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In pursuit of further reinforcements in the January transfer window, Liverpool now reportedly want to jump ahead of rivals Manchester United in the race to sign a defensive addition.

Liverpool transfer news

After a quiet summer that saw just Giorgi Mamardashvili and Federico Chiesa arrive, with the former sent straight back on loan to Valencia, Liverpool have turned their attention towards what could be a far busier winter window. What has, of course, helped the Reds to shift their focus so quickly is the strong start that Arne Slot has made to life at Anfield.

100% aerials won: 8/10 Liverpool star is now as undroppable as Gravenberch

Arne Slot’s side climbed to the top of the Premier League on Saturday…

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 22, 2024

The Dutchman has lost just one game so far, which came in shock fashion at home to Nottingham Forest before his side put things right with a midweek victory against AC Milan in the Champions League followed by a routine afternoon against Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Not resting on their laurels though, the Reds reportedly want to sign both a defensive midfielder and a left-back to provide cover for Andy Robertson in 2025, which could see one target arrive.

According to reports relayed by The Express, Liverpool now want to jump ahead of Manchester United to sign Antonee Robinson in a heavyweight battle which could commence as early as the January transfer window.

Looking to land a potential successor for 30-year-old Robertson, Liverpool would be wise to welcome 27-year-old Robinson, who has picked up where he left off in the last campaign to endure an excellent start to the new season at Fulham.

If not replacing Robertson, the Reds could look to land a backup option, perhaps replacing Kostas Tsimikas in the process, Robinson represents an ideal candidate to turn towards.

"Great" Robinson can replace Robertson

To say that Robertson is one the best left-backs that the Premier League has ever seen would be no exaggeration, as time will likely tell, so replacing the Scotland captain will be no easy task. Of course, at 30 years old, he won’t be ready to step aside just yet, but Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes could take advantage of the opportunity to sign Robinson before he heads the way of Old Trafford.

Starts

5

5

Assists

2

0

Progressive Carries

6

10

Ball Recoveries

16

22

Whilst Robertson remains on top when it comes to his all-round play, Robinson’s two assists in five games highlight that he’d have no trouble in slotting straight into the way of Liverpool full-backs on the opposite side to chief creator Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Fulham boss Marco Silva won’t exactly be keen to lose the American, however, having said via The Express last month: “The way he started last week [vs Man United], he’s a great athlete. He’s a crucial player for us.

“If he keeps improving then it will be another big season ahead for him. A great assist, great decision to do it first time for Iwobi. He has to really like his performance.”

The international break can either bring a player's form to a complete standstill or hand it another major boost ahead of their return to domestic action. For one Liverpool star, in particular, the latter has certainly been the case.

Liverpool's flying start under Arne Slot

The Reds couldn't have asked for a better start under new boss Arne Slot, who has the near-impossible task of replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. The Dutchman is not attempting to simply replicate the Liverpool legend, however. He arrives his own man with his own techniques. Gone are the fist bumps, replaced instead by the more reserved thumbs up, job done attitude of Slot.

Liverpool "machine" who was sold by Klopp outscored Diaz & Nunez in 23/24

He’s a Premier League icon…

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 10, 2024

More classical than heavy metal thus far, Slot's side have been as stylish as the Premier League gets, winning three from three without conceding once in a run that includes a stunning 3-0 mauling of Manchester United at Old Trafford. Even without Klopp, things quite clearly haven't changed all too much when it comes to the modern history of that rivalry.

Alas, Old Trafford victory aside, what has been most impressive is how Slot has transformed Ryan Gravenberch into the defensive midfielder that he was craving at the heart of his Liverpool side. The Dutchman has stepped up for his club and more recently for his country to win over a harsh critic in Rafael van der Vaart.

Van der Vaart's praise for Gravenberch

As the Netherlands held Germany to an entertaining 2-2 draw courtesy of goals from Denzel Dumfries and Tijjani Reijnders, it was one particular pass from Gravenberch that caught the eye of Van der Vaart. The Liverpool man unleashed a stunning half-volleyed pass into the path of Xavi Simons, who failed to convert to hand his teammate what would have been the ultimate assist.

