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Glasgow Rangers managed to sign three talented youngsters during the January transfer window as Philippe Clement bolstered his hungry Ibrox squad ahead of what could be a hectic second half of the season.

Fabio Silva, Oscar Cortes, and Mohamed Diomande were the three signings and all three could play their part in the coming weeks.

Silva has already scored twice for Rangers, while the latter two looked bright while making their first start for the club during the 2-0 Scottish Cup win over Ayr United.

The Light Blues did miss out on a few players last month though, and Clement could rue some of these calls.

Lawrence Shankland was linked perennially throughout January, while Brazilian Jefte looked like he was making the move to Scotland, then the deal collapsed at the last minute, ensuring more bad news for the Gers.

This is not the first time the Glasgow side have missed out on transfer targets, with several over the years eventually going on to bigger and brighter things.

One name was linked a few years ago and is now thriving in the Premier League. He is also likely to be on the move this summer; Ivan Toney.

Toney was 'going to sign' for Rangers

After Covid-19 curtailed the 2019/20 campaign, Steven Gerrard set about building a team which could end Celtic’s hegemony of Scottish football and prevent them from winning the elusive tenth league title in a row.

Kemar Roofe, Calvin Bassey, Ianis Hagi and Cedric Itten were all signed to prevent this from happening and over the following 12 months, the Light Blues were ruthless as they swatted away all challengers and romped to the Premiership crown.

They went the entire 2020/21 campaign undefeated, conceding just 13 goals, yet they failed to capitalise on this and failed to retain the trophy the following season.

Would the outcome have been different had they signed Ivan Toney in 2020? With Celtic keen on the player too, quite probably.

Gerrard eyed up a swoop for the then Peterborough United striker alongside their Old Firm rivals, but no move ever materialised as he ended up signing for Brentford instead.

While speaking to former Ibrox legend Ally McCoist a year later, Toney admitted he could have made the move to Scotland, saying:

"Like you said I was going to sign for Celtic – but I was also going to sign for Rangers.”

What a piece of business it could have been for the Ibrox side, especially when you consider how he has taken the Premier League by storm over the previous few years.

Toney's numbers after being linked with Rangers

The 6 foot 1 Englishman only cost the Bees a reported fee of £5m, with another £5m in potential add-ons, and it looked like it could prove to be a wonderful bargain.

Toney certainly justified the £5m during his debut season for Brentford as he scored 31 goals and grabbed ten assists across 45 Championship matches as the London club secured promotion to the top flight for the first time since the 1946/47 season.

The former Posh striker didn’t take long to settle into life in the Premier League and eventually ended up bagging 12 goals in 33 matches as the club finished in a respectable 13th position.

His performances led BBC reporter Simon Stone to describe him as “sensational” and this laid the foundations for his second season in the top flight.

If this campaign was impressive, the 27-year-old took things to the next level during the 2022/23 season, finding the back of the net on 20 occasions in the league, and this meant he finished third in the race for the Golden Boot, which was won by Erling Haaland.

In May 2023, Toney was banned for eight months for breaching FA betting rules, admitting to 232 breaches, only making his return to action last month.

Three goals in just four matches prove that he has returned with a bang and his goals could ensure Brentford retain their top-flight status having endured a tough opening half to the campaign.

Goals

12

20

Assists

5

4

Shots on target per game

0.9

1.3

Big chances created

10

12

Successful dribbles per game

0.7

0.5

These last few seasons have certainly shown that the Light Blues missed out on a player who could have taken them to the next level and solved their attacking woes which plagued them in the two seasons post-2020/21.

The centre-forward is now wanted by some of the biggest teams in England and, judging by his reported value, the Gers had a nightmare by not stumping up £5m back in 2020.

Ivan Toney's valuation in 2024

Brentford manager Thomas Frank recently admitted that this could be the final few months of Toney’s Brentford spell, saying:

"It is relatively obvious that Ivan Toney will probably be sold this summer. We also know what he is worth. I don't think there are many strikers in the world who are better than him right now.”

Arsenal and Chelsea are just two of the Premier League sides who have shown a keen interest in making a move for Toney in recent months, and this revelation by Frank will certainly have given them a big boost.

