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Glasgow Rangers have enjoyed a busy start to the summer transfer window as they have already secured three additions for their playing squad.

Oscar Cortes has joined on a second loan deal from Lens, with an obligation to make it permanent next summer, Jefte has signed permanently from Fluminense, and Clinton Nsiala will officially join the club next month after his contract with AC Milan expires.

A fourth player could be about to walk through the door at Ibrox as well as the club are reportedly in pole position to sign Yusuf Kabadayi from Bayern Munich.

The Glasgow giants now have a central midfielder in their sights as they are interested in a swoop to sign a player from one of their Scottish Premiership rivals.

Rangers interest in Scottish dynamo

According to The Scottish Sun, Nils Koppen is lining up a deal to sign Scottish dynamo Connor Barron from Aberdeen during the summer window.

The report claims that the Light Blues are at the front of the queue of clubs looking to snap up the 21-year-old midfielder ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

His contract with the Dons expired at the end of last month and Rangers are now said to be ready to 'step up' their interest in the 5 foot 9 youngster to add him to their squad.

The Scottish Sun adds that Aberdeen would be due compensation from the Gers and that the two clubs would have to reach an agreement, whilst the Premiership side could rake in up to £500k if he makes a move down south or to Italy – where there has been interest in him.

Rangers could help attacking midfielder Todd Cantwell to flourish by securing a deal for the out-of-contract star over the coming weeks, due to his tenacity and athleticism in the middle of the park.

How Connor Barron could help Todd Cantwell

Having an energetic and impressive defensive-minded ace at the base of the midfield could free up the English wizard to stay higher and maintain a constant threat in attack, rather than being too worried about his defensive duties and dropping in to help the team.

Analyst John Walker described Barron as "relentless" and lauded his excellent pressing out of possession earlier this year, which speaks to his impressive work off the ball.

Appearances

29

34

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.6

2.5

Dribbled past per game

0.8

1.0

Duels won per game

3.7

3.9

Ground duel success rate

53%

49%

Aerial duel success rate

68%

55%

As you can see in the table above, that was backed up by the Aberdeen star's performances on the pitch as he outperformed Rangers defensive midfielder John Lundstram, who has now left Ibrox on a free transfer, in a number of key metrics.

Barron could win a higher percentage of his duels in the middle of the park and be dribbled past fewer times by opposition players, which could cut out more attacks and lead to more transition opportunities for Rangers.

That could make him a dream for Cantwell as it would, therefore, provide the attacking midfielder with more security behind him and more attacks to showcase his quality.

The 26-year-old whiz produced seven goals and five assists in 30 Premiership matches this term but could have more chances to add to both of those tallies by having a defensive anchor behind him to mop up the ball and recycle it for the ex-Norwich ace to weave his magic at the top end of the pitch.

Rangers could repeat Tillman masterclass in swoop for "prolific" star

The Light Blues have been linked with an interest in the talented youngster this summer.

ByDan Emery Jun 9, 2024

Koppen and Philippe Clement could, therefore, help Cantwell to flourish further in a Light Blues shirt by bringing Barron in to play in midfield behind the English talent.

Joshua Zirkzee lavished praise on "buddy" Matthijs De Ligt after the Dutch defender scored his first Manchester United goal against Southampton.

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• De Ligt had a difficult outing with Netherlands
• Was subbed off at half-time by Koeman
• Redeemed himself by scoring against the Saints

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  De Ligt faced the wrath of Ronald Koeman for a costly error against Germany and the centre-back was subsequently hooked off at half-time during the international break. The incident triggered a week of media scrutiny and his dismal performances against Brighton and Liverpool with United before the international break were also highlighted.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  De Ligt silenced his critics when he opened the scoring for United against Southampton, which culminated in a 3-0 victory for the Red Devils. Zirkzee, who has a close relationship with his compatriot, was quick to join in the celebrations and admitted that he was thrilled for his teammate after a difficult week.

• WHAT ZIRKZEE SAID

  “It was nice to see him score. Matthijs is of course my buddy here. Also in the Dutch team,” he said in an interview with

  “It was a moment. Matthijs also jumped in front of me. I almost got his foot in my face afterwards. I was just super happy for him. I don’t really want to say it, but I think it was written about him in a difficult period because of what happened in the Dutch national team. I don’t think that had an effect on him. But I was just super happy for him. He also played great. He’s in the group. He’s great for us. I was just very happy.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Under manager Erik ten Hag, the club has seen a growing presence of Dutch players and coaches. The manager has brought in staff like Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake to help him turn around the fortunes at Old Trafford. Zirkzee, in particular, has been benefiting from this Dutch influence, especially with the presence of Van Nistelrooy, the legendary United striker, who now works with the team.

