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Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes Stuart Dallas will be a ‘big miss’ for Leeds United in the relegation battle after he picked up a serious injury last weekend.

The Lowdown: 12 months out?

Dallas faces a lengthy period in the Thorp Arch treatment room after he suffered a femoral fracture against Manchester City.

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The Northern Irishman, who has started 121 of Leeds’ last 122 league games, was stretched off at Elland Road and had surgery on the injury within 48 hours.

A Leeds source believes Dallas’ injury could be worse than first feared in a ‘devastating’ blow that may rule him out for the majority of next season.

Jesse Marsch is gearing up for his first full campaign as Whites boss, however, it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds will still be a Premier League club heading into the 2022/23 season.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s comments

Talking to The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke had this to say on Dallas, describing the versatile full-back as a ‘big miss’ both on and off the pitch ahead of the trip to Arsenal.

“He’s versatile and willing to play anywhere for the club. I think off the pitch now it’s going to be a big miss because he’s a big character and a leader in that dressing room.

“The situation that Leeds find themselves in right now, they need all those leaders and characters to come to the fore and help them get out of trouble. So yeah, it’ll be a big miss, not just on the pitch, but also off it.”

The Verdict: Transfer plans changed?

Marsch already has a fairly small squad as it is, and the injury problems at Elland Road haven’t stopped after he replaced Marcelo Bielsa at the end of February.

Alongside Dallas, Tyler Roberts, Crysencio Summerville and Adam Forshaw are out for the rest of the season, while Junior Firpo and Patrick Bamford have also suffered serious injuries during Marsch’s time in Yorkshire.

On that basis, you’d expect that a number of additions could be made over the summer to bolster the squad, regardless of what division they are in. Dallas was normally the answer to any problems at left-back, right-back or in midfield, so Victor Orta may well be on the hunt for a versatile signing to replace the much-beloved Leeds star this summer.

In other news: Leeds officials sent abroad as Radrizzani plots move for 56-goal attacker. 

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their pursuit of Sporting Lisbon gem Goncalo Inacio…

What’s the talk?

According to Record, via Sport Witness, the Magpies are plotting a swoop for the Portuguese centre-back this summer.

The report claims that a deal for the 20-year-old is likely to cost a fee in the region of €45m (£38m) when you take add-ons into consideration, with Sporting unwilling to negotiate at any level below that as Ruben Amorim deems him to be indispensable.

Eddie Howe would love him

Newcastle must seal this deal for Inacio, as Magpies head coach Eddie Howe would surely love to have him at St James’ Park. The youngster has the talent to make an immediate impact on Tyneside whilst also holding the potential to develop further.

At the age of 20, he still has the majority of his career left ahead of him, so he is a player in whom the club can invest for the long run, potentially making a big profit on him in the future if he can hone his skills over the coming years.

However, Inacio has been able to consistently deliver for Sporting at first-team level as a young gem. Journalist Zach Lowy previously claimed that he is “underrated”, and he has been lauded by people who have worked with him in close proximity. 

His former coach José Lima (as quoted by Portuguese outlet RR) also showered the defender with praise, saying: “The psychological aspect is one of his great strengths, as he shows a lot of tranquility in any situation, in addition to his technical skills, in the formation, he could play as a left-back because his dominant foot is his left.

“Although at Sporting, now, he plays on the right side, even though that is not the dominant foot. He has, therefore, evolved and has been more confident with the passing of the games. He is an increasingly stronger player. He has always played with quality.”

In the Portuguese top flioght this season, Inacio has averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.14 across 26 starts. He has helped his team to keep 13 clean sheets in that time and made 2.3 tackles and interceptions per game, showing that he has been a key part of their resolute defence.

Therefore, Howe would surely love to work with the centre-back, as he is a young player with potential who has put himself in a terrific position from which to build the rest of his career. The 20-year-old is already proving that he can perform to a high standard on a regular basis for Sporting, and hopefully he can bring that consistency and quality to the Premier League next season if he joins Newcastle.

AND in other news, “Phenomenal” £18m-rated Premier League star now wants NUFC move, he’d be their new Gazza…

Leeds United should sign Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson this summer, according to former Scotland and Premier League manager Alex McLeish.

The Lowdown: Long-time Orta target

Forest are mounting a serious promotion push in the Championship currently, with an automatic return to the Premier League still not out of the question.

Johnson has undoubtedly been one of his side’s star players this season, scoring 15 goals and registering ten assists in the league, being hailed as a ‘wonderful’ player by Wales manager Rob Page.