Earning the praise of Van der Vaart, the former Tottenham Hotspur star said via The European Lad: "That pass by Ryan Gravenberch. I actually wanted to go home after he gave that pass because it ain't going to get any more beautiful than that."

The former Bayern Munich man may have finally discovered his best form after a difficult few seasons, and that could leave Ronald Koeman with no choice but to hand him a permanent place in his Dutch side. Of course, the ex-Everton boss didn't hand Gravenberch a single minute at Euro 2024 in a move that he may now be regretting.

The task for Gravenberch is now to pick up where he left off for Liverpool. As things stand, he's set to save the Reds from spending what could likely be over £50m on a defensive midfield solution by handing Slot the perfect option. With Nottingham Forest up next, Liverpool, Slot and Gravenberch have the chance to make it four from four in the Premier League.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly a big admirer of one Gunners talent who's yet to make his senior debut, and he could now feature in their looming north London derby clash at Tottenham when the Premier League resumes.

Tottenham vs Arsenal team news

Following their 1-1 draw with Brighton at the Emirates Stadium last weekend, Arteta will be desperate to come away from N17 with nothing but all three points, as they look to finally beat Man City to the title this campaign.

Arteta plotting new Arsenal role for Havertz which will impact Sterling

The Spaniard is gearing up for a mouth-watering clash against Tottenham.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 5, 2024

Arsenal came close to ursurping City last season, accumulating 89 points, but that still wasn't enough to loosen Pep Guardiola's stranglehold on a division which City have won in the last four consecutive campaigns – a national record.

The Sky Blues have won all three of their opening league games in convincing displays, while Arsenal already dropped their first points of the new campaign against Brighton, with striker Joao Pedro cancelling out Kai Havertz's expertly taken lobbed finish.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

A much more pressing concern for Arsenal ahead of their mouth-watering battle with Tottenham is the absence of star midfielder Declan Rice, who was controversially sent off for two bookable offences against Brighton, and thus suspended for their next game.

Meanwhile, summer signing Mikel Merino is also set to miss Arsenal's clash against Spurs, with the Spaniard out for nearly two months after fracturing his shoulder in training at London Colney.

Merino and Rice join versatile defender Takehiro Tomiyasu on the sidelines, who is also a serious doubt for the Tottenham game, and no return date is confirmed yet for the Japan international after he injured his knee in pre-season.

Tottenham have concerns as well, with Richarlison, Micky van de Ven and marquee summer signing Dominic Solanke missing their 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United last weekend.

The absences of Merino and Rice leave Arsenal quite short of options in the middle, and it is believed Arteta is plotting to drop Havertz into midfield so Raheem Sterling can play a false-nine role against Spurs.

Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand could make Arsenal debut at Tottenham

According to GiveMeSport, this midfield shortage could provide a breakthrough opportunity for promising young midfielder Salah-Eddine Oulad M'hand.

Ouland M'hand has been tipped to become Arsenal's next Jorginho, and the 21-year-old was named in Arteta's matchday squad to face Brighton. It is believed that Arteta is a real admirer of Ouland-M'hand's personal belief in his own ability, with the midfielder desperate to become one of the Premier League's next rising stars.

The Dutchman has impressed in the Gunners academy, scoring six goals and bagging a further four assists in 26 appearances for Arsenal's Under-21s.

His exploits and confidence behind-the-scenes mean Ouland M'hand could be handed his senior Arsenal debut against Tottenham, as per GMS, with the former Feyenoord academy gem also impressing in pre-season.

Ipswich Town look set to add to their squad once again this summer after agreeing another deal to sign an exciting attacker.

It has been a very busy summer for the Tractor Boys, as Kieran McKenna and the club’s board have done everything they can to give Ipswich the best chance of remaining in the Premier League. Their campaign didn’t get off to the best of starts as they were beaten by Liverpool last weekend, and it may not get much better as they travel to face Manchester City this weekend.

However, McKenna and Ipswich will be keen to enjoy the ride, and they know their chances of staying in the Premier League are not going to rest on whether they beat the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

Sky Sports: Ipswich Town now also make £15m bid to sign "unplayable" star

Kieran McKenna’s side are making a statement this summer.

