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Celtic needed two late goals in stoppage time to secure a 3-1 win over Motherwell at Fir Park in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon.

Brendan Rodgers brought Norwich City loanee Adam Idah on for Kyogo Furuhashi at half-time and the Ireland international scored twice put the Hoops in front, having been 1-0 down.

The 23-year-old marksman has already scored four goals in four league appearances for the club, and appears to be on course to become one of the manager's best signings of the season.

Most of the boss' key players – including Matt O'Riley, Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Kyogo Furuhashi – were brought to the club by his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian tactician rarely missed in the transfer market with some fantastic signings in his two years at the club, with O'Riley, Kyogo, and Jota among the most impressive moves.

However, Postecoglou did not always get it right and Argentine left-back Alexandro Bernabei is one example of that, as the flop has endured a tough time in Glasgow and is worse than current first-choice Greg Taylor.

How much Celtic paid for Alexandro Bernabei

The Scottish giants swooped to sign the defender from Lanus, in his home country, for a fee within the region of £3.75m in the summer of 2022.

Upon signing for the Hoops, Bernabei revealed that the manager had faith in him and his ability to adapt to life in Scotland quickly to make an impact on the pitch.

It was a significant fee to pay for a young left-back, particularly when you consider that the club paid £3m to sign Taylor from Kilmarnock back in 2019, who had yet to reach 100 first-team appearances.

The Argentina U23 international had played 88 senior games for Lanus prior to Celtic deciding that they wanted to bring him over to the Premiership.

He had established himself as a regular starter for his former club in the Liga Profesional during the 2021 campaign, though, with 23 league starts that year.

As you can see in the table above, there were some warning signs for Celtic in his performances in his home country as opposition players found it a little bit too easy to get the better of him at times.

He was dribbled past 1.4 times per game and lost more than half of his physical duels across those 24 league outings throughout the 2021 season.

These statistics did not suggest that Bernabei was set to make a huge impact at the top end of the pitch as an attacking left-back, with a lack of goals and assists, or that he would be able to deal with the physicality of Scottish football.

Of course, the young full-back was signed at the age of 21 and Postecoglou may have viewed him as a long-term signing who could develop his game in and out of possession.

Alexandro Bernabei's Celtic career in numbers

It has not gone to plan for the now-23-year-old defender, though, as he has struggled badly in the Premiership and failed to establish himself as a regular option for either of his managers.

Postecoglou handed him 15 appearances and nine starts in the Scottish top-flight during the 2022/23 campaign as Taylor retained his place as the first-choice at left-back.

The Argentine dynamo did provide an attacking threat down the left flank with one goal and three assists in those nine league outings, which is a return of one assist every three starts on average.

However, Bernabei struggled out of possession as he failed to step up to the level of physicality required of a left-back in the Scottish league.

The 23-year-old dud lost 60% of his duels, including 63% of his battles on the deck, in his 15 Premiership appearances, which shows that opposition players found it far too easy to get the better of him.

He was also dribbled past 14 times and gave away a penalty in those nine starts as the young flop failed to provide a solid defensive presence at the back for Postecoglou.

As you can see in the table above, Bernabei has also struggled to find his top form under Rodgers in the Premiership so far during the 2023/24 campaign.

The Argentine defender, who was recently criticised for his "weak" defensive work by ex-Hoops full-back Mark Wilson, has not offered much in an attacking sense and has still been poor off the ball as the opposition have got the better of him too easily.

Put simply, Postecoglou endured a rare transfer howler by signing him as he cost more than £750k more than Taylor, yet is worse than the Scotland international.

Greg Taylor's season in numbers

The former Kilmarnock star has been the first-choice option for Rodgers in the number three position and been an excellent performer for the Hoops.

Only Luis Palma (12) has created more 'big chances' for their teammates than Taylor (eight) in the Premiership so far this season, which highlights the impressive work the Scottish ace has done at the top end of the pitch.

The 26-year-old whiz, who has scored two goals, has produced 1.9 key passes per game and produced the assist for Idah's equaliser against Motherwell on Sunday with an excellent left-footed cross.

Defensively, Taylor has only been dribbled past 19 times in 24 league starts, which is less than once per start on average. Whereas, Bernabei has been dribbled past 19 times in 12 starts since the start of last season in the top-flight.