Leeds have been linked with a move for the Welshman in the recent past, as Jesse Marsch looks forward to his first transfer window in charge at Elland Road, and Victor Orta has even revealed he tried to sign the winger when he was just 16.

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The Latest: Leeds urged to complete signing

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish claimed that Johnson is someone the Whites should be looking to sign this summer:

“He had a few brilliant little flurries against Fulham but couldn’t quite get the finishing touch. He looks a very competent player, and you can see the confidence just steaming out of him.

“In all his play, every time he gets the ball – you can see opposition defenders just starting to panic. They’re scrambling to close him down. He’s definitely one who is correct to be on the radar of a club like Leeds. He can go to a high level.”

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Verdict: Hugely exciting addition

While Johnson is unproven in the Premier League, he is a young player with enormous potential, so he would be a hugely exciting signing for Leeds.

At just 20, he already has nine caps to his name for Wales, highlighting how highly he is thought of in a squad that also includes the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and current Whites man Dan James.

Johnson wouldn’t necessarily come in as an immediate starter for Leeds, but he would add the attacking squad depth that Marsch craves, also having the potential to grow into a star figure down the years.

In other news, Leeds have been given the green light to sign one player. Find out who it is here.

After a run of poor results, Chelsea got back to winning ways in the Premier League, overcoming Everton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

It is the first time since 22nd November that Enzo Maresca’s side have tasted victory in the top flight.

It only took the Blues 21 minutes before they went 1-0 up. On his first start at the Bridge since August, it was always going to be Cole Palmer who fired Chelsea into the lead.

It was a well-taken goal, too, with the England star making a well-timed underlapping run between the Everton defence and firing home past Jordan Pickford.

Chelsea had chances to double their lead, which they squandered. However, they did find the back of the net again on the stroke of half-time. It was Malo Gusto who got on the scoresheet this time, capping off an incisive counterattack by slotting home Pedro Neto’s cross.

It was a fantastic performance on the whole from the West Londoners. They shoot up to fourth in the Premier League, although most teams around them have a game in hand. Maresca will be hoping his side can build some momentum ahead of a busy few weeks.

There were a couple of real standouts for the Blues, and not just Palmer and Gusto…

Chelsea's best players vs Everton

It was inevitable, in many ways, that Palmer was going to have his say on this game. His first home start in months did not disappoint, with the Wythenshawe-born attacker proving why he is one of the Premier League’s most dangerous players.

It was a showing worthy of an 8/10 rating from Goal journalist Richie Mills. He said the Chelsea number 10 ‘showed good speed and a smart finish’, describing his performance as ‘a good day at the office’ in front of the home faithful.

The same could certainly be said for Gusto. He set Palmer up with a through ball that threaded the needle superbly, before getting on the score sheet himself for the second time in that famous Blue shirt.

Indeed, his stats from the game are superb. Gusto was constantly involved, having 81 touches, and completed 90% of his passes, as per Sofascore. Not only did the Frenchman create two chances, but he also made four ball recoveries and was impressive off the ball.

However, Palmer and Gusto were not the only two Chelsea players who stood out against Everton.

Chelsea duo look made for Mourinho

It was yet another clean sheet for the centre-back pairing of Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana. As a partnership, they have begun to string together some impressive performances and have become more than reliable for Maresca.

That was no different against the Toffees. They each received a 7/10 rating from Mills for their afternoon’s work. The journalist was full of compliments for the pair and said they are perhaps the ‘best centre-back pairing’ available to the Blues at the moment.

The stats from the game show just how well the pair, who earn a combined £250k per week, performed against the Toffees.

Some of the standouts included Fofana’s impressive 11 clearances and Cobham graduate Chalobah’s five successful duels out of seven.

Pass accuracy

97%

99%

Touches

84

83

Clearances

11

9

Ball recoveries

5

3

Duels won

6/15

5/7

Looking at the numbers in more detail, the West Londoners are unbeaten in their last seven games when the Frenchman and their academy graduate have started together.

Six of those games have been clean sheets.

Those numbers are superb and would certainly not look out of place in the era of Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese manager famously oversaw a team that conceded just 15 league goals in a single season in 2004/05 – still the best-ever record in the division.

With the performances that Chalobah and Fofana have put in this season, it certainly feels very Mourinho-era coded. The ex-Blues boss is a famously pragmatic coach, so he would no doubt appreciate a record like six clean sheets in seven games.