  “(It’s) Great. He’s been a striker. Detailed work. Watching footage. Looking back," he said. "The way he works with you. That’s very important. I can relate to that; You can learn a lot from him.”

  However, when asked about the specifics of his learning from Nistelrooy, he remained tight-lipped: "I want to keep it a secret."

South Africa opener Malan ruled out of county stint by travel restrictions

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Aug-2020

Gareth Delany pulls the ball away•Getty Images

Leicestershire have signed Ireland allrounder Gareth Delany as an overseas player for the upcoming Vitality Blast. The club had previously learned that South Africa opener Janneman Malan would not be able to appear for them this summer due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.The move for Malan, who scored an unbeaten hundred in his second ODI against Australia earlier this year, was confounded by visa and travel restrictions, with South Africans currently requiring government approval to leave the country. Leicestershire have agreed with Malan to defer his contract until 2021, subject to clearances.”We exhausted every avenue in trying to get Janneman into the country but issues out of our control have gone against us on this occasion,” Leicestershire’s chief executive Sean Jarvis said.”It is a big blow for us because everyone was looking forward to Janneman playing for us. We would love to see Janneman become a Fox in the future and wish him the best over the next few months.”Jarvis added that the club had “identified some targets” and the signing of Delany was announced 24 hours later. Delany, 23, a hard-hitting batsman and legspinner, has played 28 times for Ireland in white-ball internationals, and opened the batting in the recent ODI series against England.”I’m really excited to be playing in the Blast,” Delany said. “I was really unsure if I’d ever have the opportunity to play in county cricket, so I’m over the moon to be playing with Leicestershire and very grateful to both the club and Cricket Ireland for this chance. It’ll be a challenging environment, but one from which I am hoping to further develop my game.”Leicestershire’s head coach, Paul Nixon, added: “Gareth is a talented young allrounder we have been keeping an eye on for a while. We have been looking for a top-order batsman and a legspin bowler, as they are worth their weight in gold in T20 cricket, and Gareth ticks both boxes for us.”He is young, hungry to do well, and has good experience for a young player so will be a great addition to our squad.”

Aston Villa could be set to swoop for a Turkish league star this summer after Unai Emery personally approved the move, according to reports.

Villa and NSWE backing Emery

After the incredible progress made by Aston Villa, they would be silly not to back the Spaniard. Taking over with the club battling relegation, he has transformed them into a Premier League powerhouse once more, and they look set to return to the Champions League for the first time since the 1980s, with a seven-point advantage over 5th placed Tottenham with Ange Postecoglou's side having just three games left to play.

They could also still record silverware, though they will need a historic result against Olympiacos in Athens on Thursday after falling to a 4-2 defeat to the Greek side at Villa Park in the UEFA Conference League semi-final.

Aston Villa under Unai Emery

Games

80

Win %

55%

Goals scored per game

1.9

Goals conceded per game

1.34

Points per game

1.84

That would set up a final against one of Fiorentina and Club Brugge, and would crown what has already been an incredible campaign in the Midlands.

Transfer plans have already been put in place, with Villa seemingly set to pounce upon Spanish free agent Mario Hermoso at the request of Emery. They have also reportedly sent scouts to watch Alex Baena ahead of a potential summer transfer, with the Villarreal man having played for Emery before, though it is understood that the Villans would have to trigger his reported €60m (£52m) release clause to make any deal happen this summer.

Muci bid gets Emery seal of approval

A new target comes in the form of Besiktas midfielder Ernest Muci, who Villa have reportedly had a long-term interest in. The attacking midfielder has scored twice in seven outings for Besiktas, but Villa fans will remember him for the three goals he grabbed in two games against them earlier in the season while plying his trade for Legia Warsaw.

Aston Villa target £52m Emery favourite who plays like Grealish

Unai Emery’s team would solidify their hopeful status among Europe’s elite with this ambitious signing.

ByAngus Sinclair May 7, 2024

Besiktas president Hasam Arat has claimed that he has rejected one offer and is keen to keep the Albanian beyond this summer.

The 9-cap Albania international is under contract until 2027, and taking home £49,000 per week, has shown no intention of changing clubs six months after arriving.