Manchester United may also join the race for the 27-year-old hitman, yet Brentford’s valuation of around £100m could potentially make them go after other targets during the summer transfer window.

Rangers definitely missed the boat on Toney, and now it looks as though he will be playing for a side in the Champions League while challenging for major honours in England.

Of course, that is not to say he would have been a success in Scotland, but the fact that he has netted a stunning total of 71 goals since the start of the 2020/21 season – while missing eight months – indicates that he would have shone at Ibrox.

The missed opportunity represents yet another occasion where the penny-pinching board refused to shell out on a player, and it looks like it has come back to haunt them, especially with his recent £100m valuation.

Hopefully Clement does not rue missing out on a few targets he wanted to sign in January as the season progresses and make the same mistakes as his predecessors.

Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus and Mignon du Preez combine to chase down the small target easily

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jan-2020Marizanne Kapp’s four-for first restricted New Zealand women to a below-par total of 115, and then Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus and Mignon du Preez combined to chase down the target within 24 overs in the second ODI as South Africa sealed the three-match series in Auckland.Opting to bat first, New Zealand were jolted by fast bowler Kapp’s early strikes, as they lost their openers inside the first five overs for just 12 runs. Suzie Bates, at No. 3, fought with a 60-ball 38 to lead a recovery but received little or no support from the other end as the New Zealand procession continued.Sophie Devine and Katie Perkins fell short of their creases, departing for 9 and 0 respectively, following which a brief 47-run resistance between Bates and Katey Martin followed. After the partnership was broken by Dane van Niekerk, Ayabonga Khaka hurt the hosts further with a double-strike in the 24th over to remove Bates and Amelia Kerr. Kapp returned to dismiss Leigh Kasperek and Jess Kerr to finish with four wickets and leave New Zealand at 108 for 9. The last-wicket pair could add only seven more runs to the total as Masabata Klaas had Hayley Jensen caught behind.In reply, Devine dismissed opener Laura Wolvaardt for a duck but Lee continued her fine form with a 43-ball 38, with Luus at the other end, as South Africa cruised towards the target. Du Preez joined Luus after Lee’s dismissal as the pair put up an unbroken 60-run stand and secured an easy win for the visitors.

England coach claims team for Perth undecided after Jacob Bethell pushes case in ODIs

Matt Roller08-Sep-2025Brendon McCullum expects Jofra Archer to be a “huge player” for England in Australia this winter and described the upcoming Ashes tour as “the biggest series of all of our lives”. England’s coach also hinted that Jacob Bethell still has time to force his way into their side for the first Test in Perth after his maiden hundred on Sunday.Archer set up England’s world-record thrashing of South Africa with a new-ball spell of 4 for 10 in seven overs in Southampton. He made his Test comeback against India in July, taking nine wickets in two appearances, and McCullum said that his injury-free summer has vindicated England’s cautious approach with his return.”That was an unbelievable spell,” McCullum said. “It was box-office bowling…[It’s] not just his pace, but his skill, his ability to shift it both ways and to test batters with the steep bounce he gets. He’s a proper cricketer, hence why we’ve taken our time with him to make sure that we give him every chance to be in the biggest series of all of our lives.Related

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Bethell: 'I've got to be ready to perform in Ashes'

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Bethell, Root tons, Archer four-for see England hand out record thrashing