He has also won 54% of his duels on the ground in the Premiership this term, which shows that the current first-choice left-back can hold his own on the deck and deal with the physicality of the division.

Therefore, Taylor is a better option for Rodgers than Bernabei as opponents find it harder to dribble past him, win a lower percentage of their duels against him, and the Scottish gem has the quality to offer more in possession.

Therefore, Postecoglou had a howler with the signing of the Argentine dud as he cost more than the Scotland international, despite currently being worse than the ex-Killie ace.

AC Milan and Spain striker Alvaro Morata has explained the reasons for his 'painful' split from wife Alica Campello after seven years of marriage.

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• Couple tied the knot in 2017
• Has spent time in Italy, Spain & England
• Decision taken to go separate ways

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite supporting one another during a triumphant Euro 2024 campaign – which saw Morata lift the trophy as captain of his country – and holiday together at the end of that tournament in Germany, the pair have announced that they have taken the "painful decision" to go their separate ways.

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• THE GOSSIP

  Campello has revealed that post-partum depression, following the birth of their fourth child, was partly responsible for the split. She also admitted that regular uprooting of family life – with Morata taking in spells at Real Madrid, Chelsea, Juventus and Atletico Madrid before joining Milan – was also difficult to handle.

• AFP
  

  WHAT MORATA SAID

  Morata claims that was the main reason for the separation, as his career takes him back to Italy, with the 31-year-old also responding to the infidelity rumours that both he and Campello have been eager to quash. Morata told : “I am devastated, but I swear that I never cheated on her. She’s the most important woman of my life. I am tired of people saying that I was unfaithful to Alice and I didn't even go to the national team party so that this type of rumour wouldn't arise. Since then I haven't spoken to anyone out of respect for her and so that this type of news doesn't arise.”

  He added: “Alice wanted to stay in Spain and didn’t want to move again. Despite different views, we still have an excellent rapport for the well-being of our four children. There won’t be any second thoughts.”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Morata tied the knot with Italian model Campello in 2017, having started their relationship during his first spell with Juventus in 2014-15. He has now returned to Serie A, but has seen his young family remain in Spain.

West Ham United will host Arsenal in the Premier League this afternoon with the knowledge that failing to secure victory extends a winless run in all competitions to seven matches, but the squad are still in a good position.

Seventh in the Premier League and preparing for the last 16 in the Europa League, the Irons will be confident that they can cause an upset, having opened brightly against Manchester United last time out before being brushed aside after failing to convert chances.

Moreover, David Moyes' previous triumph was against the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium, and he will be eager to bag his third win of the season against his London rivals, sweeping into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a comprehensive 3-1 win back in November.

It would certainly hand Moyes some respite from the recent issues, stemming the stream of poor results that threaten United's hold on European contention – both Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United could leapfrog into seventh place, should results favour West Ham's rivals this weekend.

Against Arsenal, Moyes will be confident that his side can produce the performance that could serve as a launchpad for the closing stretch of the campaign, though he will have to do so without one of his most influential players.

West Ham team news vs Arsenal

Lucas Paqueta remains several weeks away from a return and is followed by the brooding cloud of a betting investigation that will reach its conclusion, whatever that may be, sooner rather than later.

In more positive news, veteran talisman Michail Antonio has returned to first-team training following a knee injury but will not be available for this weekend's contest.

Alphonse Areola was withdrawn at Old Trafford at half-time as a precaution but the Premier League's best stop-stopper this season should start between the sticks against Arsenal.

Kalvin Phillips could nullify Declan Rice

The majority of the team selection should be pretty straightforward, with an unchanged backline and Ben Johnson filling in at wide midfield to accommodate Mohammed Kudus' shift to the left flank, but one change that must be made is the return of Kalvin Phillips to the starting line-up.

West Ham signed the England international from Manchester City last month on a loan deal until the end of the season, having made just three starts in the top flight after signing for Pep Guardiola's side from Leeds United in a £45m deal in July 2022.

Phillips, aged 28, will be determined to ensure that this tough period does not define him but he certainly failed to hit the ground running in east London to turn the narrative on its head, making a couple of mistakes across the opening fixtures of his Irons career.

Nonetheless, Phillips is a proven Premier League star and has been hailed as a "monster" by former Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie in the past.