Indeed, it is helping Maesrca’s side, and the current Chelsea gaffer surely has his centre-back pairing locked in for the foreseeable future.

Caicedo 2.0: Chelsea have made contact to sign "world-class" top target

Chelsea have made one player their top target ahead of the upcoming January window.

ByEthan Lamb 3 days ago

After losing Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer over the summer, Everton will be hoping that Beto and new signing Thierno Barry can provide them with a rich source of goals. Already, Beto is off the mark this season, having bagged in the 3-2 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

As for Barry, he is only a young player, so there should be far less pressure put on him. Yet, the Frenchman is a talented centre-forward who scored 11 goals in 35 La Liga games for Villarreal last term. He can certainly become a top-level striker in the future.

David Moyes would surely love for the strikers to have the same impact at Everton as Romelu Lukaku did.

The numbers behind Lukaku’s Everton success

Initially a loan move before the Toffees made it permanent, Lukaku’s time at Everton was excellent. He lit up Goodison Park for four seasons before joining Manchester United after the stellar performances he put in.

In 166 games for the Merseysiders, he found the back of the net 87 times and chipped in with 27 assists. His minutes-per-goal ratio was strong, too. The Belgian scored once every 160 minutes in an Everton shirt.

Although the weight of goals he scored only increased the further into his career at Goodison Park, it was that initial loan spell in 2013/14 that really showed how much of a success he could be at the club.

In his first campaign as a Toffee, Lukaku bagged 15 Premier League goals and assisted seven more in 31 games, and also scored in his only FA Cup appearance that season.

Averaging 0.7 goal involvements per game was certainly a strong start to life on Merseyside.

Whilst, overall, Moyes would love his two centre-forwards to recreate Lukaku’s impact at Everton, there might be another loan star who could add similar firepower to the Belgian in his debut season over a decade ago.

Why Jack Grealish is Everton’s new Lukaku

It was a hectic summer transfer window for Everton, who secured several new signings to bolster Moyes’ squad. Of course, they brought Barry to the club and permanently signed the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

However, the marquee signing this summer for the Toffees was surely Jack Grealish. The England international signed on loan from Manchester City and has made an incredible start to life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

In his two Premier League starts so far, the 30-year-old has already assisted four goals.

Two of those came in the 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion, with the other couple away to Wolves, including a pass that set Beto up.

Well, Everton’s supporters have certainly taken to Grealish well, although given the start he has made, that isn’t much of a surprise. Toffees supporter and tactical analyst Matt Smith said he has been a “game changer” so far.

Looking at the match stats from the games against Brighton and Wolves highlights Grealish’s impact so far. In both matches, he created three chances apiece, and away to the Old Gold, his off-the-ball work was clear to see. The 30-year-old won 13 duels at Molineux.

Touches

57

61

Passes completed

29/35

33/36

Ground duels won

5

13

Tackles won

3

1

Key passes

3

3

Assists

2

2

Just a handful of games into his Everton career, it is easy to see how Grealish can replicate Lukaku’s impact on loan as the Toffees’ newest talisman. The Belgian striker added firepower in attacking areas through goals and assists, and already, Grealish is doing the same thing.

The fact that Moyes has potentially uncovered Everton’s new Lukaku, in that sense, will be a huge benefit for the club. Life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium could not have started any better for Grealish, and he’d surely love to continue this form.

Friedkin must sell "really poor" Everton star who earns more than Ndiaye

Everton might be better off cutting their losses with one high earner…

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 10, 2025

Manchester United’s academy has been known for producing numerous top-level talents over the years, subsequently helping the club win 13 Premier League titles.

Sir Alex Ferguson is the man to thank for such glory, subsequently able to build a successful side, mainly relying upon players who came through the ranks at Old Trafford.

He was famous for integrating the Class of ’92, with the sextet making over 3000 combined appearances for the Red Devils first-team squad.

However, Ruben Amorim’s current first-team squad only includes three academy graduates in the form of Kobbie Mainoo, Tom Heaton and Tyler Fredricson.

The manager also wants to bolster his own first-team squad with further English quality, as seen by his attempts to land Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton this summer.

Man Utd’s hunt for Wharton this summer

Throughout the summer transfer window, United made a beeline to land a new central midfielder to help bolster the middle of Amorim’s side for 2025/26 and beyond.

Their pursuit led them to England international Wharton, even entering talks with Oliver Glasner’s side to try and complete a deal for the 21-year-old’s signature.

