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Manchester City have now tabled an offer to land another new face for Pep Guardiola this January, according to a fresh report, as they finally look to address a problem position at the Etihad.

Man City looking to rebuild

The reigning Premier League champions have endured a woeful domestic season so far, and sit a massive 12 points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more than Arne Slot’s side.

They have looked to address their issues already this January, splashing almost £150m on new signings already. Omar Marmoush has been signed from Eintracht Frankfurt, while defensive duo Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis have both also arrived in deals that clearly have one eye to the future amid an ageing squad at the Etihad.

Guardiola’s side are also thought to be keen to sign Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso before the end of the transfer window, though that could well be a deal that drags until the summer depending on the price demanded by the Old Lady for their standout fullback.

But despite their hefty spend this month, City have yet to address their biggest issue; the absence of Rodri. The Spaniard has missed most of the season through a knee injury and is unlikely to return until the summer, which has left Guardiola’s side light in midfield.

Their no.1 target was believed to be Martin Zubimendi, but Rodri’s understudy for Spain now appears bound for Arsenal this summer, which has forced the Blues to reconsider their options in the middle of the park. As a result, the club have now reportedly tabled an offer for a midfielder able to make an instant impact on Guardiola’s side upon arrival.

Manchester City make loan offer for midfielder

Reports in Italy claim that Manchester City have now made an offer to sign Douglas Luiz for the remainder of the 24/25 campaign as they look to bolster their midfield.

The former City group midfielder left England over the summer to move to Juventus, but has struggled for gametime under Thiago Motta and is thought to be free to leave this month.

He has previously drawn the praise of Pep Guardiola during his time at Villa, who said of the Brazilian in 2020: “He’s a guy who’s played a lot of minutes, he’s an important player for Aston Villa. A guy who’s clever with the ball, he’s so physical and strong. I’m happy he’s developing really, really well.”

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Manchester City are seeking to sign one of the most sought-after 18-year-olds in world football.

ByBen Gray Jan 28, 2025

Now, it is claimed that Luiz is keen to work under the Spaniard after being denied the chance previously due to work permit issues. However, there is still work to be done on any deal.

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As it stands, Manchester City have offered a “costly” loan move with an option to buy the Brazilian for €35m, but Juventus are looking for a loan with an obligation or a permanent exit in the coming days, though their stance could shift should they be faced with the reality of continuing to pay Luiz’s £150,000 a week wages in the final hours of the transfer window.

Should a deal be agreed, it is reported elsewhere that the Old Lady have already identified Luiz’s replacement, and will look to sign Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka on loan, who is in turn out of favour at Stamford Bridge. Could the dominos fall in Man City’s favour in the final days of the window?

