckhorst following the sudden departure of Steven Gerrard in the autumn, being able to tie down players such as Lowry is a huge positive for the Teddy Bears.

Albeit only a small sample size, the five-cap Scotland under-19 ace has scored three times and provided two assists this season across all levels for Rangers, showing that he can frequently make a difference in the final third.

Furthermore, even tentative links with Premier League big-hitters such as Manchester City would suggest that the teenager is a prodigious talent and one to keep a very close eye on next season.

In other news, Rangers now face a ‘big fight’ to keep another player at Ibrox