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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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.

كشفت مصادر إسبانية عن رغبة نادي ريال مدريد في التعاقد مع أحد اللاعبين العرب، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الحالية.

ويسعى مدرب ريال مدريد الجديد، تشابي ألونسو، إلى إجراء تعزيزات في صفوف فريقه استعدادًا للموسم المقبل، من أجل المنافسة على لقبي دوري أبطال أوروبا والدوري الإسباني.

وتمكن الفريق الملكي من حسم صفقتين من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز هذا الصيف، بالتعاقد مع ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد ودين هويسين قادمين من ليفربول وبورنموث.

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وأوضح الصحفي الإسباني الموثوق “رودرا”، والذي يعمل لدى شبكة “ريليفو”، أن ريال مدريد مهتم بالتعاقد مع اللاعب المغربي، عبدالله وزان، لاعب أياكس أمستردام هذا الصيف.

وتابع أن ريال مدريد قد بدأ الاتصالات بالفعل مع أياكس أمستردام وهناك تفاؤل كبير بإتمام الصفقة، حول اللاعب البالغ من العمر 16 عامًا.

ويجيد وزان اللعب في مركز الوسط بالإضافة إلى الوسط الهجومي، وتلقى إشادات كبيرة في مسابقة كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 17 عاماً قبل شهرين.

عبدالله وزان تمكن من قيادة منتخب المغرب تحت 17 عاماً لتحقيق لقب كأس أمم إفريقيا في أبريل الماضي، بالفوز على منتخب مالي، وتمكن أيضاً من حصد جائزة أفضل لاعب في البطولة.

وخاض وزان 19 مباراة مع الفئات السنية لفريق أياكس الهولندي وتمكن من تسجيل 6 أهداف وتقديم تمريرة حاسمة.

Big picture

If their Asia Cup tilts are anything to go by, these are evenly matched teams. A quick recap of what happened roughly two months ago: Afghanistan thumped Sri Lanka in the group stage, their quicks ripping through the Sri Lanka batting order to have them 105 all out, before Afghanistan’s top four ran down the target in 67 deliveries; next match, in the Super 4s, Sri Lanka comfortably chased 176 in Sharjah – a ground record.Both arrive at this match with their campaigns in critical condition. Sri Lanka have just been crushed back-to-back, by Australia, then New Zealand. Afghanistan have had successive matches abandoned because of rain, having earlier been swatted aside by England. The losers here will be knocked out of semi-final contention, though there also seems to be a chance that this match will be another washout, which doesn’t quite end both teams’ semi-final hopes, but might, depending on other results (an especially cruel fate for Afghanistan, who have only lost one match so far).If play gets under way, Afghanistan will target what has been a brittle Sri Lanka batting order. Opener Kusal Mendis is the key batter in the top order, with a tournament-high 180 runs from six innings at a strike rate of 157. The others have been underwhelming, even Pathum Nissanka, who has made 137 runs, but at a strike rate of only 97.Afghanistan’s own batting did not quite kick into gear against England, who dismissed them for 112. But as Sri Lanka’s pace attack is depleted, and Wanindu Hasaranga not quite at his lethal best over the past couple of games, Afghanistan will hope for a better outing in Brisbane.1:27

Trott: ‘Rescheduling matches not an option, not worth thinking about’

Form guide

(completed matches, most recent first)Afghanistan LLLLW
Sri Lanka LLWWW

In the spotlight

In the two matches against Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup, opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz was in blistering touch, crashing 40 off 18 in the first match, before plundering 84 off 45 in the next. He has played in the Lanka Premier League, so knows the bowlers a little more than most. He hasn’t quite lit up the World Cup yet, making just 10 off 9 against England, after not a lot of impact in the warm-ups. The challenge for him is to be able to adjust to the extra bounce often seen at the Gabba. If there’s an opponent he feels confident against right now, though, it’s probably Sri Lanka.Not to be too blunt, but Sri Lanka’s fielding has been awful this tournament. Which is something of a turnaround from the outstanding performances that helped win them an Asia Cup in September. They didn’t love the cold in Geelong and Hobart (Sri Lanka bowlers going back generations know they must take 14 or 15 wickets in an innings, because their chilly team-mates insist on dropping several in cold weather). But they had no such excuse on a sunny day in Sydney, where Nissanka’s drop of Glenn Phillips may have cost them the match. All up, they have dropped eight catches, and have shown sloppy ground-fielding technique to boot, right through the tournament. They can’t afford any mistakes with the path to a semi-final already treacherous for them.