Dramatic top-order collapse reawakens fears of return to Division Two

David Hopps21-Sep-2022Warwickshire endured a nightmarish start to their second innings at the end of the second day to slip deeper into relegation trouble and give Gloucestershire hopes of their first Championship win of the season.A side that won the Championship last season by dint of gritty, earnest cricket, rushed headlong towards relegation with a frenzied batting display against Gloucestershire’s new-ball bowlers which saw them reach the close at 58 for 5, only 77 ahead. Without Alex Davies’ unbeaten 41, they would have been in a sorrier mess.Considering the shenanigans at Chelmsford, and to a lesser extent at the Ageas Bowl, it should be underlined that this has been a challenging, but reasonable enough September surface, offering plenty of encouragement for the new-ball bowlers, slow turn for the slow bowlers and some uneven bounce. More raised eyebrow than slap on the wrist. It has made for immensely watchable cricket, even if a three-day finish is on the cards.Warwickshire’s sporting director Paul Farbrace, who is stepping down at the end of the season, said: “It was a very tough last hour. There have been some crazy sessions and mad hours elsewhere in the country this week and it was our turn today. But Alex Davies showed some real fight to see it through to the close and, providing we can put on more runs and get to at least 150 tomorrow, we could still be okay. Anything above that and the pressure starts to swing the other way.”Gloucestershire’s return to Division One has been a galling experience, but the Bristol crowd was besides itself with pleasure as Tom Price, surprisingly entrusted with the new ball at the Ashley Down End in preference to Ajeet Singh Dale, took four wickets in his first three overs and must have looked on in wonder as he delivered his bustling fast-medium to an array of four slips.Price, a 22-year-old who cut his cricket teeth in Great and Little Tew CC in the Cherwell League, now has 25 wickets at only 21.08 for the season and considering Gloucestershire’s travails has pronounced himself their breakthrough player of the season. Apart from the left-arm spinner, Zafar Gohar, who has had a sturdy season in adversity, and Ryan Higgins, who has not been seen since Cheltenham and is returning to Middlesex, no other Gloucestershire bowler has taken more than 15 wickets.With Kent and Somerset thriving midway through the penultimate round of matches, defeat for Warwickshire could well plunge them into the bottom two. The draught of relegation will also be reaching Yorkshire, who are under the cosh against the leaders at at Kia Oval. Indications are that there will be much left to play for in the final week.Price’s most meaningful moment arguably came with only his second delivery. Dom Sibley had batted through Warwickshire’s first innings for six-and-a-half hours for an unbeaten 120, but he made a second-ball duck second time around as Price seamed one back to win an lbw decision. He said afterwards that it was the dismissal that gave him hope – “he was the rock we could not get past on the first day” – but he felt he had bowled better first time around.Rob Yates dragged on against David Payne before Price could take up the challenge again. He won another lbw decision in his second over when Sam Hain, perhaps determined to escape the tortuous manner of his first innings, stepped across to leg to try to work the ball through the leg side.In his next over, the skipper, Will Rhodes, edged to the wicketkeeper as Price seamed one across him. Jayant Yadav was so offended by his third-ball nought – another keeper’s catch for James Bracey – that he gave the umpire a death stare for fully six seconds before making his way off the field. The umpire lived to tell the tale – and will probably tell it on an official form.Warwickshire had not identified the surface as a seam bowler’s paradise, quite the contrary. They bowled only 20 overs of pace in their 74.3 overs in the field, relying on the combined spin efforts of Yadav (who was excellent for his 5 for 90) and Danny Briggs (3 for 79) as they dismissed Gloucestershire for 255 to claim a paltry first-innings lead of 19.Gloucestershire’s familiar failings emerged once more as they lost half their side for 95. Ben Charlesworth received a snorter from Ryan Sidebottom, who was otherwise expensive, but there were some weak top-order dismissals against the spinners. Briggs defeated Miles Hammond’s attempts to advance and hit him down the ground, and Yadav, who is in his first spell in county cricket at 32, bowled Bracey as he lurched blindly at a straight, well-flighted delivery. Bracey began the season with 177 against Yorkshire, and briefly encouraged talk of an England return, but he has largely struggled since.A stand of 90 in 23 overs before Jack Taylor and Graeme van Buuren righted matters, Van Buuren entrusts largely to the back foot, and Yadav eventually hunted down his quarry, turning one to hit off stump as he laid back to cut. Taylor’s 71 from 106 balls was a typically free-spirited affair, a 50-over type of innings in a Championship relegation affair, adorned by five sixes, three of them down the ground against Yadav and two pumped into the Mounds Stand at deep midwicket off Briggs. They love him in Bristol, but prospects of some happy chatter over the tea interval departed when he edged Briggs to slip from what became the last ball of the session.It was still Warwickshire’s game. Their lead was 73 with three wickets to get. Complete the job and the match was as good as theirs. They reckoned without Gohar, one of the most unsung overseas players and one of the worthiest. His batting is always plucky and occasionally unorthodox. By the time Yadav bowled him, attempting a reverse sweep, his 55 from 82 balls had trimmed the lead to 19 and he might still have a part to play with the ball if Gloucestershire are finally to taste victory.

The Spanish champions seem to be locked in as the defender's next destination, but he should have second thoughts about heading to Spain

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It had to be him. It just had to be him. After three became two and two became one, you just knew Trent Alexander-Arnold was going to have his say.

So much of his last four months has been centred around a prospective move to Real Madrid when his Liverpool contract expires in the summer. The prospect of walking away from his boyhood club for the bright lights and untold riches of Los Blancos, with he as their next ‘Galactico’, has felt more like a procession than a possibility.

Yet amid rising unrest from Merseyside and Madrid’s own fall-off over the last month or so, swapping red for white doesn’t seem like the fanciful idea it was not long ago. The emotion of Alexander-Arnold’s clincher at Leicester City to move within one more win of the Premier League title was telling in one word, the image of his shirt hanging off the corner flag in front of the away end worth a thousand more.

So here are the big questions: Why does this have to be the end? Could Alexander-Arnold really play the most badass hand and reject Madrid?

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportBuilding a dynasty

It’s hard to picture Alexander-Arnold’s contract issue as separate to those of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s for a few reasons. Not only did Liverpool threaten to let the loom of their expiries run wild and loose with their season, but the trio have all come through in the same team from 2016 onwards. They are a cerebral part of one of the world’s most cerebral sporting institutions.

What’s different is their age profiles. Salah and Van Dijk, though magnificent this season and still among the game’s best players, will almost certainly start to decline over the course of their new two-year deals. Alexander-Arnold, however, is heading into his prime years and understandably wants freedom over where to spend them.

The love that Salah and Van Dijk clearly have for Liverpool was a driving factor, but knowing they’re still going to be contending for the most major of honours must have been a sweetener too. Arne Slot has already talked up the potential of summer spending and that his project will be easier to sell to targets with the club able to keep their best players as is.