The 5 foot 9 Phillips ranks among the top 2% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and passes attempted and the top 16% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref, with his elite crispness in possession essential as West Ham look to transition into attacking sequences effectively.

Furthermore, the 5 foot 9 star must be introduced from the opening against Arsenal to ensure that West Ham find success in the key central battle, particularly nullifying the shining qualities of Declan Rice, who Moyes knows a thing or two about.

Arsenal signed Rice from the London Stadium for £105m back in the summer and he has been the catalyst for Mikel Arteta's title-chasers this season, posting three goals and two assists over 23 Premier League matches, completing 91% of his passes, averaging 1.4 interceptions, 2.2 tackles, 5.1 ball recoveries and 4.3 successful duels per game.

The 25-year-old also ranks among the top 18% of midfielders for goals scored, the top 14% for pass completion and passes attempted, the top 9% for progressive passes, the top 20% for progressive carries and the top 10% for interceptions per 90.

He is absolutely sublime, but then West Ham supporters already know that, with the £240k-per-week phenom having completed 245 appearances for the club and winning the Europa Conference League before making the move to north London.

That said, he's not infallible and Phillips has the combative style to ensure that the Irons secure a galvanising victory to end this bleak spell that has seen an untimely exit from the FA Cup (by the hand of Championship team Bristol City) and has allowed the likes of Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur to create a gap in their own endeavours.

For example, Phillips was in scintillating form when Leeds returned to the Premier League in 2020/21, his mixture of ball-playing skills and industriousness in his defensive duties supercharging Marcelo Bielsa's system.

Indeed, as per Sofascore, the England international completed 85% of his passes in the Premier League during that campaign, averaging 1.3 key passes, 2.6 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 5.3 successful duels per game, also succeeding with 63% of his dribbles.

This talent has not dissipated; it's just dormant. And should he call upon the strengths that served him so well at Elland Road, attracting Manchester City's attention and instigating the lucrative, if inauspicious, transfer, then he could be the star man on a massive afternoon for West Ham.

It's not been the best of starts but then Phillips has languished on the fringe for some time now and will only improve and rekindle his best traits with regular minutes.

He has to start, especially given the importance of negating Rice's command in the engine room.

After winning the Europa Conference League last season, West Ham United were expected to be challenging for Europa League spots by the end of the current campaign.

At the moment, the London-based club currently find themselves residing in seventh-place, just two points behind Manchester United.

This is a massive upheaval in form as, last season, despite winning a European trophy, The Hammers only survived relegation to the Championship by six points.

In order to try and cement their Premier League status during the 2023/24 season, David Moyes sanctioned a massive overhaul of his squad, which included selling academy graduate, Declan Rice to Arsenal for a fee worth around £105m.

This massive injection of money allowed West Ham to spend around £117m to bolster their team. The summer transfer window included the likes of Mohamed Kudus and James Ward-Prowse joining the club for fees worth over £30m.

However, after the season got started following the end of the summer transfer window, it felt as if something was missing from Moyes' squad.

That is despite Ward-Prowse proving that his transfer fee of £30m was an absolute steal. The former Southampton man has managed to contribute to a total of 15 goals across all competitions thus far.

Despite the midfielder exceeding what was expected of him following last season's 16 goal contributions for Southampton, the centre of West Ham's team seemed to lack stability and needed somebody to come in and help Edson Alvarez with the defensive-midfield duties.

So, in the January transfer window, Moyes struck a deal with Manchester City and gained the services of Kalvin Phillips on loan until the end of the season.

How Kalvin Phillips has performed at his new club

Despite Phillips' addition being a statement signing for the Hammers, his move to the London-based club has left a lot to be desired so far.

During his debut for the club, he was taken off in the 68th minute after making an error which allowed Bournemouth to capitalise and score their only goal of the game.

His second game for West Ham came against Manchester United, where he was only brought on in the 72nd minute. Despite coming on late into the second half, Phillips was once again at fault when he lost the ball in the centre of the park as Alejandro Garnacho eventually scored.

These errors that the defensive-midfielder has made could've potentially been avoided if Moyes had decided to entrust academy graduate, Lewis Orford.

The youngster signed his first professional deal with West Ham last February and has been in stellar form for the U21s this season but hasn't been seen in the first-team picture. Instead, a move for Phillips in January was preferred. He may well come good but those valuable minutes could have been handed to Orford.