Pitch and conditions

The Gabba’s customary bounce and swing will likely be on show in the afternoon, but that’s if the rain stops for long enough to allow a game. There’s a 90% chance of rain according to some forecasts.Rain has followed Afghanistan around at the T20 World Cup•ICC via Getty

Team news

Sri Lanka might be tempted to bring back Danushka Gunathilaka to the top order in place of Nissanka, which may also help strengthen the fielding. Otherwise, likely the same XI.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kusal Mendis (wk), 2 Pathum Nissanka/Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Charith Asalanka, 5 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Lahiru KumaraHazratullah Zazai has been ruled out with an abdominal injury, ending his tournament. Darwish Rasooli might slot into the middle order, with perhaps Najibullah Zadran going up to open.Afghanistan (possible): 1 Najibullah Zadran, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Ibrahim Zadran, 4 Usman Ghani, 5 Darwish Rasooli, 6 Mohammad Nabi (capt), 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Azmatullah Omarzai, 9 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Fareed Ahmad, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi

Stats and trivia

• Out of the three teams he’s scored more than 100 T20I runs against, Gurbaz has the highest strike rate against Sri Lanka – 197. In fact, it’s his highest against any team.
• Sri Lanka have played three T20Is against Afghanistan, losing only the opener of the recent Asia Cup.
• Despite having taken only one wicket in the last two games, Hasaranga remains the highest wicket-taker of the tournament, with ten dismissals from six matches. He has an economy rate of 7.08.

  Quotes

  “We know we’re the Asian champions. We are using that for confidence. Our mentality is very good. We are trying to bounce back from the match against New Zealand.”
  .”I think we’ll be fresh. We will have a lot of energy going into the game, so it’s exciting times. We’ve played here in a pre-tournament game, and had that experience. And we had over two weeks preparing here in Brisbane. It’s a little bit warmer now than it was when we were here preparing for the tournament.”
  .

Robert Lewandowski is currently recovering from a hamstring injury, with Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick providing an optimistic update on the Pole.

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• Lewandowski recovering from a hamstring injury
• Has missed the last three fixtures
• Flick provides positive update ahead of Inter showdown

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona manager Flick has offered a positive update on Lewandowski’s recovery from a hamstring injury sustained during the 4-3 win over Celta Vigo in April. Flick’s encouraging remarks will come as a welcome boost for fans, with the striker’s potential return ahead of next week’s crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter raising hopes within the squad.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lewandowski has been in sensational form for Barcelona this season, netting 40 goals in just 48 appearances and ranking among the Champions League’s top scorers. While Ferran Torres has stepped up admirably in his absence, the Polish international’s experience and attacking intelligence could prove decisive in a high-stakes encounter like the second leg against Inter at San Siro, with the tie finely poised at 3-3.

• WHAT HANSI FLICK SAID

  Speaking to reporters at a press conference on Friday, Flick said (h/t Get Spanish Football News): “Yes, Robert could be there against Inter, he’s doing well and progressing. He’s doing much better than we thought, but we have to wait. We know he’s a professional; he might be there this Tuesday.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  Before the Catalans can dream of upstaging Inter to book their place in the Champions League final for the first time since 2015, they will take on Real Valladolid in La Liga on Saturday, May 3. Flick's troops currently hold a healthy four-point lead over rivals Real Madrid at the top of the league table.

As the January transfer window comes to a close, Barcelona have reportedly already set their sights on signing an in-form Crystal Palace star when the summer arrives.

Crystal Palace transfer news

The Eagles have done well to keep hold of their own star men in the last month whilst also welcoming additions themselves to hand Oliver Glasner a welcomed boost.

Having commenced the January transfer window by welcoming a young talent in Romain Esse – who scored on his debut against Brentford recently – Palace ended their window by welcoming an experienced defender in the form of Ben Chilwell.

The Chelsea defender comes in at the same time that those at Selhurst Park were reportedly forced to reject an offer of as much as £70m from Tottenham Hotspur for Marc Guehi.

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Rejecting the offer with such little time remaining to find a viable replacement, Guehi may not be the only star man who Crystal Palace face a battle to keep when the summer arrives.