ByBen Browning Aug 22, 2024 Ipswich transfer news

Given that Ipswich were in League One two seasons ago, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise to see the club making several changes to their playing squad as they try to be equipped for the season ahead. McKenna’s side have been excellent in the last few seasons, dominating League One and then the Championship, but the Ipswich boss will know that more quality and experience are needed if they are to survive in the top flight.

Therefore, the club has been busy getting new players through the door, with them so far signing nine players in this transfer window. Some of those additions include Omari Hutchinson, Liam Delap, Jacob Greaves, Sammie Szmodics, and Kalvin Phillips.

Omari Hutchinson

Chelsea

Jacob Greaves

Hull City

Liam Delap

Manchester City

Arijanet Muric

Burnley

Conor Townsend

West Brom

Ben Johnson

West Ham

Kalvin Phillips

Man City (Loan)

Sammie Szmodics

Blackburn Rovers

Jens Cajuste

Napoli (Loan)

However, they are not stopping there, as Ipswich have agreed to sign Chelsea striker Armando Broja, as reported earlier this week. The forward is considered unwanted at Stamford Bridge and has been training with the club’s under-21s. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Fulham, but it wasn’t considered a successful loan spell.

The forward is now set to arrive at Portman Road on a season-long loan deal, with Ipswich having an obligation to sign Broja for £30 million, should they not be relegated to the Championship. But as well as bringing Broja to the club, Ipswich could also be bringing in another exciting attacking player.

Ipswich Town set to sign Jack Clarke

According to the reliable Fabrizio Romano, Ipswich have also agreed a deal which will see them sign Sunderland winger Jack Clarke. The Italian transfer expert states that the deal is now at the “here we go” stage, with the fee said to be worth around £20 million.

Romano goes on to add that Sunderland have secured a sell-on clause as part of the deal that will see Clarke move to Portman Road. The 23-year-old has been with the Black Cats on a permanent basis since July 2022, joining from Tottenham Hotspur, but he also spent the second half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light.

Clarke has played 114 times for the Championship side, during which he has scored 28 goals and assisted 23 more. He has already played twice for the club this season in the league and has scored one goal as well as grabbing a single assist.

The winger has received many plaudits during his time playing in the Championship, with Adrian Clarke the latest to describe the player as "unplayable" on the What the EFL?! Podcast.

Liverpool are "speeding things up" in regard to signing Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram this summer, according to reliable journalist Rudy Galetti.

Is Thuram likely to join Liverpool?

The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the Reds' primary midfield targets this summer, as Jurgen Klopp looks to make significant additions in the middle of the park.

Alexis Mac Allister was an early-summer arrival, in what looks like an exciting piece of business, while the club recently announced the arrival of Dominik Szoboszlai.

It could be that Thuram is seen as the third addition to bring in, which would be a huge transformation of Liverpool's midfield, with the £14,000-a-week Nice star enjoying an eye-catching 2022/23 season. He registered four assists and scored twice in Ligue 1 – while the Reds are not the only ones apparently interested.

While the Szoboszlai news has dominated the headlines in recent days, it looks as though Thuram could now return to the forefront of the Reds' thoughts, following a new update.

What's the latest on Thuram to Liverpool?

Taking to Twitter, Galetti claimed that Liverpool are now trying to make a move for Thuram happen quickly, with Newcastle United hovering ominously:

"Liverpool are speeding things up for Khephren Thuram. LFC want to close the gap with OGCNice soon to anticipate the competition of Newcastle, which are starting to move concretely for the player: evolving situation."

This is great news, with Thuram someone who could be a devastating addition to Liverpool's midfield, potentially adding something that was not there last season as the Reds missed out on Champions League qualification.

The 6 foot 4 Nice ace is a towering player with great physical attributes, but he is also technically strong, using the ball intelligently and with purpose, as seen in his 86.9% pass completion rate in the 2022/23 Ligue 1 campaign.

Nice teammate Aaron Ramsey has said that Thuram is "very dangerous, very powerful, a very strong dribbler of the ball", adding that he is "another player that can go all the way to the top", which says a lot about his ability.