Who is Lewis Orford?

Orford is a defensive midfielder who has been with West Ham since the age of five. The youngster's talents have been likened to that of Rice by The Guardian with his range of passing also being 'beyond his years.'

In a feature, writer John Brewin said: 'His height reminds of Rice and Carrick though he exhibits a greater turn of pace than either, with a range of passing beyond his years that has made him the Hammers’ U18 playmaker.'

The talented midfielder was also included in West Ham's first-team when they played against FCSB in the group stage of the Europa Conference League and has already been in the matchday squad on three occasions this term.

As the transfer of Phillips is yet to make a noticeable difference to West Ham's results, it could've been worthwhile for the club to have given the playing time to an academy player such as Orford instead.

As per Transfermarkt, Orford has played a total of 19 games this season for West Ham's youth setup and has contributed to eight goals. Perhaps not as defensive-minded as Phillips, it's clear he can play a pivotal part, notably in the final third.

Indeed, an extended run in the first team could've been highly beneficial for the youngsters' development and would've allowed Moyes to mould Orford into the player he desires.

The 31-year-old will replace Rashid Khan in the role

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Dec-2019Asghar Afghan has been reappointed captain of Afghanistan across all three formats, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has announced.Afghan, 31, will replace Rashid Khan, who was named captain across formats in July, after Afghanistan lost all their matches at the World Cup under Gulbadin Naib. Rashid will now become Afghan’s deputy.The ACB had wrested captaincy away from Afghan in May, two months out from the start of the World Cup, splitting the role among Naib (ODIs), Rashid (T20Is) and Rahmat Shah (Tests).The Afghanistan captaincy hot potato•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The decision to depose Afghan, who had taken over as captain after the 2015 World Cup, had met with criticism. High-profile players such as Mohammad Nabi and Rashid himself had publicly criticised the board’s decision. “With just months to go for such a mega event like World Cup, changing the captain will cause uncertainty and also team morale will be affected,” Rashid had said.Afghan is among the most experienced players in Afghanistan side, with 181 international appearances across formats, 104 of them as captain. Afghanistan played their inaugural Test match under him, against India in Bengaluru in June 2018.

David Ruiz admits that playing alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami has been “mind blowing”, with the Argentine icon making dreams come true.

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• All-time great moved to America in 2023
• Made an immediate impact in Florida
• Club colleagues delighted to have him around

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi took the decision to head for America in 2023 when reaching the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. A move to MLS had been speculated on prior to that, but his arrival in the United States still came as a surprise to many.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Plenty of those now occupy the same dressing room in Florida, with Ruiz prepared to admit that he never expected to be a club colleague of the all-time great. He has been now for over a year, with the 20-year-old Miami native thrilled to be working with the most decorated player in history.

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  WHAT RUIZ SAID

  Honduras international Ruiz has told Inter Miami’s when asked if he thought Messi would ever be his teammate: “No, I didn’t. I was just trying to break in with the first-team, and it was crazy, everything was going my way and then when Messi came in, it was mind blowing, I really didn’t expect that. I was a little kid watching him play, and now playing with him is a dream.”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Ruiz has been a regular again for Inter Miami this season, as they chase down MLS Cup and Leagues Cup glory, with the Herons looking for others to step up at present as talismanic captain Messi works his way back from an ankle injury picked up in the 2024 Copa America final.

Karl Etta Eyong has been backed for a potential transfer to Barcelona, with the Cameroonian coach Marc Brys praising the Levante striker’s qualities. Viewed as a possible replacement for Robert Lewandowski, Eyong has impressed in La Liga and is now attracting interest from top European clubs.

• Cameroon coach Brys highlights Eyong’s qualities

  The 22-year-old has quickly drawn attention across Europe since joining Levante in August. Under contract until 2029 with a €30 million (£26m/$34m) release clause, he has been earmarked by Barcelona as a potential long-term replacement for Lewandowski once the Pole’s contract expires next summer.

  Brys, the Cameroon national team coach who gave Eyong his senior debut with the Indomitable Lions, has spoken highly of the striker’s attitude and impact. Despite Levante’s current struggles near the bottom of La Liga, the striker has shown glimpses of the talent that has captured the attention of Europe’s elite, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Manchester United. His contract also involves complex clauses with Villarreal, which will add another layer to any potential negotiations.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Brys praises young striker's humility and work ethic

  Brys has been impressed not only by Etta Eyong’s talent but also by his professionalism and team-first mentality. In an interview with , he highlighted the striker’s character as a major reason for his rapid rise in both club and international football.