But that has not stopped Villa from trying, with reports from Turkey now claiming that "an official offer" is "on the way" for the midfielder, though that offer is expected to be around 15m euros, which is likely to be rejected given that a bid of 20m euros has already been turned down.

However, the deal is being pushed after Emery "gave his approval" to the deal, who could replace loanee Nicolo Zaniolo in the Aston Villa midfield. With this in mind, and given how much Emery has already had his way at Villa Park, the Midlands outfit could up their offer to get Emery his man.

أعرب روجيرو ميكالي، المدير الفني لـ منتخب مصر مواليد 2005، عن سعادته بالفوز على ليبيا، في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم.

اقتنص منتخب مصر للشباب تحت 20 عامًا فوزًا صعبًا من ضيفه الليبي، في المباراة التي أقيمت بين الفريقين مساء اليوم ضمن منافسات بطولة شمال إفريقيا.

طالع..فيديو | منتخب مصر يخطف فوزًا قاتلًا من ليبيا ويبقي على آماله للتأهل إلى أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عامًا

وتلعب التصفيات المؤهلة إلى كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عامًا في مصر، من الفترة 14 إلى 26 نوفمبر الجاري بمشاركة 5 منتخبات مصر والمغرب والجزائر ولبيبا وتونس.

وقال ميكالي، في لقاء مع أون تايم سبورتس: “نعرف أهمية المباراة، وكنا بحاجة إلى هذا الفوز لكي نستمر في البطولة هناك أمور تحدث لنا في هذه البطولة، مثل غياب بعض اللاعبين المهمين بالإضافة إلى الإصابات. سنكافح، وسنظل نكافح حتى النهاية”.

وتابع: “منتخب ليبيا يقدم كرة قدم جيدة جدًا، وخسروا المباراة الأخيرة، وكانوا بحاجة إلى الفوز مثلنا”.

وأضاف: “كان بإمكاننا إحراز أهداف أكثر من ذلك، ولكننا أهدرنا العديد من الفرص. رغم ذلك، النتيجة مرضية إلى حدٍ ما”.

وأتم: “الوقت ليس في صالحنا، إذ لم تتح لنا الفرصة الكافية لتطبيق المنهجية والأفكار بشكل كامل ومع ذلك، هناك بعض الأفكار التي تُنفَّذ حاليًا، وفي المستقبل سنحتاج إلى المزيد من الوقت لتقديم عمل جيد”.

Derby County can already taste the final-day champagne now, knowing that picking up just a point against bottom-of-the-league Carlisle United will be enough to secure promotion back up to the Championship at Pride Park.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's goal at Cambridge United to win 1-0 could well be the decisive strike that sees Bolton Wanderers and Peterborough United just narrowly miss out on the automatic promotion positions, the experienced attacker rounding the hapless opposition goalkeeper to fire home a crucial goal.

The Rams will know they can't overspend like they have done in the past if they do move up from League One back to the second tier, with this notable dud burning a hole in Derby's pocket during a turbulent period in the club's recent history.

Ikechi Anya's time at Derby

Under previous chairman Mel Morris, it's fair to say Derby weren't known for being a frugal side when it came to transfer activity through the door.

The summer transfer window before the 2016/17 season got underway saw the Rams splash the cash significantly, forking out an excessive £8m fee to win Matej Vydra's services alongside spending a further £4m on his ex-Watford comrade Ikechi Anya.

Derby fans must have been excited by the prospect of seeing Anya don a Derby strip after initially signing, having notched up eight goals and 24 assists for the Hornets as a versatile presence before moving on.

The move would end up going down as a major flop, however, with the now-retired former Scotland international making just 38 appearances for the Rams over four seasons before then calling time on his playing days in 2020.

Derby were bled dry by their 5 foot 6 dud even more when you look at this extortionate wage, with his salary at the time being 3.5 times more than what homegrown Rams product Louie Sibley is earning today under Paul Warne.

Ikechi Anya's wage at Derby

Anya would end up costing his side a staggering £5.8m in wage costs in total according to Capology, heaps of money lost on a player who would only ever score once for the Rams.

With the Scotsman pocketing £28k-per-week during his debut season in Derbyshire – which would be his wage throughout his wretched Rams spell minus a slight pay increase during the 2019/20 season – Anya would be the club's third-highest earner that same campaign, only pipped to the top by an ageing Darren Bent and the aforementioned Vydra.