Rival fans are trying to asterisk the hell out of this Premier League title, though that’s an incredibly easy feat when you aren’t a fan of the winning team. Even despite the Reds’ slight drop off through the spring, they’ve shown remarkable progress in a season where they were meant to go backward, so says the footballing script. They have seamlessly transitioned away from the rock-and-roll Jurgen Klopp era into one of more control and flexibility. If this is just the start, players from across the land should be queuing up to join the club.

AdvertisementAFPMadrid are crumbling

Madrid are still the envy of the footballing world, but there’s no doubt some shine has come off their sparkling mythos of late. Arsenal were more than deserved 5-1 winners over the two legs of their Champions League quarter-final as they showed off the various chinks in Los Blancos’ armour to the world.

The Gunners must have been shocked at how little they had to work to keep the reigning European champions at bay. Any semblance of a system quickly dissipated and resembled a gathering of mercenaries. All of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo were blunted.

Thibaut Courtois perhaps said it best – Madrid missed a Joselu, a focal point in attack. That’s what the Madrid of old could always turn to, be that with the veteran Spanish striker, Karim Benzema or Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet there does not seem to be much appetite to bring in another forward of that ilk.

Beyond Alexander-Arnold, Madrid are said to be looking at centre-backs, with William Saliba, Jonathan Tah and Dean Huijsen among the names linked with a move. That’s fine, they do need reinforcements at the back, but they’ll still run into the same problems up front.

AFPBitter Spanish press

You only need to hear the testimonies of Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho to understand just how needlessly brutal the Spanish press are. What happens in England pales in comparison to the Iberian media machine.

"We cannot compare the pressure we have in England to Spain, in my experience. It's a thousand times tougher there," Guardiola attested. Mourinho, meanwhile, was far more explanatory: "If you want to compare the Italian to the Spanish or the Portuguese, then you can, but in England it is a whole different approach. For example, Portugal is a country with 10 million inhabitants and, like Italy, it has three daily newspapers dedicated solely to sport. In England there are no sports papers, just two pages in each newspaper every day and on Monday a supplement of six or seven pages. There is Sky Sports who talk about football a bit every day, but nothing more than that. After matches there is a flash interview lasting one minute and then a press conference for five minutes. You cannot compare the experiences, it is impossible. The English press is fantastic."

The drive to get Alexander-Arnold to Madrid has been clear and calculated, but you only need to ask any Galactico past or present and they’ll tell you how swiftly you can sink from hero to zero.

At his best, Alexander-Arnold is one of the most elegantly unique footballers to have ever stepped on a pitch. There’s never been a full-back who’s acted as a playmaker the way he does. That’s what makes him such an attractive package to Madrid, though his weaknesses are what will drive them crazy.

Where Alexander-Arnold was once a slightly above-average defender, his work ethic off the ball leaves much to be desired despite his physical growth and general standing. A performance like his away at Manchester City in February, during which he broke the unwanted record of most times someone had been dribbled past in a Premier League game, won’t fly under the radar as easily in Spain.

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Getty Images SportNot even seen as Carvajal's successor

There’s an extra wrinkle to Alexander-Arnold’s proposed move which has snuck past everyone’s attention – it has been reported more than once he would not immediately come in and be first-choice over Dani Carvajal. What’s more, he wouldn’t even be among Madrid's highest earners or pocket a wage of more significance to that at Anfield.

Madrid seem to be riding on their laurels of ‘we’re Real Madrid Club de Futbol’ a bit much. If it really is Alexander-Arnold’s dream to go to the Bernabeu and wear that iconic kit and represent that club, then fair enough, you do you. If there’s any other reason behind wanting such a move, it’s worth at least considering otherwise, even this late into the saga.

Alexander-Arnold is already a king at Liverpool, borderline the face of the club – he already is among the local fanbase anyway. At Madrid, would he even be on the posters? It’s worth a thought, especially given there’s not a lot between the size of the clubs either.

He promised himself he would have an unforgettable year, and now he has earned a national call-up

Shashank Kishore05-Oct-2022Rajat Patidar’s journey from Indore to the Indian team has been swift. In February, he went unsold at the IPL auction. But instead of wallowing in self-pity, he picked himself up and promised to have an unforgettable year. It is this promise he has delivered on, as he finds himself on the cusp of the India cap.Currently part of India’s second-string ODI squad led by Shikhar Dhawan, Patidar is fighting for a middle-order berth. If and when he gets picked in the XI, it’ll be a spot well deserved.”It’s a dream come true for me,” Patidar told BCCI.tv of his call-up. “The IPL was the turning point for me. But I feel I have the ability to play all three formats. I am trying to focus on the processes [of the formats] differently. I want to keep myself in the present, and play to the demands of the team.”Related

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Mukesh Kumar learns about selection via India's WhatsApp group