  "He's a very good player, Very modest and humble, which is a gift," said Brys. "He's not an egocentric striker; he plays for the team. I like that: he's hard-working, he draws attention so others can take advantage of the space. He played one game with us and did well, even though he didn't score. He was an important addition to the squad. He has a good heart, he's polite, and he has no negative attitude. That's what makes him special." 

  "He needs to continue developing, to integrate more fully, but he has the potential to score a lot of goals. He's already shown that, although he hasn't yet reached his full potential. We'd like to continue working with him because he can keep growing and go very far."

• Etta Eyong to follow Yamal’s path at Barcelona?

  When asked if Etta Eyong has the quality to play for Barca, Brys expressed confidence in the striker’s potential. He drew parallels to Lamine Yamal, highlighting how young players with the right attitude and talent can quickly become key figures at top clubs.

  "I think so, given his potential. There's always room for a new player on a team if they have the right qualities. Look at Lamine Yamal: a year ago, nobody thought he'd be playing for the first team, and now he's a key player. Etta has that potential too. He's dangerous, unpredictable, and can surprise anyone. And that's valuable for any top team."

  The Catalan giants see Etta Eyong as more than just a potential Lewandowski replacement. His work ethic, versatility, and ability to create opportunities for teammates make him an attractive long-term option. Meanwhile, other clubs have monitored his rise, but Levante are adamant that he will remain in Spain for this season to help the team avoid relegation.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Eye on transfers and Etta Eyong’s next steps

  As the 2025-26 season unfolds, all eyes will be on Etta Eyong’s development at Levante. While CSKA Moscow already submitted an offer that was immediately rejected, the Cameroonian striker’s dream remains a move to Barcelona, the club he grew up supporting.

  Negotiations for Etta Eyong will require careful consideration of both Levante and Villarreal’s financial interests, due to sell-on clauses and matching rights. Any potential deal will likely be structured around these conditions, ensuring all parties are compensated fairly. For now, Etta Eyong’s focus is on delivering consistent performances, helping Levante fight for La Liga survival, and positioning himself for a high-profile transfer next summer.

Assistant coach says England are building a batting unit to succeed on 2021-22 Ashes trip

George Dobell in Hamilton28-Nov-2019Paul Collingwood has backed Zak Crawley to succeed if he wins his chance in the second Test in Hamilton. Kent batsman Crawley was taken on tour largely to gain experience and so the England management could take a closer look at him, but an injury to Jos Buttler the day before the second Test might well have created an early opportunity for an unexpected debut against New Zealand.”Technically he looks very strong,” Collingwood, who is one of England’s assistant coaches, said of Crawley. “He’s willing to learn all the time. He’s been brilliant in the conversations that we’ve had in the nets. He’s always questioning things and that’s what you want.”He’s good fun, he’s a good athlete in the field as well, so he ticks a lot of the right boxes. He looks very good. But you never know until you get in the pressure of a Test match situation. The signs are really good, though.”ALSO READ: NZ depth ‘definitely the best’ it’s been in my career – TaylorCrawley has impressed the England management on this tour. As well as scoring a century in his one opportunity to bat in a match situation, he has also looked comfortable in the nets and impressed with his agility and fitness in fielding sessions.Notably, the two centuries Crawley scored during the 2019 County Championship season were against attacks containing fast bowlers. He made 111 against a Nottinghamshire side which included James Pattinson – nobody else in Kent’s top six made it to double-figures – and 108 against a Warwickshire side containing Ryan Sidebottom and Henry Brookes. And it is ability to play the short ball which is one of the areas that has impressed Collingwood.”Certainly, anything from waist height upwards he looks to be able to handle,” Collingwood said. “And playing short pitched bowling is crucial in these conditions. He times the ball really well, too; he hits the ball hard for a big lad.”By a “big lad” Collingwood certainly does not mean that Crawley is carrying an excess weight. Far from it. Instead he stands at 6ft 5in and looks as fit as anyone in the squad, with the possible exception of Ben Stokes. At training on Wednesday, it appeared as if he deliberately slowed down not to embarrass his captain, Joe Root, who had joined him on multiple circuits of the boundary.Zak Crawley could be in line to make his England debut•Getty Images