1. Darren Bent

£30k per week

2. Matej Vydra

£30k per week

3. Ikechi Anya

£28k per week

4. David Nugent

£25k per week

5. Alex Pearce

£25k per week

When looking at the highest earners in Warne's camp now, the difference is staggering with Conor Hourihane at the top with £12k-per-week which wouldn't even make a dent in this top five.

Sibley earns a meagre £8k-per-week in contrast to Anya's pay packet currently, despite being the driving force for Mendez-Laing's breakaway strike versus Cambridge going in by bursting forward unchallenged to then play the ex-Cardiff City man into space.

On seven goals and five assists in all competitions this season, Sibley will be clamouring for a pay increase if Derby are playing Championship football next campaign.

There won't be crazy increases for the sake of it though, as Warne's men aim to traverse the step-up a level steadily after nearly going bust last time they were in the second tier.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

Shaheen Afridi will play for Hampshire in next year’s Vitality Blast.Shaheen, who has become an important part of Pakistan’s seam attack in all formats over the past 18 months, is expected to be available for the duration of the T20 competition as an overseas player.”I am delighted to sign with Hampshire for the upcoming Vitality Blast competition,” Shaheen said. “I have always enjoyed playing in England in front of the fantastic fans and I look forward to joining this historic club for my first experience of county cricket.”The 19-year-old Shaheen had a particularly enjoyable time on English pitches earlier this year, claiming the best figures for Pakistan in a World Cup with 6 for 35 against Bangladesh at Lord’s in July. Those figures were also the best of the tournament as he finished with 16 wickets at an average of 14.63.An imposing and accurate left-arm paceman, Afridi burst onto the international scene in April 2018 when he earned a T20I call-up for Pakistan’s series against West Indies. He also made his Test and ODI debuts last year. In 29 limited-overs internationals, Shaheen has taken 54 wickets at an average of 21.02, including 14 wickets from 10 T20Is at 20.57.Hampshire Director of Cricket, Giles White, said: “A lot of the best sides in T20 cricket possess a very good bowling attack and Shaheen adds an extra dimension to the group we have, offering excellent accuracy, pace and lots of variations. He’s an emerging young talent in world cricket so we’re delighted to have him on board for next summer’s Vitality Blast.”

رد الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم على طلب رابطة الدوري “لا ليجا” بتأجيل مباراة ريال مدريد وفالنسيا في إطار الجولة الثانية عشر.

وكانت الرابطة قد توجهت بطل يوم أمس، الأربعاء، إلى الاتحاد الإسباني من أجل تأجيل تلك المباراة بسبب الإعصار المدمر الذي عانت منه مقاطعة “فالنسيا” في الأيام الماضية.

ومن جانبه، أعلن الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم تأجيل كافة المباريات في الدرجات المحترفة وغير المحترفة في مقاطعة فالنسيا وعلى رأسها مواجهة ريال مدريد على ملعب “ميستايا”.

اقرأ أيضًا | بسبب الكرة الذهبية.. انقلاب ضد بيريز داخل ريال مدريد

🔴 Aplazados los encuentros que debían disputarse en la Comunidad Valenciana este fin de semana

▪️ Se trata de partidos de diversas competiciones de fútbol 11 y fútbol sala

🔗 https://t.co/zkTr3V49Iz pic.twitter.com/iH7e2cQxXY — RFEF (@rfef) October 31, 2024

كانت من المفترض أن تقام المباراة يوم السبت المقبل في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة” ولكن الكارثة الإنسانية التي حدثت أجبرت المسئولين على تأجيل المباراة.

حيث توفى بسبب الإعصار أكثر من 50 شخصًا وتعاني العائلات من أضرار هذا الحدث وسيتم جدولتها في وقت لاحق.

بجانب مباراة ريال مدريد وفالنسيا، هناك تأجيل لمواجهة فياريال ورايو فاييكانو لأنها تقام في نفس المقاطعة المتضررة.

Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly emerged as the latest contender to take charge of the USMNT after Gregg Berhalter's exit.