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona are now plotting a move to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta this summer and see the forward as a less complicated option on the spending front as well as one who could replace Robert Lewandowski.

Whether Crystal Palace agree with that verdict on the economical front remains to be seen, however, given that they remained unmoved by Spurs’ late big-money attempts to lure Guehi away from South London.

Should they remain just as stubborn in the face of Barcelona’s chase of Mateta, then Palace may yet keep hold of their star striker this summer.

"Amazing" Mateta is more important than ever

If Barcelona come calling this summer, then Palace should do everything in their power to turn the Spaniards down amid Metata’s growing importance. The 27-year-old is at the peak of his powers and last summer’s move to sign Eddie Nketiah seemingly only spurred him on to make the starting role his own and prove that he is the best option for Glasner at Selhurst Park.

After scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Manchester United last time out, Mateta was at the centre of his Glasner’s praise. The Austrian told reporters: “We don’t always talk because he knows what we demand of him. With his two goals today, he is amazing in the box.

“He has the feeling that a number nine must have in the box. He makes so many runs where he doesn’t get the ball. You need to suffer as a striker because you make so many runs where you don’t get the ball. He gets the reward and it decides the game for us.”

With six goals in his last five Premier League games, Mateta is once again the man of the moment for Crystal Palace.

It has been an excellent start for two of Manchester City’s marquee January signings. Omar Marmoush was one of the blockbuster moves across Europe in the winter window, and he became a Citizens hero at the weekend against Newcastle United with a hattrick in the first half, helping his side to a 4-0 win.

It was also a brilliant performance from new midfielder Nico Gonzalez. Essentially signed as a replacement for injured midfielder Rodri, Pep Guardiola could not have been happier with the La Masia graduate’s performance. He described the Spaniard as a “mini Rodri”, which is high praise indeed.

City also signed two new defenders, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, who have been eased into action by Guardiola.

Khusanov and Reis’ City career so far

There is certainly an argument to be made that the two defensive signings by City in January were investments for the future as much as they are for the present. However, it was a baptism of fire for Khusanov on his City debut.

He played 54 minutes against Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side, and was at fault for a goal just a couple of minutes into the game, misplacing a headed backpass to Ederson which Chelsea pounced on.

However, he has bounced back well, making a total of three appearances and even getting on the scoresheet in the FA Cup, although it was a slightly lucky goal, with Rico Lewis’ shot deflecting in off him.

In The Pipeline

It has been an easier start for Reis, who, at 19 years of age, is slightly less experienced than the 20-year-old Khusanov. He has made just one City appearance so far, which came against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, and he’s been an unused substitute in the Premier League.

Guardiola was very complimentary of the Brazilian, describing him as a “very exciting” player upon signing him from Palmeiras. They are certainly both signings with the future in mind, and an example of good planning from City.

However, perhaps they were not additions that were needed, given some of the talent in the City academy. In particular, there is an exciting defensive talent Guardiola could call upon.

The talented defender in City’s academy

One of the best up-and-coming prospects in City’s academy is centre-back Stephen Mfuni. The 17-year-old, who has made a real impression this season, is able to play both centre-back and left-back.

This has led to football analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as the “academy version [Josko] Gvardiol”. The Croatian star – who cost £77.6m back in the summer of 2023 – has been a shining light this season in both the centre of defence and at full-back, having chipped in with five goals in all competitions.

As for Mfuni, who was born in Wigan, not too far from Manchester, the teen starlet has played in several competitions across City’s academy this term, making a total of 18 appearances. In that time, he has even managed to further emulate Gvardiol by getting his name on the scoresheet twice.

One of the competitions in which Mfuni has really impressed is in the UEFA Youth League. The 17-year-old has been a key part of City’s side which has reached the Round of 16, starting all but one of their games, a 4-2 defeat to Italian side Inter.

Perhaps Mfuni’s best game in the UEFA Youth League came against Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia. He showcased his elite progression on the ball and his impressive ability without it.

As per Sofascore, the defender completed 86% of his passes and won seven from seven duels.

Stat

Number

Touches

98

Pass accuracy

86%

Passes completed

76/88

Ground duels won

6/6

Aerial duels won

1/1

Long balls completed

5/10

Dribbles completed

3/3

There is certainly lots of talent in the City academy, although Mfuni might be the best of the bunch when it comes to defenders. At only 17 years of age, he is also an investment for the future.