Bethell admits he 'probably should have played more' this summer

“It’s always a delicate balance. Sometimes you need to keep bowling and you need to keep ticking over. I think a lot of injuries happen when you almost down the tools completely, not that I really understand how that works. But we’ve just got to make sure we work to the plan.”We’ve had a good plan with Jof over the last little while and he’s rewarded us for the type of planning that we’ve had with performances like tonight. He’s going to be a huge player when we get to Australia, as a number of others are. But I don’t think we’ll wrap him up [in cotton wool] per se. We’ll just keep working with him on how he’s going and work out what’s best for him.”Bethell is likely to travel to Australia as England’s spare batter but was in sparkling form against South Africa, following his 58 at Lord’s with 110 off 82 balls in Southampton, and could yet put pressure on incumbent No. 3 Ollie Pope ahead of November’s first Test in Perth. McCullum claimed that he does not yet have a team in his head for the series opener.”We will work that out when we get to Australia,” he said. “We’ve got a few other fish to fry before we get there. We’ve said about Jacob since we introduced him that he’s got a huge future in front of him. He’s very quickly taken to international cricket, and things have come really quickly for him as well.”He’s going to have some life: 21 years of age, and being able to play like he does… I want to celebrate the fact that his first ever professional hundred has been scored in the England jumper at the age of 21. I think [David] Gower’s the only other one [to score an ODI hundred for England at 21], and he was a pretty good player. We’ll see where Jacob ends up.”McCullum also said that Mark Wood and Ben Stokes are “progressing well” ahead of the Ashes, with England set to name their squad towards the end of September. Wood is set to play for Durham in the County Championship later this month, while Stokes is unlikely to play competitively before the first Test in Perth.”Stokesy will be training his arse off as he always does, and making sure he gets as fit as what he possibly can… The last series we saw from Stokesy is probably the best series he’s had as captain, so that’s a good sign. We know that for us to be competitive down in Australia, a fit, firing and motivated Ben Stokes is going to give us every chance.”

Lionel Messi bagged a career first achievement despite missing Argentina's final World Cup qualifying game against Ecuador. After an emotional outing on home soil against Venezuela last week, Messi travelled for the Ecuador clash but was granted a rest by Lionel Scaloni. Argentina lost 1-0, but Messi still finished as the overall top scorer in the CONMEBOL qualifying campaign.

Messi bags career first achievementEnded World Cup qualifiers as top scorerMissed Argentina's clash against EcuadorFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Messi ended the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers as the continent's top scorer, with eight goals to his name. This was the first time he has achieved such a feat in his two-decade-long international career. This was also the lowest tally for a top goalscorer in the qualifying rounds since the current format was set up in 1996.

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Messi, who has struggled with multiple injuries this year, was granted a rest by Scaloni so he can return to Inter Miami in peak condition ahead of their bid for MLS Cup glory. Last week, Messi shared an emotional moment with the fans after scoring twice in Argentina's 3-0 win over Venezuela, which is expected to be his final competitive game in his homeland at international level.

DID YOU KNOW?

Messi has left his international career in limbo as he is yet to confirm his participation in Argentina's World Cup title defence in North America next year. 

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Messi will be back in action for Inter Miami on Saturday as the David Beckham-owned side takes on Charlotte in a crucial MLS fixture.

While the noise surrounding West Ham United in the late stage of the January transfer market focuses on the strengthening of the frontline, and rightly so, David Moyes is keen to target new additions across multiple positions.

Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta are all injured and the talismanic latter not expected back until March, so it's no surprise that the Irons are pushing for a deal with Al-Ittihad for Portuguese winger Jota on loan before Thursday's deadline.

Pablo Fornals is closing in on a move to Real Betis and a £15m fee has been agreed with French club Lyon for the transfer of Said Benrahma to facilitate the exciting incoming, while Kalvin Phillips completed a loan move to the London Stadium from Manchester City last week.

It was admittedly a slow start to the window but things are very much heating up now and Moyes might look to take advantage of the frenetic nature of the window's closing period by acting on interest for a Premier League star who has yet to feature this season.

West Ham eyeing Premier League defender

According to Sky Sports transfer correspondent Dharmesh Sheth, dynamic Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah is on West Ham's radar, with Moyes keeping an eye on the player, unseen this season after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury back in August.

The Hammers were interested in a move for Chalobah in the summer and could now return in the coming days, with a bid of around £25m mooted for his sale earlier in the campaign.

Last summer, Chelsea set a £45m asking price for the 23-year-old but this was not met by any suitor and it is most unlikely that such a figure will hold up at present, with Chalobah on the fringe and yet to feature this term.