At 29, Patidar understands selection and snub are two faces of the same coin. As much as that boring cliche goes, in Patidar’s mind, it is as simple as being able to control the controllables – and for him, that is to score runs.A week after his IPL snub, Patidar hit twin fifties in a game Madhya Pradesh won against Gujarat. He finished the Ranji Trophy league phase with 335 runs at 83.75, with no score below 53. Those runs translated into a knockout berth for MP.After he helped MP to the Ranji quarter-finals, came a phone call from Mike Hesson in early April, asking of his availability because Royal Challengers Bangalore needed a replacement.Patidar was in the midst of finalising his wedding preparations in May, but it was something he happily postponed to be a part of the IPL.Within 24 hours of the phone call, he was on the plane to Mumbai, and a few weeks down the line, he became the first uncapped Indian to hit a century in a playoff game. That knock at Eden Gardens against Lucknow Super Giants was followed by a half-century in Qualifier-2 against Rajasthan Royals.Patidar finished his second IPL season with 333 runs at a strike rate of 152.75. It marked his coming of age. Having played for nearly seven years in relative anonymity, he was firmly in the national consciousness.Rajat Patidar recently struck two centuries in three first-class games against New Zealand A•Manoj Bookanakere/KSCAIt is this form he has built on. A week after IPL ended, he was part of MP’s march to their maiden Ranji title. He made 323 runs in the knockout stages, including a century in the final; on the way, he had crossed a half-century in every knockout game.Most recently, he struck two centuries in three first-class games against New Zealand A. It was made special even more because it was his first stint with India A. This dream run that started in February culminated with his India call-up last week. Much of this run-scoring spree is down to how he “feels”; and it is not only about technique.”Especially if you talk about batting, but I also don’t judge myself on performance,” he had said after the Ranji final. “I need to get that batting feel – the shots are good, the balance is there, the head is in the right position. Till I don’t get that feel, I don’t feel I’m in good form. Obviously it is every batsman’s job to score runs, but for me, if I feel good about my batting, the runs come automatically.”

“He himself came up to talk to me. It was nice talking to him, he appreciated my performances and wished me well for my future”Patidar on his interactions with India’s stand-in captain Shikhar Dhawan

The feel he speaks about is something he has learnt from watching AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik from close quarters.”Virat, AB – they were all my idols; experienced international players,” he said. “I felt a little overawed meeting them for the first time. It was a great moment to speak to them for the first time. Watching them all train and bat in the nets, I learnt a lot on how they approach their cricket.”Fast forward to this Monday, when he had his first full training session with the senior national team. He was welcomed in a huddle by stand-in coach VVS Laxman, who underlined why he had gotten this far. Laxman is believed to have appreciated Patidar’s big-match temperament and hunger for runs. Dhawan, the captain, then spoke to Patidar about his potential.”Legendary players, if they welcome you in the huddle, it feels motivating,” Patidar said with a smile, as he reflected on his first day in office. “It felt good, I know a lot of the guys. But this is the first time I’m playing with Shikhar [Dhawan] bhai; in fact, I had a chat with him the first time over here itself.”I thought how it would be when I talk to him, [and] how I can talk to him, but he himself came up to talk to me. It was nice talking to him, he appreciated my performances and wished me well for my future.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers have made a ‘crazy’ deadline day offer to sign a new international player, according to a report.

Wolves transfer news

Vitor Pereira’s side ended their five-game winless run in the Premier League on Saturday, as they claimed a 2-0 win over Midlands rivals Aston Villa. The victory has lifted Wolves out of the relegation zone, but with still plenty of work to do to make sure they stay in the Premier League, Pereira and Wolves have their eye on one or two new arrivals before the transfer window closes.

Amazing Lemina replacement: Wolves submit offer to sign "exceptional" star

Wolverhampton Wanderers could leave it late to snap up this gem.

ByKelan Sarson Feb 2, 2025

Fabrizio Romano has reported that the Midlands side are chasing a deal for Dynamo Kyiv ace Volodymyr Brazkho. In fact, Wolves have made an offer for the player worth £16.7 million, and Brazkho is keen on moving to England and the Premier League.

Brazkho is not the only midfielder on Wolves’ radar, as it’s been claimed that they could make a move for Jordan Henderson in the final hours of this transfer window. The former Liverpool midfielder looked set to join AS Monaco last week, but the deal fell through after Henderson threatened never to play for Ajax again if they didn’t allow him to leave. However, he has since apologised, but Wolves could look to test the waters with a bid.

Wolves make deadline day bid to sign new international player

The Premier League side’s search for a new midfielder doesn’t stop with Brazkho and Henderson, as according to Foot Mercato relayed by Sport Witness, Wolves have made a “crazy offer” to sign Marshall Munetsi from Stade de Reims.

The Midlands side have already done business with the French club this month, as they signed Emmanuel Agbadou from Stade de Reims. Their search for a new midfielder has taken them back to the Ligue 1 club, with Wolves making an unknown offer to sign Munetsi, but it is claimed to be near the €20 million (£16 million) they paid for Agbadou. The Premier League side are hoping the big offer will help convince Stade de Reims to sell Munetsi this close to the deadline, and discussions between the two clubs are ongoing.