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• Berhalter was fired after Copa America failure
• Pochettino is currently a free agent
• Could potentially take up the US job

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Berhalter left his post after a disappointing showing by the American squad at the 2024 Copa America where they got knocked out from the group stages. In search of a new manager, it was reported that the USA FA had reached out to former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to fill the vacant position. However, after Klopp declined the offer, their attention swiftly turned to Pochettino, according to

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Pochettino's availability stems from his recent exit from Chelsea in May after guiding the London club to a sixth-place Premier League finish. His profile aligns well with what the United States seeks: a youthful coach with a prestigious pedigree, fluent in English, and seasoned in top-tier football.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Pochettino, aged 52, boasts an impressive coaching career that includes stints with Tottenham Hotspur, where he led the team to a Champions League final, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The USMNT job could be a tempting offer as he would have the opportunity to mould a talented crop of young American players like Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun and others to his preferred style and philosophy.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  If Pochettino indeed takes up the offer from the US FA, he will get the opportunity to lead the side in the 2026 World Cup in front of home fans. This could be a compelling factor for the Argentine to take up the reins to coach Christian Pulisic and Co.

The Reds star was in superb form as he put Romania to the sword, scoring once and laying on an excellent assist, as Malen scored twice.

Coming into the game, the Netherlands aimed to reach their first European Championship quarter-final since 2008, while Romania were seeking their first qualification for the last-eight since 2000.

The Netherlands, of course, came third in their group, while Romania won theirs, but the performances did nothing to reflect their standings.

The Dutch took the lead within 19 minutes, as Cody Gakpo cut inside from the left flank and unleashed a fierce effort into the bottom corner.

Ronald Koeman's side dominated the first half, but struggled to convert their pressure and possession into clear-cut opportunities.

In the second half, they continued to carve Romania open, with their fluid attack requiring the backline to put their bodies on the line.

Eventually, the Dutch pressure paid off, as Gakpo robbed the otherwise excellent Radu Dragusin in the box and played in Donyell Malen, who finished.

And Malen added a third in the final minute of injury time, to really rub salt into Romanian wounds.

GOAL rates Netherlands' players from the Allianz Arena…

• Getty
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Bart Verbruggen (6/10):

  Had barely anything to do after Romania's blitz at the start of the first half.

  Denzel Dumfries (7/10):

  An absolute menace to the Romania defence as he continually inverted, especially in the first half. His influence waned somewhat but made a strong case for playing in the quarter-final.

  Stefan De Vrij (6/10):

  Headed just wide when unmarked from a corner at 1-0. The Dutch held such a high line that he was often in midfield. Never allowed Romania to get in behind him.

  Virgil van Dijk (5/10):

  Continually trusted as the last man. Sloppy giveaway allowed Dragus to shoot and later went close to scoring a second with an excellent header. A mixed bag.

  Nathan Ake (6/10):

  Some sweeping long passes and excellent last-ditch challenges. Replaced by Van de Ven.

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• Getty
  

  Midfield

  Jerdy Schouten (6/10):

  Played a superb pass in the buildup to Gakpo's goal and kept possession expertly. A smart midfield performance. Replaced by Veerman.

  Xavi Simons (7/10):

  Bizarre moment in the first half as he was found in space in the box but lost his balance and couldn't shoot. Some sensational passes and kept popping up in the pocket. Such a technically gifted player.

  Tijjani Reijnders (7/10):

  A tidy performance. Excellent at going box to box and one winding run in the second half almost ended in a Netherlands goal.

• Getty
  

  Attack

  Steven Bergwijn (5/10):

  Gave Romania something to think about with his direct running but was subbed at half-time for Donyell Malen.

  Memphis Depay (6/10):

  Held the ball up well at times against Romania's behemoth Radu Dragusin. Incredible that he didn't score as he had so many chances. A genius low free-kick zipped just wide in an instructive miss; everything he did before pulling the trigger was excellent.

  Cody Gakpo (8/10):

  Scored in the first half, cutting in from the left flank and unleashing a fierce drive into the bottom corner. Almost added a second, forcing an excellent save after a driving run, then saw a goal ruled out by VAR, before assisting Malen's clincher.

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  Subs & Manager

  Donyell Malen (8/10):

  Replaced Bergwijn at half-time. A threat down the right and scored twice, the second a brilliant counter-attacking run. Sure to start the quarter-final now.

  Joey Veerman (6/10):

  On for Schouten. Almost scored straight away, as he curled an effort just wide.

  Micky van de Ven (6/10):

  Replaced Ake. Barely tested.

  Wout Weghorst (6/10):

  Replaced Gakpo at 2-0.

  Daley Blind (N/A):

  Came on in injury time.

  Ronald Koeman (7/10):

  Koeman's Dutch side were aggressive and clever with their pressing, their movement, and their chance creation. Finishing remains an issue but had they had their shooting boots on, they might have won this game by six or seven. A fitting riposte to the criticism that followed their defeat to Austria.