Trevoh Chalobah could be Moyes' own Ibrahima Konate

Chalobah might not have been in action this season but he proved his worth as a versatile and promising Premier League talent for a struggling Chelsea side last season, praised for his "ice cold" repose by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Having chalked up 63 appearances for the Stamford Bridge side, Chalobah has netted four goals and has proved his flexibility on the pitch with stellar showings in central defence, out wide and anchoring the midfield.

As per FBref, the 6 foot 3 titan ranks among the top 5% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for passes attempted, the top 17% for progressive passes, the top 12% for progressive carries, the top 4% for successful take-ons and the top 7% for tackles per 90.

The £50k-per-week ace is evidently an excellent distributor and an intelligent and imposing presence. Given that he is considered a similar player to Liverpool menace Ibrahima Konate too, Moyes might be onto something in monitoring Chalobah's situation in west London.

Piero Hincapie

Bayer Leverkusen

Danilo

Juventus

Rafael Toloi

Atalanta

Josko Gvardiol

Manchester City

Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool

Konate joined Liverpool in 2020 after Jurgen Klopp's side met his £36m release clause with RB Leipzig, and while the France international has ebbed and flowed from fitness, he has been described as an “absolute beast” for his stunning recent performances.

Joel Matip's season-ending injury compounded a certain lack of depth in the Anfield defensive ranks but Konate's recent efforts have been vital for the Premier League table-toppers in fighting for silverware across multiple fronts this term.

As per Sofascore, the 24-year-old has completed 89% of his passes across 15 Premier League outings this season, averaging 0.4 key passes, 1.5 tackles and 4.3 ball recoveries per game while winning 65% of his contested duels.

Moreover, the 6 foot 4 colossus ranks among the top 20% of positional peers for shot-creating actions, the top 9% for passes attempted, the top 14% for progressive passes, the top 15% for successful take-ons, the top 10% for tackles and the top 8% for aerial wins per 90.

There is a clear semblance between Konate and Chalobah, therefore, and while the Chelsea man is of a leaner, rangier build, he is a towering defender nonetheless and has been dubbed a “soldier" in the backline in the past by former Blues manager Graham Potter for his commanding and combative efforts.

How Chalobah would slot in at West Ham

A natural and progressive distributor, Chalobah's forward-thinking approach to his play would be an excellent fit for a Hammers side looking to absorb pressure and fling the ball through the lanes into the danger area.

Passing

Aerial duels

Tackling

Concentration

Ball retention

Source: WhoScored

His tactical intelligence and the crispness of his passing are attractive parts of his skill set and while Chelsea fell by the wayside last season, he did manage to showcase the core of his talents across his 25 outings in the top-flight.

Completing 89% of his passes during the 2022/23 campaign, Chalobah averaged 1.2 tackles and 2.2 clearances per fixture and won 63% of his ground duels.

While West Ham are prioritising the bolstering of the frontline it's wise that plans have been drawn up to secure the services of a talented defender in Chalobah, who could emulate Hammers captain Kurt Zouma in moving to east London and kickstarting his career.

Glasgow Rangers finally return to action in the Scottish Premiership after the winter break with against Hibernian away from Ibrox on Wednesday night.

The Light Blues ran out convincing 4-1 winners against lower league opposition Dumbarton in the Scottish Cup on Saturday and now face the prospect of a potentially more competitive match as they prepare for a top-flight contest.

Philippe Clement's side are currently eight points behind Celtic in the race to secure the league title but they have two games in hand on their rivals, the first of which comes against Hibs.

The Belgian head coach could now look to make some alterations to his starting XI from the one that started against Dumbarton for this clash. With this in mind, here is FFC's predicted Rangers XI to take to the pitch on Wednesday…

1 Jack Butland

The first change could come between the sticks as Jack Butland may be reinstated after Robby McCrorie started the Scottish Cup win on Saturday.

Since his move from Crystal Palace last summer, the former England international has started all 20 of the club's Premiership matches so far this season and saved a remarkable 78% of the shots against his goal.

He has kept a staggering 12 clean sheets in those 20 matches and his form is particularly impressive when you consider that Allan McGregor kept eight clean sheets and had a save success rate of 57% across 24 league games for the club last term.