The 28-year-old is comfortable playing in multiple roles in the midfield, as he can play as a holding player, central, as well as a more advanced midfielder. Ideal for Pereira, who is looking to improve and add to his options in the middle of the park.

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Munetsi has 23 caps for Zimbabwe to his name and has played over 100 games in Ligue 1, meaning if he were to arrive at Molineux, he would bring experience to a Wolves midfield that is full of youth and experience. Munetsi’s arrival at Wolves could see him replace Mario Lemina, who is currently suspended and has been linked with an exit from the Premier League side in recent days, as well as Boubacar Traore, who is out injured, and it is unknown when he will return.

Marcus Rashford is expected to snub Aston Villa to pursue a dream move to Barcelona, and he is willing to take a pay cut to make the deal happen.

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Rashford has heart set on joining Barça£350k per week wages potential stumbling blockUnited want to sell player at £40m valuationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

The Manchester United attacker is believed to have his heart set on a move to Catalonia, as it has become clear that he has no future at Old Trafford with Ruben Amorim in the dugout. Villa have a £40 million ($54m) option to buy when Rashford's loan deal ends, but the 27-year-old would prefer a move overseas.

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Rashford's wages of £350,000 per week could prove a stumbling block for the Catalan giants, as they continue to battle against La Liga's salary cap. A report by suggests Barcelona would be keen on signing the player, but would be unwilling to match the £40m fee agreed with Emery's side. Another loan move with the Red Devils contributing to Rashford's pay is a possibility, but the Old Trafford club would prefer to offload the player permanently this summer to bolster Amorim's transfer kitty ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

Rashford may have played his last game for the Villans. The hamstring injury he picked up in the build-up to Villa's FA Cup semi-final defeat by Crystal Palace will likely keep the attacker on the sidelines for at least the next few weeks. He is ineligible to play against parent club United in Villa's final game of the season.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MARCUS RASHFORD?

The mounting speculation over Rashford's future suggests any hope of a reconciliation between player and manager at United is misplaced. Wherever the 27-year-old ends up, many United fans will be sad to see one of their own shepherded out the door.

Ipswich Town could buckle under the strain of the battle to stay up in the Premier League over the course of the next few contests, with two tough clashes against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United coming the way of the Tractor Boys in quick succession.

However, both reverse fixtures did see Kieran McKenna’s men impressively pick up a stunning away victory at Spurs, whilst also collecting a deserved point during Ruben Amorim’s first clash in the Red Devils dug-out.

Off the back of a battling draw with Aston Villa too, McKenna’s men won’t go into either encounter riddled with fear, especially if Liam Delap is on top form attempting to cause both inconsistent teams trouble.

Delap's red-hot form for Ipswich

It goes without saying now that the £20m capture of Delap last summer was a masterstroke of a buy on the newly promoted side’s end, with the ex-Manchester City wonderkid turning into a deadly Premier League centre-forward in Suffolk.

Indeed, as a result of his opener against Unai Emery’s shellshocked Villa, Delap is now up to ten goals for the season in the league, with Sammie Szmodics way behind his bumper total with four as Ipswich’s second top scorer.

McKenna will be hoping Delap’s continued excellence in front of goal gives his underdogs a fighting chance at survival, because if Ipswich do go down, there will be a whole host of higher-up suitors wanting to win the exceptional 22-year-old’s services.

But, whilst his bumper goal total is an obvious joy to behold for the Portman Road masses, there is one former Tractor Boys attacker who is actually bettering the 6 foot 1 forward’s electric goalscoring form now all the way down in League Two.

The unexpected star who's outscoring Delap

This ex-Ipswich man did have the unfortunate reality of being in a side that was languishing all the way down in League One, instead of one punching above its weight in the top flight.

Still, Armando Dobra’s lacklustre output of two goals and four assists from 30 largely forgettable appearances would see the Albanian attacker be moved onto Chesterfield in 2022 on a free transfer, with McKenna the cutthroat manager to finally wave him on his way.

Burton Albion 2-1 Ipswich, 14th of August 2021

1. GK -Vaclav Hladky

2. RB – Kane Vincent-Young

3. CB – Janoi Donacien

4. CB – Luke Woolfenden

5. LB – Matt Penney

6. RM – Armando Dobra

7. CM – Rekeem Harper

8. CM – Lee Evans

9. LM – Scott Fraser

10. AM – Louie Barry

11. ST – Joe Pigott

Whilst Vaclav Hladky and Luke Woolfenden would go on to be key parts of the jigsaw under McKenna – who both lined up alongside Dobra during his final ever Tractor Boys start – the 23-year-old had to go and repair his career with the Spireites and he has done just that based off his superb showings in League Two this campaign.