If Liverpool could bring in Mac Allister (24), Szoboszlai (22) and Thuram (22), it would have to be considered a wonderful summer – completely rebuilding a problem area of the pitch and solving the issue for years to come, considering the ages of the players in question.

Chelsea are “interested” in a summer deal to bring AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi to the Premier League, according to RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins.

Who is Axel Disasi?

Disasi is a centre-back who currently plies his trade at the Stade Louis-II having moved there from Stade Reims back in 2020, where he’s since gone on to become a regular feature of the first-team having started 37 out of the 38 Ligue 1 games last season.

The France international still has another two years remaining on his contract, but it’s been reported that he’s keen to complete a move to the top-flight in England, with Manchester United the primary club to have been linked.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that Kalidou Koulibaly is close to completing a move to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Hilal so Mauricio Pochettino will know that he’ll need to recruit backline reinforcements this window, with the 25-year-old having been highlighted as a potential target.

Are Chelsea signing Disasi?

Taking to Twitter, Hawkins revealed that Chelsea are keen to sign Disasi ahead of the new campaign but stated that they are set to face stiff competition for his services. He wrote:

“Monaco will discuss from 40 M € [£34m] for Axel Disasi. Manchester United, which has not yet made an offer, is ahead. Erik ten Hag will talk to the player shortly. Arsenal and Chelsea, who are about to lose Kalidou Koulibaly, are interested in the defender.”

Could Disasi be a good addition for Pochettino?

Disasi was labelled a “hidden gem” by talent scout Jacek Kulig when breaking into senior football but he’s certainly not under the radar anymore with the name he’s made for himself at AS Monaco, so the centre-back would certainly be a strong recruit for Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.

The 6 foot 3 colossus averaged 2.9 clearances, 2.6 aerial wins and 1.5 interceptions per league game last season, via WhoScored, so can be a real rock at the heart of a backline, but he’s also equally capable of posing a threat at the opposite end of the pitch.

The World Cup participant posted six goal contributions (three goals and the same number of assists) during the previous campaign in Ligue 1 and ranked in the 96th percentile for progressive carries by centre-backs, so loves to push his team higher up the field.

For a player who positively impacts the game both defensively and offensively, this deal would be a no-brainer to complete should the opportunity present itself.

Speculation linking N'Golo Kante with a big-money move to Saudi Arabia is gathering pace, meaning Chelsea will likely have to dip into the transfer market to sign a replacement.

Kante only started six games for the Blues last season, though that perhaps plays a small part in explaining just why they endured such a terrible campaign that saw them finish 12th in the Premier League.

Chelsea could do with bringing in a player with similar attributes to Kante, who has made playing in holding midfield sexy again across his eight seasons in the Premier League.

The Blues appear to be honing in on exactly that type of player, with Football Transfers reporting that they are pushing very hard to beat London rivals Arsenal to the signing of Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.

It is claimed that Arsenal are stalling on handing over the £70m Brighton are after for Caicedo, possibly allowing Chelsea to pounce for the midfielder – much like they did with Mykhailo Mudryk in January.

Could Caicedo be an upgrade on Kante?

Chelsea and Arsenal's interest in Caicedo is longstanding, with the 21-year-old handing in a transfer request at Brighton in January in an attempt to force through a move, only to then backtrack and instead pen a new contract.

That ensures the ball is very much in Albion's court, even more so after bringing in potentially up to £55m from the sale of Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool last week.

But in the current market, £70m seems like good value for a player who has shown promise right from his early years. Indeed, South American football expert Tim Vickery was spot on when, prior to signing for Brighton, he described Caicedo as a "terrific player" with the potential to keep improving.

As pointed out by Vickery, Caicedo took no time at all to settle at Independiente del Valle as a teenager, and likewise with Ecuador, for whom he now has 30 caps at the age of 21.

The same has been true of his first full season at Brighton in the Premier League. The Ecuadorian was second only to Fulham's Joao Palhinha (147) in terms of tackles (100) last season, which told with the ten yellow cards he received – one of eight players to hit double figures for bookings.

It would be unfair to compare Caicedo's figures to those of Kante from last season given the latter's lack of action, but even in 2021-22, when playing 30 times, Kante only registered 59 tackles.