This shows that Butland has been a major upgrade in goal for the Scottish giants and, therefore, a terrific signing by former manager Michael Beale.

2 James Tavernier

There is little doubt that captain James Tavernier will, once again, line up at right-back. Like Butland, he has started all 20 of the club's league matches this term, and the talented whiz has contributed with ten goals and five assists for his side.

3 Connor Goldson

At the heart of the defence, Connor Goldson could keep his place. The former Brighton & Hove Albion colossus has dominated opposition attackers with a duel success rate of 68% in the Premiership so far this season.

4 Leon Balogun

The second alteration to the starting XI could come in the left centre-back position. Leon Balogun could be brought in to replace John Souttar as the veteran titan has been a superb performer when called upon.

Appearances

12

Nine

Tackles per game

0.8

1.8

Interceptions per game

0.8

1.4

Ball recoveries per game

3.9

4.9

Duel success rate

73%

73%

As you can see from the table above, the Nigerian colossus has outperformed the Scotland international in several key defensive metrics this season, as he has cut out opposition attacks far more regularly to prevent Butland's goal from being worked as much.

The 35-year-old giant has played with a sharpness that belies his age in the Premiership and should be brought back into the team to partner Goldson for this clash.

5 Borna Barisic

At left-back, Borna Barisic could start as speculation continues over the future of Ridvan Yilmaz. Turkish giants Galatasaray are reportedly in talks to sign the defender on loan with an option to buy, although they are currently €3m below the club's €6m (£5.1m) asking price for the former Besiktas starlet.

The Croatia international, who has started ten league matches this term, could start in the back four to avoid the potential of Yilmaz being distracted by the uncertainty over his future in Glasgow.

6 John Lundstram

At the base of the midfield, John Lundstram should keep his place after converting to make it 1-0 to Rangers against Dumbarton last weekend.

The English midfielder has started 17 of the club's 20 Premiership matches this season and been a metronome in the middle of the park with a pass success rate of 89%.

7 Nicolas Raskin

Nicolas Raskin made his first start since October against Dumbarton and should retain his place with Kieran Dowell unavailable for selection through injury.

The Belgian whiz produced one goal and one assist in his first eight league starts and could look to add to his tally of goal contributions against Hibernian on Wednesday.

8 Todd Cantwell

To complete the midfield trio, Todd Cantwell could offer his attacking threat. The former Norwich star has chipped in with two goals and three assists in 11 Premiership starts so far this season.

9 Ross McCausland

On the right of the front three, Ross McCausland could keep his place after his late assist for Scott Wright against Dumbarton last weekend.

The Northern Ireland international has contributed with two goals and two assists in 21 matches for the first-team this season and should be looking to add more consistency to his play in the final third.

10 Cyriel Dessers

Clement is not blessed with an impressive array of options in the number nine position and this means that Cyriel Dessers could keep his place in the side.

The Nigerian striker has not scored in his last three Premiership outings but has racked up four goals and three assists in his last eight appearances for the club in all competitions.

Fabio Silva, who joined on loan from Wolves earlier this month, is a versatile attacker and could be deployed up front but Dessers' recent contributions suggest that he deserves another opportunity to shine.

He added 154 with Jack Clayton in a commanding partnership and an adjusted chase proved out of reach

AAP03-Dec-2024Matt Renshaw let loose with a masterclass century to lift Queensland to a 56-run One-Day Cup win over Tasmania.The 28-year-old’s player-of-the-match knock of 122 off 99 deliveries in Hobart, while batting at No. 4, was his fourth ton in domestic one-day cricket and another example of what he can achieve when the shackles are off.Rain came after 46.3 overs in Queensland’s 319 for 6 and Tasmania, chasing a revised 338 to win in 46 overs, replied with 281 all out.Queensland skipper Mitchell Swepson chimed in with his well-flighted legspinners despite aggressive knocks from Jake Weatherald and Matthew Wade.Renshaw told AAP after his recent Sheffield Shield century against the same opponents the secret to his success was all about “intent”. He showed plenty of intent, and what a wonderful white-ball cricketer he can be, in another reminder to Australian selectors of his talents.Renshaw and fellow left-hander Jack Clayton added 154 for the fourth wicket to set up the win.A smashing flick over the mid-on fence by Renshaw off medium pacer Bradley Hope was followed by a classic cover drive to the boundary to bring up his half-century.Jimmy Peirson and debutant Angus Lovell gave Queensland early impetus. Tasmania spinner Matthew Kuhnemann was far and away the best bowler for the hosts. He was also magnificent in the field with several diving stops saving certain boundaries.Swepson bowled one of his best spells for Queensland with his flight, variation and all-round guile on show to have the hosts in dire straits at 207 for 8.The interest at that point was whether Queensland could keep Tasmania to less than 271 and secure a bonus point. Kuhnemann and Tom Rogers in a 67-run ninth-wicket stand denied Queensland the privilege.