Where Are They Now

In all competitions, the one-time Ipswich reject is amazingly trumping Delap’s weighty ten goals with 11 of his own, alongside also boasting two assists as a constantly creative option for Paul Cook’s lower league side.

As assistant manager Danny Webb has stated, amid January interest in the forward, he is “a massive player” for the lower league outfit.

It’s not as if Dobra has suddenly sparked into life for Chesterfield either and become this rejuvenated presence, having now collected a bumper 32 goals and 15 assists from 116 clashes donning a more comfortable shade of blue.

Cook and Co even have an outside shot of the League Two playoffs in their sights, whilst Dobra’s former club have one simple survival aim etched into their brains all the way up in the Premier League.

Worth more than Hutchinson: Ipswich have struck gold on "remarkable" star

Ipswich Town struck absolute gold when signing this star.

1 ByKelan Sarson Feb 18, 2025

Jamie Carragher hopes Liverpool's title celebrations could convince Trent Alexander-Arnold to change his mind and spurn interest from Real Madrid.

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TAA tipped to leave Anfield in the summerDefender allegedly has agreed terms with Madrid Carragher hopes fans may change his mind Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Liverpool sealed the Premier League title with an emphatic win over Tottenham, securing the top spot with four matches left to play. The victory triggered jubilant celebrations at Anfield, with fans and players coming together to mark a historic moment in front of the iconic Kop end.

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Alexander-Arnold, born and raised in Liverpool and a product of the club’s youth academy, played a visible role in the celebrations. His deep connection with the club was on full display as he embraced teammates, danced with Andy Robertson, and hopped on Ibrahima Konaté’s back.

Carragher, a Liverpool legend and lifelong supporter himself, has often been vocal about Alexander-Arnold’s situation throughout the season. He previously criticised the player’s alleged involvement in facilitating Real Madrid’s interest during the January transfer window, and has called his case “unique” due to his hometown ties and personal bond with the club.

WHAT CARRAGHER SAID

Speaking to Carragher said: "He's a unique footballer, that's why Real Madrid want to sign him and that's why he's been part of one of the most successful eras in Liverpool's history. We all want that to continue. but at the moment its not looking too good. But you look at the scenes at the weekend, Trent being involved ands being a local player, the adulation and the support the Kop have for him. You watch and hope that may sway him to put pen to paper but all will be revealed in the next few weeks."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

The outpouring of support from fans during Sunday’s celebrations showcased just how deeply Alexander-Arnold is valued at the club. Chants of “the Scouser in our team” echoed around the stadium as he banged his chest in acknowledgement, a moment that encapsulated his bond with the supporters and the city.

Despite this, his future remains clouded in uncertainty. At 26, he has already lifted every major trophy available during his time at Liverpool, including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Club World Cup, making it plausible that he may now look for a new adventure. And only a few players can turn down Real Madrid.