However, a transfer fee of around £100m was mooted for the youngster’s services, a figure that was ultimately too much given the £200m already splashed on other areas of the squad.

Such a move would’ve been an excellent one, especially if he would’ve been able to replicate his numbers from last season, which helped the Eagles win the FA Cup.

Wharton ranked in the 93rd percentile for progressive passes completed per 90 (7.3) and the 86th percentile for passes into the final third per 90 (5.3).

Whilst ball-playing is obviously his strength, the former Blackburn Rovers star also showcased his tremendous ability of being able to regain the ball for his side.

He ranked in the 93rd percentile for recoveries made per 90 (7.1), along with the 81st percentile for interceptions made per 90 (1.4) – possessing numerous qualities that would’ve improved Amorim’s side.

However, Wharton will remain a case of what could’ve been, but they could’ve had their own version of the superstar had they kept hold of another youngster.

The former United star who could’ve been Amorim’s own Wharton

Selling youngsters too prematurely has often been an issue for United over recent seasons, as seen by the decision to offload Anthony Elanga to Nottingham Forest in 2023.

The Red Devils parted ways with the Swede for just £15m, allowing the winger to get valuable game time – subsequently racking up 11 goals and 21 assists in his two years at the City Ground.

Such numbers saw him make a £60m move to Newcastle United this summer – leaving the Reds for four times more than they paid for his signature just two years prior.

Another similar scenario could rear its head again in the future, after Amorim’s side agreed to sell 18-year-old midfielder Zach Baumann to Norwich City on deadline day.

The deal saw the Ukrainian youngster leave on a free transfer, but it does include future clauses which could see the Red Devils gain some money for his signature.

He’s been a regular at various youth levels for United over the last couple of years, featuring in five different competitions – including the U18 Premier League, where he scored once and registered five assists.

Baumann, who’s also been labelled “exceptional” by one analyst, has drawn comparisons to Wharton by the Daily Mail’s Manchester United correspondent, Nathan Salt.

U18 Premier League

13

6

Premier League 2

3

0

UEFA Youth League

1

0

FA Youth Cup

2

0

Total:

19

6

He claims that the teenager is superb in possession – often offering a composed head – being able to pick out forward passes, just as the Palace star has in recent times.

Such talents have been evident for the Red Devils’ youth teams in recent times, producing numerous incredible passes which have contributed to his impressive assist tally.

Another analyst has previously touched on his impressive nature with the ball at his feet – with the Red Devils evidently making a huge mistake in allowing the teenager to depart Old Trafford.

Given his tender age, Baumann still has a long way to go before he can get anywhere near the levels produced by Wharton within England’s top-flight.

However, his recent departure could see a huge mistake being made down the line, with the fans potentially having to watch another talent flourish away from the Theatre of Dreams.

The original Mainoo: INEOS must rue selling Man Utd star who's like Scholes

Manchester United messed up when they sold this star who is now worth as much as Kobbie Mainoo.

3 ByDan Emery Sep 9, 2025

It has been the summer of red thus far and one which has seen Liverpool break the British-record transfer fee to sign Florian Wirtz. But FSG are not done there, with reports now suggesting they’ve got three more “concrete options”.

Liverpool in advanced talks to sign Marc Guehi

Having already signed a left-back in the form of Milos Kerkez and a right-back to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool now look destined to welcome a third defensive reinforcement. This time, a centre-back is on their wishlist and Marc Guehi sits at the very top of that.

The Crystal Palace star has just one year remaining on his current deal and the Reds are looking to take full advantage to land a cut-price deal in comparison to his £70m valuation just one year ago.

Whilst their interest came as a surprise initially, Jarell Quansah’s move to Bayer Leverkusen alongside the fact that Ibrahima Konate is into the final year of his current contract makes Guehi the perfect option for Arne Slot.

In one swoop, Slot could have Guehi, Virgil van Dijk, Konate and Joe Gomez to choose from in what would represent the best depth in that role in the Premier League, perhaps even European football.

Salah & Wirtz will love him: Liverpool pushing to sign "unstoppable" CF

Liverpool want to sign a world-class central striker this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 1, 2025

However, even if the England international is top of Liverpool’s list of priorities, he is not the only name on their wishlist despite how much they’ve already spent. Reports are now suggesting that the Premier League champions have three more “concrete options” in mind.