Balogun insists he's fully fit and ready to fight for his spot on Pochettino's squad with the World Cup 10 months away

Balogun stressed that he's fully fitStriker ready to make markDoesn't expect long adjustment periodFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

After dealing with injuries throughout the 2024-25 campaign, U.S. international Folarin Balogun finally has his chance to work under national team manager Mauricio Pochettino. The striker is eager to make an impression in his first camp under the USMNT coach.

"I think with Mauricio coming in, the objective was clear that he wanted to bring the group forward," Balogun told reporters. "So as players, it's no surprise for us to be competing for places and positions. I think it's something we've done all our careers, and everyone wants to make an impression, and I think that's just natural. [The World Cup] is such a big competition coming in 10 months, it's important to leave your mark."

Balogun had some initial struggles after committing to the USMNT, but was one of the few bright spots during the 2024 Copa America. Overall, he has 17 caps and five goals for the U.S.

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After a calf injury ruled him out of Monaco's first fixture, Balogun has featured in the club's last two matches – scoring one goal. He insisted his persistent injury issues are now behind him.

"I feel good. Injuries are behind me and yeah, it was a tough period, but I think every athlete goes through that at some stage," he said. "And yeah, first impressions of Mauricio and his staff, they've been really good for me. They've embraced me, made me feel welcome. And the feedback I've got from the other players and stuff, they're great people and everyone's delighted to have them here, so it's all good."

Last season, Balogun was limited to just 13 league appearances, scoring four goals. He hasn't featured for the national team since the Copa America. He admits he will have to earn his spot back after being away.

"I mean, you can't do much if you're not in the field. But yeah, overall I do believe that now I'm in a good shape and in a good way," he said. "And yes, it's something I've been doing all my career, fighting for my position and fighting to get in teams. So I believe that's a balance that comes more naturally to me."

Getty Images SportWHAT BALOGUN SAID

Balogun said he's trying not to overthink and be intuitive on the pitch.

"I think it's important to make an impression, but yeah, of course that's part of the psychology to not overdo it because things will just become more complicated," Balogun said. "The harder you try, sometimes the more difficult it is. When I wasn't getting called into camp, obviously, I knew the priority for me was to be healthy.

"I think everybody's playing football at a high level as athletes and as footballers. As attackers especially, it's our job to look for creativity and to look for different ways to break down the offenses. So for sure, I don't think it'll take too long and I'm looking forward to playing with everyone."

DID YOU KNOW?

Balogun last scored for the U.S. in a 2-1 loss to Panama in the Copa America. His first goal came in a 2-0 win over Canada in 2023.

The January transfer window will be dominated by talk of a new striker arriving at Arsenal but with money tight it feels unlikely a concrete move will be made.

The Gunners have lined up the likes of Ivan Toney and Borja Mayoral as potential options but Getafe are unwilling to sell the latter and the former boasts an eye-watering £100m valuation.

A midfielder could also be sourced as Edu Gaspar and Co look to boost their chances of winning the title, but again it may well take a mega-money move in order to get something over the line.

Arsenal's hunt for a midfielder

Amadou Onana has been the most prominent midfielder on the lips of Arsenal supporters so far this month with reports claiming a marquee £60m move could be made for the Everton star.

However, another name that keeps cropping up is that of Fulham's tackling machine, Joao Palhinha.