A round-up of Sunday’s WBBL action as the finals line-up is confirmed

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Nov-2022Adelaide Strikers 4 for 144 (Wolvaardt 75*, Darlington 2-36) beat Sydney Thunder 118 (Beaumont 37, Schutt 6-19) by 26 runsMegan Schutt became the first bowler in WBBL history to claim six wickets in a match while Laura Wolvaardt produced a classy 75 not out to help Adelaide Strikers sew up second spot and a home final on the final day of the season against Sydney Thunder at North Sydney Oval.Needing a win to jump past Brisbane Heat on the table, avoid the Eliminator, and secure hosting rights for the Challenger, Schutt and Wolvaardt delivered the goods for Strikers and denied retiring Thunder captain Rachael Haynes a fairytale exit from the professional game. The former Australia batter instead received a guard of honour and a standing ovation from both teams at the end of the match.Chasing 145 for victory, Thunder were in a position to cause an upset. After losing Haynes for just 6 in her final WBBL innings, Tammy Beaumont had cruised to 37 and was joined by the dangerous Chloe Tryon with Thunder needing just 80 from 60 balls and seven wickets in hand.Beaumont was trapped lbw by Jemma Barsby two balls later. Tryon and Olivia Porter thumped two fours and two sixes in the next five overs to reduce the equation to 53 off 30. But Schutt extinguished all hopes taking three wickets in the 16th over. She returned to pick up two more in the last, having earlier bowled Phoebe Litchfield, to finish with the best figures in WBBL history of 6 for 19.None of it was possible without Wolvaardt’s one-woman show with the bat. She batted through the innings after Strikers were sent in making 75 not out from 56 balls as Strikers posted 4 for 144. She struck 12 boundaries in an exceptional display. Deandra Dottin and Madeline Penna were the only other batters to reach double figures but both struck at unusually low strike-rates.Strikers will now face the winner of the Eliminator between Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes. The Eliminator will be played at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide on Wednesday night with the winner to face Strikers at the same venue on Thursday night. The winner of the Challenger will play Sydney Sixers at North Sydney Oval in Saturday’s final.Ellyse Perry sweeps behind square•Getty ImagesA stunning allround show from skipper Ellyse Perry has put the WBBL on notice as Sydney Sixers confirmed their status as the team to beat for the title after a comfortable eight-wicket win over Hobart Hurricanes at North Sydney Oval.Perry made 56 not out off 39 balls to help guide her side through the chase after earlier claiming 2 for 16 with the ball including 12 dot balls in her four overs to help restrict Hurricanes to just 156. Sixers had already qualified top to host the final and Hurricanes had already confirmed a place in the finals after Perth Scorchers lost earlier on Sunday. They had the chance to clinch second spot on the table and avoid the third versus fourth Eliminator with a win.But Perry and Ash Gardner snuffed out all hopes with a rollicking unbeaten 88-run stand in just 9.3 overs to mow down the target with seven balls to spare. Gardner finished 45 not out from 29 balls. She did survive one nervous moment when she thought she was caught behind off Nicola Carey but the ball just failed to carry to Lizelle Lee behind the stumps.Perry and Gardner struck 11 fours and two sixes between them as Hurricanes struggled to contain their mix of power and finesse. They had come together after Alyssa Healy and Suzie Bates had given Sixers a solid start but they still required more than eight runs an over in the final 10 overs of the chase.Earlier, Kate Peterson took 3 for 31 alongside Perry’s miserly spell to restrict Hurricanes after they threatened to post a big number. Peterson knocked over the dangerous trio of Lee, Elyse Villani and Carey. Nicole Bolton chimed in with the important wicket of Mignon du Preez who had played well for her 38 from 29 balls. Hurricanes were well poised at 3 for 88 in the 12th over but lost 7 for 68 in the final 50 balls of the innings.Hurricanes will now travel to Adelaide to play the cut-throat Eliminator against Heat on Wednesday night.Danni Wyatt made 52 off just 24 balls•Getty ImagesA late downpour in Moe handed Brisbane Heat a point and denied Melbourne Stars the chance to pull off a remarkable run chase to finish off their season.Stars were 1 for 49 after just 3.5 overs chasing 105 in a game that had been reduced to 10-overs-a-side thanks to the earlier rain that had affected the Melbourne Renegades Perth Scorchers match in the double-header.Lauren Winfield-Hill and Sophie Reid made a blistering start smashing four fours and a six between them as the run-rate neared 13 runs per over in the reduced powerplay. But the moment Reid fell to Amelia Kerr the rain settled in and ended the match leaving the two teams to share one point each.Earlier, Danni Wyatt made a stunning half-century smashing 52 off just 24 balls to underpin Heat’s total of 5 for 104 in the 10-over sprint after being sent into bat. She struck seven fours and two sixes in a whirlwind innings before Sophie Day and Sasha Moloney pegged things back with two wickets apiece.Stars finished in sixth spot on the WBBL table with five wins and three no results. Heat slipped to third and will have to win three straight games away from home to win the title.Erica Kershaw hammered 34 not out off 18 balls•Getty ImagesA stunning cameo from Melbourne Renegades left-hander Erica Kershaw has ended Perth Scorchers hopes of back-to-back WBBL titles in an eight-over-a-side rain-affected clash in Moe.Kershaw smacked 34 not out off just 18 balls to help Renegades chase down a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern adjusted target of 57 with six wickets in hand and three balls to spare after they had slumped to 4 for 15 in the fourth over. The loss means Scorchers will finish fifth on the table and miss the finals just a year after claiming the title with a very similar squad.Scorchers could have stayed alive if they had won but did need other results to go their way with all eight teams playing their final qualifying game of the season on Sunday. Scorchers were in control of the game after Lilly Mills claimed 3 for 9, including two in the first over of the chase. Chamari Athapaththu and Hayley Matthews both holed out trying to attack the offspinner. She also claimed Courtney Webb just four balls after Josephine Dooley fell to Alana King in the third over to leave Renegades in deep trouble.But Kershaw played a fearless knock pounding five fours and two sixes. She relentlessly attacked the spinners over midwicket and carved the seamers square through the off side to muscle her way to the target. Carly Leeson provided steady support at the other end in a 44-run unbeaten stand.Earlier, Scorchers’ innings was cut short by rain after the match had initially been reduced to a 16-overs-a-side game due to a wet outfield. Scorchers were cruising at 2 for 46 with Sophie Devine and Marizanne Kapp just starting to roll following the early losses of Beth Mooney and Maddy Green. Mooney had fallen for a first-ball duck to Ella Hayward while Shabnim Ismail castled Green in the fourth over. But rain intervened before Scorchers had a chance to accelerate and ended the innings leaving them to defend an adjusted target of 57.Renegades finished seventh, with four wins from 14 games.