Perhaps Guardiola did not need to sign Khusanov and Reis, and instead could have backed the Wigan-born defender in the first team. Who knows, he could have the next Gvardiol on his hands.

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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.

Looking ahead towards potential promotion and the summer transfer window, Leeds United are now reportedly battling to sign an young centre-back ahead of Juventus.

Leeds transfer news

Those at Elland Road will be the last people to get ahead of themselves in the Championship, but even they can’t deny that Leeds’ promotion push has looked stronger than ever in recent weeks. With Sunderland awaiting on Monday evening, the Whites will have the chance to move as many as 10 points clear of the Black Cats, who sit fourth.

In fact, their push for promotion is going so well that a look towards the summer transfer window wouldn’t exactly be unwise. Whether it’s been Luton Town or the likes of Southampton in recent years, promoted sides have failed to prepare for the Premier League. Now, Leeds will be desperate to end that trend.

On that front, the rumours have certainly been coming thick and fast off the back of a quiet January transfer window, which includes those surrounding an impressive young centre-back.

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According to The i Paper, Leeds are now battling to sign Koni De Winter for Daniel Farke this summer but face plenty of competition in the race to welcome the Genoa centre-back.

Among those also reportedly plotting summer swoops are Juventus, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United which could yet create a frantic race when the transfer window swings open.

Juventus could yet become Leeds’ greatest competitor in pursuit of De Winter, given that they sold the defender to Genoa last summer and could now look to make up for their mistake.

Leeds, meanwhile, could benefit in the same way that Bournemouth benfited from a Juventus discard when they welcomed Dean Huijsen, who has gone onto star ever since arriving last summer.

"Gifted" De Winter is Premier League ready

Originally shown the door at Juventus as a youngster, De Winter has quickly moved on and become an important player at Genoa to make the Turin giants consider bringing him back.

Aside from the interruption of an ill-timed injury, the 22-year-old has started all 14 Serie A games that he’s been available for and is no doubt a player on the rise. Whether that rise continues in Italy remains to be seen, however.

Even at Juventus, De Winter was one to watch and found himself at the centre of Antonio Mango’s praise, who clearly saw what the Italian giants did not when assessing the defender. The U23 scout dubbed the Belgian a “gifted footballer” in 2023 and has been proven right ever since.

By signing De Winter, Leeds would be making a statement of intent ahead of their potential return to the Premier League. They’ll be desperate to achieve what Luton, Southampton and potentially others have failed to do in recent years by becoming an established top-flight side once again.

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

Arsenal legend Jens Lehmann's wife confirmed that they have divorced after he was fined for attacking a neighbour's house with a chainsaw.

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• The pair divorced after 25 years
• Lehmann was fined £112,500 for property damage
• Was also caught for alleged drunk driving

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Conny Lehmann, 52, revealed the news in a recent interview with German outlet expressing that she is now embracing life as a single woman. While she chose not to elaborate on the nature of her relationship with Lehmann, she did state clearly, “I’m single. I’m happily single.”

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Although the divorce was recently confirmed, the couple had been living apart for some time. Conny had moved out of their luxurious villa in Starnberg, located near Munich, well before they legally ended the marriage. The residence, a high-end property once shared by the pair, was put on the market in January for a staggering €12.9 million (around £10.9 million) through a Munich-based real estate firm.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Lehmann’s reputation has been marred over the past year due to multiple legal and personal troubles. One of the most talked-about incidents involved him using a chainsaw to damage the roof beams of a newly built garage on a neighbour's property in the summer of 2022. That act led to legal consequences, including a court-issued fine of £112,500 for property damage and attempted fraud. Initially, Lehmann had been given a suspended prison sentence along with a more severe financial penalty of over £350,000. However, the verdict was modified after an appeal, with criminal charges eventually being dropped following an out-of-court financial settlement with the neighbour exceeding £50,000.

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• TELL ME MORE

  In addition to the property damage case, Lehmann was involved in another troubling episode last September, shortly after the Oktoberfest celebrations in Germany. He was pulled over by police and allegedly showed signs of intoxication. The Munich public prosecutor’s office later proposed a £60,000 fine for the incident. Lehmann has contested the charge and is scheduled to appear in court on April 3. In the meantime, his driver’s license has been revoked.