Crawley is still very much at the developmental stage of his career, though. He is just 21 and, as his first-class batting average of 31.27 illustrates, he is still learning his game. Having played a great deal on the seamer-friendly surfaces at Canterbury, however, those figures are not, perhaps, quite as modest as they seem.Collingwood is equally optimistic about the prospects for the rest of this side’s batsmen. As a member of the team that won the Ashes in Australia in 2010-11, he thinks he knows what it would take to repeat that result, saying that scoreboard pressure is a vital ingredient.”I’m very confident that this batting unit, over time, is going to score a lot of runs,” Collingwood said. “I think the mentality of it, the way the guys are working, it feels as though we’ve got the right kind of personnel to score big runs.”We know what Australia are going to do to us. They’re going to batter us with 90mph bowlers and make us feel uncomfortable with a spinner at the other end who will dry us up. But when we won there in 2010-11, we scored a lot of runs and then you’ve got scoreboard pressure.”The other challenge is to get those 20 wickets. And that seems to be increasingly difficult. Sides now generally have longer batting orders and the Kookaburra ball can prove difficult to take wickets with. The old school top-of-off with a Dukes ball back in the England doesn’t necessarily work over here. We’ve found ways at times but if you look at history we haven’t really consistently found a formula or a solution.”But we have to find a way. You can see that New Zealand have a strategy that has worked over time: you’re going to get swing bowlers up front, then Colin de Grandhomme and then Wagner to bounce the living daylights out of you. It’s a system that works for them and it’s our challenge to produce the skills out of our bowlers that work on in these conditions with this ball.”You look back and see what we were doing well [in 2010-11], and everyone refers back to pace, but we didn’t have much pace actually. It was more down to accuracy – ‘bowling dry’ as we called it – and it was almost playing on their ego, because they wanted to score runs, because it was the Australian way.”But teams, even Australia, don’t really play with ego any more. They’re very patient. Steve Smith shows that. So you might need a different type of bowler with some extra pace.”

Glasgow Rangers have finally confirmed their second signing of the January transfer window, as midfielder Mohammed Diomande arrives from Danish club FC Nordsjaelland on an initial loan deal until the end of the season with an obligation to buy.

Following the signing of Fabio Silva on a loan move towards the end of 2023, the Ibrox faithful have been made to wait for the next signing, yet this deal has eclipsed expectations.

Philippe Clement is certainly asserting his authority and, alongside director of football recruitment Nils Koppen, the duo are tapping into areas that previous managers largely neglected.

With just six days left until deadline day, the Belgian manager may be keen to add another player or two to his squad in order to bolster his options, especially as the schedule could get hectic in the coming weeks.

With this in mind, could he potentially secure a deal for another midfielder this month? As a talented young Croatian is reportedly being monitored.

Rangers search for new signings

The deal to bring Diomande to Ibrox shows just how much Clement is thinking of the future, as he is just 22 years old and could potentially turn into a wonderful player.

His arrival also signifies the need for establishing a proper player-trading model, as the Ivorian could net the Gers a major profit should he develop and then move on from the club in the next few years.

According to Football Scotland earlier this month, the Light Blues are showing interest in Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Marko Bulat as they could face a few midfielders potentially departing this summer.

John Lundstram and Ryan Jack are both out of contract at the end of the season and there has been no news with regard to possible extensions for the pair as yet.

While a move for Bulat may not occur during the current transfer window, especially with the Croatian club valuing him at around the £5m mark, he could potentially be a player Clement is eyeing up for a summer transfer.

Koppen has sent scouts to keep an eye on the player amid the interest and shopping in this type of market showcases their willingness to find young talent from abroad who could develop into excellent players in Scotland.

The 22-year-old could be an ideal signing ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, but much will depend on whether Rangers can win the Premiership title and give themselves a chance at securing a return to the Champions League.

If Bulat is a realistic signing, the youngster could form an ideal midfield partnership alongside Diomande.

The stats that show why Marko Bulat and Mohammed Diomande could work well together

Diomande will come into the Gers side with high expectations, especially following Clement’s recent praise.