Glasgow Rangers’ season may be all but over, despite Spring still being a few weeks away, but there does appear to be light at the end of the tunnel for the Ibrox side.

Recent news has emerged that 49ers Enterprises are looking at a potential takeover of Rangers, led by Paraag Marathe.

Dave King – the largest shareholder at the club with a stake of 12.97% – is keen to sell to the American consortium, while other shareholders such as Douglas Park and George Taylor both have stakes of over 10%.

If everything goes to plan, this could be completed ahead of the summer transfer window, and after Philippe Clement’s sacking, the whole club could have a totally different feel to it.

While a major overhaul of the playing squad isn’t required this summer, it is clear that several players need to be moved on as their time at the club has come to a natural end.

Rabbi Matondo has starred out on loan at German side Hannover 96, while Ben Davies is spearheading Birmingham City’s promotion push this term. If both keep shining, then the Light Blues will surely be able to cash in on the players.

There are a couple who are still part of the squad that the Belgian must cash in on this summer, especially as it represents the final chance to do so.

The Rangers high earner who the 49ers must get rid of

James Tavernier is the most notable example. His contract expires at the end of the 2025/26 season, suggesting that moving him on this summer will allow the Gers to recoup a fee.

Last season, Tavernier scored 24 goals while providing a further 12 assists in all competitions for the Light Blues. This meant it was his finest ever season in front of goal since he arrived in Glasgow nine years previously.

Despite this, Tavernier helped the club win a solitary trophy – the League Cup – as they lost out to Celtic in the race for the Premiership title as well as in the Scottish Cup final.

The captain failed to inspire his side to any of these titles and this malaise has continued into the current season.

Indeed, the domestic season is all but over, while glory in Europe looks like a pipe dream at best. In the process, the right-back has registered just 14 goal contributions – four goals and ten assists – in all competitions.

Chalkboard

Last summer, there was plenty of interest in the Englishman. At one stage, Steven Gerrard was looking to reunite with his former captain, but a move to Saudi Arabia didn’t materialise.

Later on in the transfer window, another former Rangers manager – Giovanni van Bronckhorst – showed interest in taking the defender to Besiktas, but once again, the move didn’t occur, and he remained with the club for the first half of the season.

His performances on the pitch haven’t been great throughout the current season, culminating in a dismal display against second-tier Queen’s Park recently.

Indeed, he was given a match rating of just 2/10 by Glasgow World, missing a penalty against the Championship outfit which would have taken the game to extra time.

The Light Blues might not get a big fee this summer, but getting him off the wage bill could prove crucial ahead of 2025/26.

Tavernier isn't the only player who should leave Rangers

He isn’t the only one who is earning a decent wage without backing it up on the pitch. Kieran Dowell may be out on loan, but he failed to shine in Glasgow.

Michael Beale secured the services of Kieran Dowell in a pre-contract agreement in 2023. On the surface, it looked like a decent signing. Dowell had made 21 Premier League appearances during spells with Everton and Norwich City, while he also won the U20 World Cup for England in 2017.

His first season at Ibrox wasn’t great. Dowell made only 17 appearances for the club, failing to impress either Beale or Clement, scoring just three goals in the process.

The first half of 2024/25 was hardly much better. He featured just 18 times, with only three coming in the starting XI and it was clear that he wasn’t trusted by the manager.

Dowell’s wage back at Ibrox is currently £16k-per-week, which is incredible given how little he has contributed on the pitch.

Towards the end of January, it was announced that Dowell had joined Birmingham on loan until the end of the campaign in a bid to put himself in the shop window.

Goals

0

Assists

0

Big chances created

4

Key passes per game

0.7

Shots per game

0.2

Total duels won per game

1.3

If he stars for the League One side, then Rangers will be able to sell him this summer.

Kieran Dowell's start to life at Birmingham

So far, Dowell has played eight times for the Blues, scoring once and grabbing an assist, helping the team reach the EFL Trophy final in the process.

In the third tier of English football, Dowell has registered 2.4 shots per game, along with creating one big chance and averaging 1.6 key passes per game for Birmingham.

During the club’s recent victory over Bradford in the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy, the Englishman was impressive.

Not only did he make three key passes throughout the game, but the former Everton sensation also delivered three crosses and took 50 touches.

If he can continue to shine down south, then there will be plenty of suitors once the summer transfer window opens up in a few months. That’s a certainty.

The move to Rangers looked promising on the surface, but it didn’t quite work out as anticipated and it is now time for Clement to get rid ahead of 2025/26.

With potential investment coming from 49er Enterprises, the Gers could be set to make some important signings before the start of next season.

Bringing the wage bill down remains the priority, however, which means the likes of Tavernier and Dowell must be moved on sooner rather than later.

49ers could seal a dream first Rangers signing in £4m SPFL starlet

Rangers could be set to undergo a takeover from the 49ers this summer.

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 21, 2025