Kante recorded 1.57 interceptions per 90 minutes in the Premier League that same season, as per FBref, which Caicedo marginally bettered last season with 1.60.

There was little between the players in those respective campaigns in terms of average touches per 90 minutes (74.6 for Caicedo compared to 78.4 for Kante), but the Brighton player – understandably – was much stronger than Kante when it comes to aerial duels won (64.9% v 50%).

The role of a defensive midfielder is about a lot more than simply breaking up play, though – it is also about keeping the ball ticking along and getting attacks going from deep.

That is an area Caicedo particularly thrived, as highlighted by his 64.54 passes completed per 90 minutes over the past 12 months, ranking him in the top 6% among his positional peers. Kante, for comparison, has averaged a far smaller number of 55.03.

Caicedo also comes out on top in terms of the percentage of short passes completed (92.5 v 90.6 for Kante), medium passes (90.5 v 88.2) and long passes (79.2 v 70.5). Whether it is knocking the ball to a team-mate a few yards away, or a pass of more than 30 yards, Caicedo is among the best.

While there are similarities and differences between the pair, Caicedo undoubtedly seems to be the newer breed of midfielder who is capable of doing many different aspects.

Indeed, when taking his statistical profile into account, FBref ranks Declan Rice as the player fourth most like Caicedo. The pair were very alike last season in terms of pass completion per 90 minutes (86.5 and 88.5 respectively) and shot-creating actions (2.75 v 2.52) , while both won 37 aerial duels.

With Rice three years older and valued at around £30m more, Chelsea will be getting value for money in Caicedo should they get there ahead of their rivals.

Tottenham Hotspur have made a "serious offer" to sign Galatasary centre-back Victor Nelsson this summer, according to reports out of Turkey.

Who could join Spurs this summer?

The 2023 summer transfer window is now officially open for business, presenting Spurs with an opportunity to strengthen and undergo an arguably needed overhaul.

Ange Posteocoglou faces the huge task of transforming the north Londoners back into a major Premier League force, coming after they fell short of both winning silverware and securing European qualification last season.

Many players could depart N17, with Hugo Lloris, Ivan Perisic, Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon, Clement Lenglet, Eric Dier and Ben Davies having all been tipped to potentially leave. Meanwhile, Tottenham are also planning to offload the likes of Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks (The Telegraph).

In terms of incomings, Spurs are actively scouring the market for goalkeepers, leading to serious links with Brentford's David Raya among others.

Tottenham have also been tipped to potentially sign a new midfielder, like Leicester's James Maddison, and Postecoglou has apparently given the green-light to capture a centre-back.

For the latter position, Man City's Aymeric Laporte and Wolves defender Max KIlman have been mentioned as targets, but the Turkiye Gazetesi has some interesting news on Nelsson.

The Denmark international, who appeared for his country in Qatar at the World Cup last year, is attracting interest from Spurs and the newspaper claims they have made a "serious offer" for him.

Tottenham apparently informed Galatasary that they're willing to pay £16 million excluding bonuses for Nelsson, but there is an "expectation" they may need more – specifically around £19 million.

The defender's contract contains a £21m release clause, so Spurs may need to come closer to this figure if they wish to prise him away from Turkey.

Who is Victor Nelsson?

The report describes Nelsson as a "successful" first-teamer for Galatasary, and his stats from the 22/23 season certainly back that up.

The 24-year-old was selected over more Turkish top flight minutes than any other memeber of Okan Buruk's squad last campaign, highlighting his real importance to them (WhoScored).

In that time, Nelsson averaged more blocks per 90 than all of his Galatasary teammates in the league, all whilst also winning the highest number of aerial duels per match (WhoScored).

While he is arguably yet to be tested in a more demanding division like the Premier League, it is clear that Nelsson has been a star for his club, with Tottenham seemingly well aware.

West Ham United play one of the biggest games in their history this evening – their first European final since 1976 will take place when they face Fiorentina in Prague.

The Europa Conference League has been an important source of distraction and confidence during a troubled domestic season.

The Hammers ended the term with inconsistent results, winning four and losing as many in the final eight games of the campaign.

However, most importantly, this run included two vital victories of AZ Alkmaar to ensure progression to the final hurdle.