Isak among "concrete options" for Liverpool

As reported by Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Alexander Isak, Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike are “three concrete options” for Liverpool this summer after sporting director Richard Hughes completed checks on all of the forwards.

None of those stars will come cheap, however, which suggests that Liverpool could be ready to spend big once again. Just how much their hefty budget stretches will be the big question. Isak, for example, is reportedly unlikely to leave Newcastle United for anything less than £150m, whilst Ekitike has been priced at £85m and Osimhen at £64m, totalling the three out just shy of £300m.

If those at Anfield are able to splash out again then it is a case of simply taking their pick. Whether it’s Ekitike, Osimhen or Isak, all three would be instant upgrades on Darwin Nunez and all three would complete what is becoming a frightening squad for others to match around the Premier League.

Aston Villa have now made contact over a deal for a defender, whose recent performances have attracted the attention of some top clubs, according to a report.

Aston Villa eyeing bargain signings amid PSR concerns

PSR has been a thorn in Villa’s side for quite some time now, having previously been forced to cash-in on the likes of Douglas Luiz and Jhon Duran to raise funds, and having missed out on the Champions League in controversial fashion, NSWE may have to make sales this summer.

After the 2-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford, there are now doubts over the futures of Morgan Rogers, Emi Martinez and Marco Asensio, with Manchester City being named as potential suitors for the former in the past.

Martinez also looks as though he could be heading for the exit door, with Atletico Madrid recently entering the race for the Argentina international, alongside Manchester United, although it is unclear whether a move to Old Trafford would be of great appeal after their Europa League final defeat.

Better than Rashford: Aston Villa exploring move for "special" £58m star

It’s set to be a busy summer at Aston Villa, so could they sign a “special player” from a Premier League rival for £58m instead of Marcus Rashford?

May 30, 2025

Amid PSR concerns, it could be a wise idea for Aston Villa and NSWE to make some low-cost additions to the squad this summer, and they have now made contact over a deal for Hellas Verona defender Diego Coppola, according to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness).

Owing to some of his recent performances, Coppola is now attracting widespread interest ahead of the summer transfer window, with the likes of Juventus, AC Milan, Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford also being named as potential suitors.

A deal could be on the relatively cheap side too, with the Serie A side expected to receive offers of around €10m – €15m (£8m – £13m) in the coming weeks.

"No-nonsense" Coppola impressing in Italy

The Hellas Verona defender is only 21-years-old, but he has already solidified his place as a regular starter for the Italian side, making 34 Serie A appearances in the 2024-25 campaign, during which time he impressed considerably.

Indeed, the Italian centre-back showcased his defensive quality on a regular basis, perhaps most notably ranking in the top 1% for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Aerials won

4.09 (98th percentile)

Interceptions

2.21 (99th percentile)

Tackles

2.03 (85th percentile)

Not only that, but the “no-nonsense CB”, as dubbed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, also proved himself to be an attacking threat, scoring with a towering header in his side’s 3-2 victory over Parma back in December.

Coppola has proven he could now be ready to take the next step in his career, and he could be a fantastic low-cost addition to Unai Emery’s squad.

With the season finally coming to a close, Tottenham Hotspur have a monumental summer ahead of them.

For example, alongside potentially replacing Ange Postecoglou, Daniel Levy and Co must go big in the transfer window to ensure the team don’t endure another Premier League campaign like this one.

On top of making sure they keep their own stars like Cristian Romero, the North Londoners need to bring in new ones to help them climb up the table and make a good account of themselves in the Champions League.

Fortunately, reports have recently linked the club to an attacker who could help them do just that, an attacker who’d be a massive upgrade on Son Heung-min.

Tottenham transfer news

Before we get to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other brilliant players who have been linked with a move to Spurs in recent weeks, like Leroy Sané and Xavi Simons.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former’s contract with Bayern Munich expires at the end of this month and would therefore be a free signing, which could end up being an incredible deal, as in just 2377 minutes of football across 45 appearances this season, the German international scored 13 goals and provided six assists.

Simons, on the other hand, would cost the club around £67m, but even then, it would be hard to argue that’s not a fair fee, as the Flying Dutchman managed to score 11 goals and provide eight assists in 33 appearances this season.

Yet, there is another, even more impressive winger being linked with Tottenham: Bradley Barcola.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Spurs are among several Premier League clubs who are incredibly interested in the Paris Saint-Germain phenomenon.

In fact, the story has claimed that the Lilywhites, Arsenal and Manchester City have already sent scouts to watch the French international.

However, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, as while PSG do not want to sell the 22-year-old, they do value him at up to €120m, which is about £101m.

With that said, given Barcola’s immense ability and potential, this may be a deal worth breaking the bank on, especially as he’d be the perfect Son upgrade.

How Barcola compares to Son

While Barcola can and has played in other positions in the past, it’s abundantly clear that his preferred and best role is leftwing.

Therefore, depending on what else happens in the summer transfer window, one of his main competitors for game time at Spurs next season, were he to sign for them, would be Son Heung-min.

With that said, who comes out on top when we compare them? Well, from a raw output perspective, it’s a rather one-sided affair.

For example, the incredible Lyon-born ace, who’s “one of the best LW’s in Europe,” according to analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 21 goals and provided 19 assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3643 minutes this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.45 games, or every 91.07 minutes.

In contrast, the North Londoners captain scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in 46 appearances, totalling 3189 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every other game, or one every 138.65 minutes.

Okay, what about their underlying numbers from this season? Which attacker comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s the “devastating” star, as he was described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, who once again emerges victorious here, and by quite some margin at that.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.97

0.59

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.99

0.64

Progressive Passes

3.97

4.74

Progressive Carries

5.66

4.10

Shots

3.05

2.35

Shots on Target

1.57

1.02

Passing Accuracy

81.7%

78.9%

Key Passes

2.07

2.14

Shot-Creating Actions

4.17

4.99

Goal-Creating Actions

0.83

0.64

Successful Take-Ons

1.40

1.24

For example, while there are a few metrics in which the South Korean superstar is able to hold his own and actually come out ahead, it’s the UCL winner who does far better in the vast majority of relevant areas.

Ultimately, while Son has been an incredible player for Spurs for so long, Barcola is simply the better winger in practically every way, and therefore, Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

Signed by Conte: Spurs' big-money flop has become the club's new Soldado

The talented Spurs star hasn’t been able to make it work in London.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 30, 2025

It appears as though Steven Gerrard is in the running to be the next manager of Glasgow Rangers.

His previous spell between 2018 and 2021 saw the Ibrox side win their first Premiership title since 2011 before he left for Aston Villa.

He was savvy in the transfer market, bringing in a mix of young players with plenty of potential and experienced professionals who were ready to make an immediate impact.

One of his most underrated signings was Jermain Defoe, who enjoyed a productive Indian summer to his career in Glasgow.

Jermain Defoe’s Rangers statistics

The Englishman arrived at Rangers in January 2018 on an 18-month loan deal, scoring on his debut against Kilmarnock.

He ended up with eight goals during his first six months, before netting 17 across 32 games the following season. In January 2020, he signed a pre-contract agreement to join the club permanently and went on to play a bit-part role in the 2020/21 title-winning campaign.

Games

20

Goals

13

Goals per game

0.7

Scoring frequency (minutes)

77

Minutes per game

50 minutes

Defoe scored only five times all season, but he won his first-ever domestic title in the process. He left Ibrox less than six months later, but the veteran striker was great to have around the training ground, offering advice and encouragement to the likes of Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe.

While the transfer strategy has changed over the years, if Gerrard is appointed as manager, could he make a similar sort of signing in Jamie Vardy this summer?

An English centre-forward with a host of experience in the Premier League, looking for one final crack at the big time. It makes sense when you think about it…

Why Rangers should sign Jamie Vardy

Ally McCoist has stated his desire to see Vardy in a Rangers’ shirt next season, and given the fact he is soon to be a free agent, a prospective move could be closer than many think.

Vardy will leave Leicester City this summer after 13 years, making his 500th appearance for the club last week while netting his 200th goal for the Foxes.

It has been a remarkable career in the Premier League for the Englishman and he was even named as a “living legend” by manager Ruud van Nistelrooy recently.

He might be 38, but a season or two in Scotland could still see him finding the back of the net on a regular basis, especially if used as an impact sub.

The striker – who has ten goals to his name this term, including nine in the league – has managed to create six big chances in the top flight, having a goal conversion percentage of 16% and averaging 1.7 shots per game.

Not excellent statistics by any stretch of the imagination, but for Rangers, he could certainly replicate the feats of Defoe should the Ibrox side come calling this summer.

It may go against the club’s ethos of prioritising younger talents, but Vardy would offer something different in the final third.

That something might just make all the difference towards the end of the season. That’s for sure.

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ByTom Cunningham May 23, 2025