The manager said of his new signing: “He is one of the biggest prospects in Scandinavia… so there were a lot of teams interested in him”

The move shows how much faith the board have in the 49-year-old and Diomande could emerge as one of the finest players in Scotland.

Diomande is capable of playing both deep and slightly further forward depending on the system being used, but if he was paired with Bulat, he could potentially be utilised in a slightly more advanced role due to his eye for goal, having scored 13 times for his club prior to joining Rangers.

Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson claimed that the Ivorian is “A very strong ball carrier and forward-thinking passer, he’s exactly the type of player Rangers could be doing with in the midfield.”

Add to the fact he has averaged 1.1 key passes per game, has created three big chances, and has taken 1.1 shots per game, clearly showcasing his attacking talents from the heart of the midfield.

Bulat, on the other hand, provides a more defensive stability to the midfield, evidenced by the fact he has won 57% of his total duels per game this term for Zagreb, along with being dribbled past just 0.3 times per game and recovering two balls per game, clearly demonstrating how effective he is defensively in the middle of the pitch.

This partnership could be the future for Rangers over the coming years if Clement was able to pull off a major coup and sign the youngster.

Marko Bulat would be an excellent signing for Rangers

The midfielder has certainly upped the ante this term with regard to goal contributions, already scoring five times and chipping in with two assists, which is an improvement on last season’s tally of just two assists, and it suggests he has improved his attacking abilities.

Along with his aforementioned defensive skillset, Bulat is swiftly emerging as a complete all-round midfielder and this could benefit Clement, who will be looking for more dynamic players to come into his squad.

Watson also spent time analysing the Croatian gem for the Rangers Journal and even likened him to a former Barcelona superstar, saying:

“From watching Bulat and looking at the numbers, he reminds me of a young Ivan Rakitić. He’s a box-to-box midfielder who is a very capable defender and a goal scoring threat.

“Technically gifted and intelligent in and out of possession, hence the Rakitić comparison.”

Now imagine a duo of Bulat dropping deeper and protecting the back four, while also being able to spring forward and provide an attacking threat if required, alongside the dynamism and creativity of Diomande.

It has all the makings of a perfect midfield partnership which the club have been missing over the years, and it could allow Clement to form a solid backbone in his side.

Of course, money does not grow in trees and money will have to be recouped via player sales in the summer, but the Belgian boss must go all out and land Bulat in the coming months, otherwise it could be another case of what if.

The Gers have missed out on so many players who have gone on to bigger and better things over the previous few years and this needs to change if they are to return to the top of Scottish football.

Villarreal boss Marcelino insists Thomas Partey is 'mentally prepared' to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Tuesday, just 24 hours before the midfielder appears in court over multiple rape charges. The former Arsenal star denies all allegations but will line up against his old rivals in north London before attending his plea hearing at Southwark Crown Court.

• Partey to appear in court after Champions League clash with Spurs

  Partey was charged in July with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to alleged incidents between 2021 and 2022 while he was at Arsenal. He joined Villarreal on a free transfer in August and has already featured in all four of their Liga matches this season. On Wednesday, the Ghanaian will face a plea hearing in London after travelling with Villarreal for their European clash.

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  Marcelino says Partey 'mentally prepared' to face Spurs

  Speaking on Monday, Marcelino backed the midfielder to perform against Spurs: “He (Partey) is with the group. I’m totally convinced that he is mentally prepared, technically prepared, to play the game tomorrow night. For sure, he’ll be ready.

  He added: “We are really happy that Thomas is with us for his football capacity and ability, and his presence as a human. He’s a great player with lots of experience… I think he will get back to his top level which we all know that he’s got and I’m very happy he’s with us in the team.”

• AFP
  

  Partey's rape charges from time with Arsenal

  The five rape charges relate to alleged incidents between April 2021 and June 2022, while Partey was still at Arsenal. The sexual assault charge involves an incident alleged to have taken place in February 2022. Partey has been granted conditional bail, which requires him to inform police of international travel and prohibits any contact with the complainants.

• Villarreal aware of rape charge before signing Partey

  Villarreal signed Partey knowing he was under investigation, stressing their respect for the presumption of innocence. The Spanish side have leaned on his top-level experience as they begin their Champions League campaign. His ongoing legal battle, however, threatens to overshadow his contribution on the pitch.