David Moyes and his squad know there is no room for error and complacency – so after naming a rotated side against Leicester City in the previous game, the Scotsman is expected to revert to his strongest lineup.

How will West Ham line up against Fiorentina?

There could be as many as four changes from the 2-1 defeat to the Foxes.

In goal, Alphonse Areola has started every game in this competition, keeping six clean sheets in 12 outings, and will take over from Lukasz Fabianski.

The centre-back pairing is expected to be Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma, as the former Chelsea ace will replace Vladimir Coufal in a reshuffled backline. The Frenchman has the highest average Sofascore rating (6.68) of any Hammers defender this season and his European experience could be crucial this evening.

This alteration will see Thilo Kehrer move across to right-back instead of Coufal, where the former Paris-Saint Germain man has performed admirably in recent weeks. Aaron Cresswell will retain his place at left-back.

Unsurprisingly, club captain Declan Rice will begin the encounter in what is likely to be his final appearance for the Irons, amid reports that he will join a Champions League outfit this summer.

The third change will see Tomas Soucek come in for Flynn Downes. The 6 foot 4 titan has made 49 appearances this season and is one of Moyes’ most trusted assets, even if he has been "woeful" at times, as per talkSPORT's Tom Rennie.

The ridiculously talented Lucas Paqueta will start behind the striker. The Brazilian has flourished in recent weeks, notably bagging an assist against Leeds, and his intricate creativity could be vital.

The reliable pairing of Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen will start on the wings. The latter was rested in the recent loss to Leicester but is Moyes’ preferred option to the "unbelievable" Pablo Fornals, as described by the Independent's Karl Matchett.

The £50k-per-week Spaniard is likely to still be involved in some capacity off the bench, especially after netting the winner in the away victory over AZ Alkmaar in the semi-final second leg.

Whilst Michail Antonio, who is the club’s top scorer (13) in all competitions this season, will keep his spot up top.

Predicted West Ham XI (4-2-3-1): Areola; Kehrer, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell; Rice; Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma; Antonio.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their efforts to add to their wide options in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Brian Gutierrez to Rangers?

According to the Daily Mail, the Light Blues are one of the teams keeping tabs on Chicago Fire starlet Brian Gutierrez with a view to a possible swoop.

The report claims that a number of Premier League sides, including Manchester United, have taken an interest in the 19-year-old talent, whose performances have caught the eye of clubs in Europe.

Although, it is stated that a work permit would be difficult to achieve for the ace and that could rule out a move to England, with RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund among the other teams set to challenge the Gers for his signature.

What is Brian Gutierrez's style of play?

The teenager is a creative forward who predominantly plays on the left wing and is also often deployed as an attacking midfielder and this suggests that the dynamo could be Michael Beale's dream heir to Ryan Kent.

Rangers lost the English winger at the end of last month, when his contract at Ibrox expired, and this has left a hole in the squad that needs to be filled ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

In 22/23, Kent produced three goals and ten assists in 44 appearances in all competitions for the Gers and was able to showcase his creative quality out wide.

The former Liverpool man produced 2.2 key passes per game in the Scottish Premiership and this shows that he was able to regularly open up the opposition's defence to provide his teammates with opportunities to score.

Beale could now unearth his new Kent by securing a deal to sign Gutierrez ahead of the likes of Dortmund and Leipzig as the teenager has shown terrific potential during his time in the MLS with the Fire so far.

The 19-year-old has provided 15 key passes and created four 'big chances' for his teammates in 12 MLS starts in 2023 and this comes after he racked up 26 key passes and five 'big chances' created in 20 starts in 2022.

Gutierrez, who MLS announcer Max Bretos hailed as "special", has also excelled in the US Open Cup and caught the eye by creating a stunning 12 chances in three appearances in the competition in 2022 and 2023 combined.

These statistics show that the wizard, who has only scored two senior club goals, has the potential to be a Kent-like threat for Rangers on the left wing by consistently opening up the opposition with his passing and crossing quality to provide his teammates with chances to score.

At the age of 19, the gem could be a long-term heir to the Englishman and a player who Beale could work with over the course of number of seasons, though, instead of coming in with the expectation of immediately hitting the ground running.