The Portuguese very nearly sealed a move to Bayern Munich over the summer and it was anticipated that the Bundesliga giants would come back for him this month.

However, there has been a twist in the tale. According to Fabrizio Romano, Bayern have now backed away from a move. He told Caught Offside: "Bayern are clear – they have no intention to pay €75-80m (£64m-£69m) for Palhinha, and that is what Fulham want for the Portuguese midfielder after he signed a new deal in the summer. Nothing is happening in January for Palhinha to Bayern."

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

As TEAMtalk suggest, Arsenal have been interested in the player and this news now indicates that if they want to sign the midfielder, they are now in a prime position to do so with competition dwindling.

How Joao Palhinha compares to Declan Rice

The £105m acquisition of Declan Rice in the summer was rather remarkable. Arsenal wanted their man and in doing so beat title rivals Manchester City to their prized acquisition.

Since signing for the Gunners he has been nothing short of sensational, marrying defensive solidity with the ability to score vital goals. Already this season the former West Ham man has scored last gasp strikes against Manchester United and Luton Town, while also finding the net against Chelsea. He is a big player for very big moments.

Yet, in Palhinha, they could acquire a player capable of setting Rice free. For all of the good the England international does further back, he is being restricted somewhat.

Indeed, his ability to carry the ball – ranking in the best 19% of midfielders in Europe for progressive carries – is unmatched by many central players on the continent. Palhinha lacks that, however, meaning Rice could play in an advanced role with less defensive discipline being required.

But why is the Portuguese best suited to playing further back? Well, the "tackle monster", as he was described by The Telegraph's Sam Dean, actually outperformed Arsenal's record-signing defensively last term.

Expected Goals (xG)

0.08

0.07

Shots

1.13

0.96

Attempted Tackles

4.29

2.17

Tackles Won

2.41

1.04

Blocks

1.39

1.24

Interceptions

1.33

1.73

Tackles + Interceptions

5.62

3.90

Aerial Duels Won

2.06

1.02

Rice happens to trump Palhinha considerably for progressive carries and passes but when it comes to winning tackles, breaking up the play and winning aerial battles, there aren't many better than the Fulham star in this capacity.

You only need to cite his performance against the Gunners a few weeks ago to understand just how destructive he is in the middle of the park. During that contest the 28-year-old won five of his ground duels, including two tackles and two interceptions.

Minutes Played

90

Pass Success Rate

30/36 (83%)

Key Passes

1

Dribble Success

1/2

Duels Won

8/12

Tackles

2

Interceptions

2

Clearances

2

Blocked Shots

1

On the surface, signing the Portugal international might not be the utmost priority for Arsenal this year. We all know how much difference a striker would make to this team. However, a pairing of Rice and Palhinha is just salivating and would make Arsenal's midfield nearly impossible to bypass.

Harvey Elliott is reportedly more likely to stay at Liverpool this summer despite seemingly being on the brink of an RB Leipzig transfer.

Elliott looked set to leave LiverpoolAgreed personal terms with RB LeizpigCould stay at Anfield after allFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to The Daily Mail, Elliott could remain at Liverpool, until January at the very least, as none of his suitors have put any significant offers on the table for the £40 million-rated ($54m) player. Head coach Arne Slot does not have a huge amount of attacking depth, so the 22-year-old could stay after all.

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Elliott admitted he may have to leave Liverpool this summer if their new signings "blocked his path" to the first-team. Just last week, the England Under-21 international reportedly agreed personal terms with Leipzig as an Anfield exit beckoned. But with days left of the transfer window, the German side, Crystal Palace, and Brighton have not tempted Liverpool to part ways with the youngster.

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The attacking midfielder, whose Liverpool contract runs until 2027, has scored 15 goals and added 21 assists in 149 games for the Reds so far. This season, he came off the bench in second-half stoppage time in his team's 3-2 win at Newcastle United on Monday, but that is his sole outing so far.

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Elliott, who has also played in central midfield and on both wings for Liverpool, is running out of time to seal a permanent exit or loan move. The transfer window shuts on September 1, so he does not have long to get his ducks in a row.